Nissan is expanding its range of electrified models with the new all-wheel drive system e-4orce. The designation stands for an in-house all-wheel drive technology that is linked to a new type of hybrid system. In the SUV X-Trail, the petrol engine only takes care of charging the battery.
Nissan wants to help the hybrid car genre, which is not subsidized by the state, to gain new strength. To do this, the Japanese are taking a surprising approach. Like the Nissan X-Trail, an SUV with a station wagon look. Its small combustion engine with a modest output of 116 kW/158 hp from just three cylinders in this class is leaving its usual territory.
Because the 1.5-liter no longer cares about the direct transmission of power to the wheels. Rather, it only charges a small battery of just 2.7 kWh, so it never runs out of power. At least not as long as there is petrol in the tank. The batteries can in turn supply two powerful electric motors, which then each drive two pairs of wheels.
However, the Nissan technology is not intended as a modern replacement for powerful off-road and SUV icons. The X-Trail is all about fighting the pitfalls of the mostly weather-related slippery or bumpy asphalt. If each wheel is individually supplied with electric power and then controlled, the all-wheel drive system known as e-4orce also minimizes the risk of suddenly having a life of its own, for example in corners that have been started too quickly, helps with emergency braking or sometimes supports a trip onto an inhospitable path off the beaten track .
Of course, the classic four-wheel drive vehicles with combustion engines have had these skills for a long time. What is new, however, is that an electric drive of a rather unusual kind has to be used for this. During the first tests on winding serpentines along the still lurking smoothness of the Pyrenees, it all works with reassuring nonchalance.
There is no clutch pedal as there is no need to shift gears. An e-car-typical entrance automatic is constantly looking for the ideal dose of necessary power. And the system output of 157 kW/214 hp is always enough. The only difference is that this species does not have to be charged from the outside via a socket, so you can drive past charging stations or wall boxes.
The combustion engine, which works like a power generator at the meadow festival for the folk music loudspeakers, reports a little more emphatic from time to time. He probably anticipates when things will get steeper uphill. Then, with clear acoustics from the engine compartment, the petrol engine betrays its efforts to quench the hunger for electricity of the electric motors.
Later on, on the level, everything is calm again except for a pleasant purr. Although it does not achieve the quietness of a real electric car, the Nissan clearly undercuts the background noise of a gasoline engine with direct drive tasks.
Good news: despite its higher weight due to all-wheel drive and two electric motors, the consumption of the newcomer is at the level of its sister models without this additional burden. Elsewhere, such elaborately equipped cars usually turn out to be much thirstier. With its basic price of 44,400 euros, this X-Trail is also quite fair, at least in the basic version.
However, if you order the many extras that want to arouse desires in the price list, you have to plan for additional costs of more than 11,000 euros. The flawless Stromer Ariya with a large battery is almost worth it, but it does not yet offer all-wheel drive.
Nissan X-Trail 1.5 VC e-4orce - specifications
