The compact crossover market tends to be overshadowed by the pickup-based midsize SUV. That said, that segment is filled with some of the most sensible cars to buy today.
It could be said that the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V were the pioneers of that class. But the Subaru Forester and Mazda CX-5 have left an impression in the local market. Mitsubishi is even primed to bring back the Outlander soon.
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However, there is one Japanese automaker is notably absent here. That company is, of course, Nissan. Its entry in that category was the X-Trail and was sold locally from 2003 to 2022. Since then, Nissan Philippines has yet to bring in the all-new model.
Now, it seems that the Nissan X-Trail is coming back to the Philippines. Last time out, we mentioned that the new-generation Patrol could be previewed at the upcoming Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS). But Nissan also teased what could be the latest X-Trail, at least based on the silhouette in the social media post.
If true, it’s a long time coming, too. The fourth-generation X-Trail made its world premiere in mid-2021, meaning it has been three years since the world first saw this model. It’s a bit of an uphill battle for the Nissan, then, but the company has all the potential to differentiate itself from the rest of its peers.
The CR-V is available with a hybrid powertrain, while the RAV4 is hybrid only. The CX-5 can be had with a sporty 2.5-liter turbo, while the Forester comes standard with all-wheel drive regardless of variant. With that, the Nissan X-Trail can hold the distinction of being the only range extended electric vehicle thanks to e-Power.
We’re keeping our fingers crossed that it will be the e-Power with the e-4orce all-wheel-drive system. After all, Nissan let us sample that very model when were in Japan back in October 2023. Some stats? It uses a turbocharged 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine that keeps the electric motor charged up. The motor then puts out 210hp and 330Nm of torque.
As this segment becomes more and more electrified, we reckon there’s a good chance of the e-Power model coming here instead of the non-electrified version. Of course, we’ll find out if the X-Trail will return once we see Nissan’s booth at PIMS 2024.
