Hold on, another Chinese Nissan?
Yes, the NX8 is yet another product from the Dongfeng-Nissan partnership, but it might be the most important one to date—for the Philippines, at least. You see, fully electric crossovers seem to be having a moment in our country.
Tesla Philippines has just added the six-seater Model Y L, while Toyota Motor Philippines most recently released the subcompact Urban Cruiser. While the segment is relatively small, it is steadily growing. And now, Nissan China has a left-hand drive compact crossover ready for the local market.
So, is the Nissan NX8 coming to the Philippines?
There is a strong possibility. Nissan China has just exported its first units in the Frontier Pro pickup, and the brand flew us out earlier this year to experience the NX8 ahead of its release. Now, we can finally talk about it and share our insights.
The NX8 could be exported alongside the fully electric N7 sedan, with which it shares a lot of similarities. Together with the plug-in hybrid Frontier Pro, Nissan China can assemble a comprehensive three-car lineup for global buyers looking for a brand-new electric vehicle.
As mentioned, exports have already kicked off—so we’ll just have to wait and see.
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While we wait, can you tell us how the NX8 drives?
Like N7, the NX8 is impressively well-balanced. With a heavy 81kWh battery on deck, it didn’t feel sluggish or shifty during our test drives on track, snow, and ice. There was also surprisingly good traction and control, considering that the car only packs a single-motor RWD system.
However, the steering was a lot lighter than I expected, which made maneuvering a little more playful than it had to be. I preferred the heavier steering on the N7, but I’d imagine that the NX8 could be more comfortable to drive in heavy traffic or day-to-day settings. And with 650km of driving range, it should be plenty for an entire household of drivers and passengers.
Sadly, we did not get to drive the range-extended version of the NX8. Perhaps that is something we can do on Philippine roads if it ever reaches here.
How comfortable is the NX8?
It essentially has the same plushness and materials as the N7, but just in a larger form factor. At just under 4,900mm, it has a lot of room for people and cargo. The soft leather seats still felt good, and the abundance of space made it natural to lounge in.
Nissan claims that the NX8 has “best-in-class headroom,” which comes in at just over 1,200mm. I have no way to really verify that, but my head (atop my 5’6” body) didn’t make any contact with the ceiling, and that’s probably the most important thing.
Legroom was also good (my photos do not do it justice), but I noticed that the rear bench was slightly elevated. It made settling in a bit awkward due to the extra height, but after a while, the well-supported seats lull you back to relaxation.
Generally, the NX8 made great use of its proportions. The cabin has been segmented equitably to ensure every passenger gets a fair amount of room, with armrests, cup holders, and charging ports abound. The car is also loaded with artificial intelligence to maximize comfort. The cooling system and onboard voice assistant both feature Nissan’s AI, but we didn’t get a chance to really test this.
Can the NX8 compete against Tesla and Toyota?
There lies the ultimate question. With 25 speakers, AI, and two large 15.6-inch screens on board, Nissan can definitely give Tesla a scare in terms of features. And without a full EV from Honda or Mitsubishi, Nissan may give the Leaf a lot more backup to compete against Toyota.
The NX8 might even overshadow the Leaf and become Nissan’s flagship EV. However, whether or not the local market will classify the NX8 as a Japanese car is still to be decided. It has the badge, but does it have the ‘Nissan-ness’ that it keeps insisting on? We’ll find out as it reaches more parts of the world.
