Will only be available with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, and not the hybrid version that was showcased in India back in October 2022.
24 May 2024 | 3256 Views | By Rivan RS, Autocar India
Nissan has been keeping a toe-hold in India with just one model – the Magnite compact SUV – and this situation is unchanged since April 2023, when the Kicks was discontinued. That’s now about to change with the introduction of the new Nissan X-Trail. The SUV was sold here in ...
This is an Autocar Pro Plus article. Subscribe to continue reading.
Nissan has been keeping a toe-hold in India with just one model – the Magnite compact SUV – and this situation is unchanged since April 2023, when the Kicks was discontinued. That’s now about to change with the introduction of the new Nissan X-Trail. The SUV was sold here in its first and second-generation body styles, and the third-generation model was also showcased in the country some years ago, although it didn’t go on sale.
The fourth-gen X-Trail that's been on sale in international markets since 2021, has been spied testing on Indian roads a few times, and the Japanese brand had showcased this model in India in 2022 as well, stating at the time that it will be brought to the country in the near future. Nissan Chief Planning Officer, Francios Bailey, has confirmed to Autocar India that the X-Trail will arrive by August this year, albeit in petrol-only guise.
A dealer had also confirmed that the X-Trail will be brought in as a CBU, which means Nissan can import up to 2,500 units without the need for homologation. “It’s a special limited import for true petrol aficionados, especially for Nissan lovers,” said the dealer.
Regarding the decision, sources have claimed that their research says this specification is better for now based on customer feedback, explaining, "Our customer research and the current government policy (specifically the taxation policy) is right now conducive to this spec." The source also remarked on how introducing a hybrid would increase taxes, and hence, the price.
The 7-seater SUV will only be available with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, and not the hybrid version that was showcased in India back in October 2022. This engine produces 204hp and 305Nm. While the availability of a CVT gearbox is confirmed, it's yet unknown if it’ll come with 2WD or AWD. The dealer has also revealed that the decision to bring the X-Trail in petrol form was made based on Nissan’s research.
Nissan had also showcased the Juke and Qashqai SUVs at the same event in 2022, both of which come with some form of hybridisation and may still be under evaluation for our market.
Considering its size and petrol-only guise, the X-Trail will rival the Skoda Kodiaq, which is also a 7-seater that's only available with a 190hp, 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that's currently priced at Rs 39.99 lakh (ex-showroom, India).
Nissan is working on a facelift for the Magnite and CBU models like the X-Trail could help maintain interest in the brand.