Nissan has made its X-Trail hybrid easier to get into. New front-drive e-Power grades open at $45,990 before on-road costs, roughly $3,000 under the equivalent all-wheel-drive versions, so buyers who do not need all paw traction can keep the smooth e-Power drivetrain and pay less for it.
The grade walk
The 2WD e-Power line runs ST-L at $45,990, Ti at $50,915 and Ti-L at $54,715, all before on-road costs, sitting between $3,090 and $3,655 under the AWD equivalents. There is also a new seven-seat Rock Creek flagship from $48,315, on the petrol all-wheel-drive ST-L base, with a black grille, roof rails, 18 inch wheels, Baja Storm paint, a black roof, a head-up display and a 12.3 inch driver's cluster. Orders are open now and deliveries start in September.
Cartell Assessment
This is a sensible bit of range housekeeping. Most family buyers spend their lives on sealed roads, so a cheaper front-drive path to e-Power is the grade a lot of them actually needed. The Rock Creek is more about showroom appeal, a tougher look and a third row, than genuine off-road hardware, but at $48,315 it gives the range a flagship with some presence.
AU Outlook
With deliveries from September and orders open now, there is room to haggle, especially on the outgoing AWD stock the 2WD grades undercut. Cross-check the final drive-away figure in your state before you sign, since the prices here are all before on-road costs.
