New X-Trail gets electrification boost with e-Power drivetrain

Hybrid and mild-hybrid tech for SUV, plus four-wheel drive

- Sean Carson

NISSAN is continuing its electrification charge with an all-new X-Trail seven-seat SUV. It has an e-Power hybrid powertrain including a dual-motor four-wheel-drive version - a sharp new look, improved interior tech, and greater efficiency potential.

The new X-Trail is based on the Renault-Nissan Alliance's latest CMF-C platform, which the brand says allows for packaging improvements - key for any seven-seat car.

It's also allowed Nissan to fit a compact 2.1kWh battery that is charged by a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with variable compression ratio technology, which helps to boost efficiency further.

The petrol engine never drives the wheels directly. Instead, it acts as a range extender to charge the battery, which feeds an electric motor mounted on the front axle delivering 201bhp and 330Nm of torque in the single-motor e-Power model.