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L J G
X-TRAIL NEWBIE
Date Registered: 05-2014
Location: Bribie Island Queensland
TOTAL POSTS: 23
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Ownership thoughts after 3,000klm
OK, after 3,000 kilometers of ownership I have written down a few thoughts.
Things I couldn’t or wouldn’t want to live without –
1. Digital radio, this is great, I can listen to AM stations with an FM quality sound and it is crystal clear.
2. The 360o view camera, I really don’t know how any of us manage without it haha.
3. The push button start and auto unlock. Never having to fish around in your pocket for the key or try and put it into the ignition in the dark really is terrific. I was skeptical of this at first but I am certainly a convert now!
4. The center dash readout for speed or fuel economy or trip times and a host of other items, probably one of the best on the market.
5. The ECO mode, where it deadens the accelerator pedal for driving in traffic and keeps the revs low unless you really sink the boot in. This makes for a more relaxed drive feel. Most test reviews bag this mode but it is really quite good in stop start traffic because the pedal is very sensitive in ordinary mode.
6. The manual shift setup, it does not matter what gear you select it keeps it and allows you to pick the revs, where in auto mode it is sometimes too quick to shift back when you accelerate and can hunt up and down a bit if you get just the wrong amount of accelerator pedal pressure. Most other makes will change gear in manual mode as they override the driver, but not in the Nissan.
7. The rotating switch for 2WD, 4WD or 4x4 lock mode, so easy to operate.
8. The fuel economy, it is a midsized SUV and returns as low as 6.4ltrs/100klm, amazing!
9. 120,000klm of capped price servicing (but see 6 in the don’t want list).
Things I could easily live without, in fact wish I could or wish I could change –
1. The road noise. It is quite intrusive compared to other makes of SUV.
2. Just a bit more power would be nice, so you don’t have to ring its neck to get it moving quickly. I did notice the Rav 4 I tested was a lot more “lively” feeling and the CX5 certainly was!
3. A tilt function on the electronic seat base, it only goes up and down, not tilt the front or rear.
4. The headlights, it should have projector headlights as standard equipment.
5. Have a full size spare, how many 4x4’s do you know that only supply a spacesaver!!
6. 10,000klm service interval when every other make is going for 15,000klm.
7. Paddle shifts on the steering wheel, most other makes now have them and I’m sure Nissan could fit them if they wanted.
8. There is no auto wipe when you put the windscreen washers on – WTF?? I thought every make had that.
9. A few more hidey holes for stuff would be nice, like maybe an underseat drawer on the front seats, or even a coin holder with lid somewhere.
All in all while being a somewhat unremarkable car in a lot of ways it is actually quite a remarkable car. Comfort is very good and I feel considerably more relaxed driving it. I actually enjoy driving again and now look forward to going somewhere, something I had lost over the years and only got excited about driving my son’s Golf GTI.
The standard inclusions list is very good but somewhat marred by the exclusion of some items that really should be there. It almost looks like Nissan has tried to “dazzle” buyers with some high tech inclusions at the cost of some basic things that really should be there.
All in all though I am still glad I chose the X-Trail over the Mitsubishi Outlander, Toyota Rav4. Ford Kuga and Mazda CX5. I still think as a package it is better than those rivals at the same price point. One thing for sure, it is certainly the best looking I reckon.
I have yet to take it off road, I've been too busy to put the mountain bike in the back and head bush but that will come soon enough.
Last edited by jalalski, 11/Jun/2014, 6:31 pm
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Lloyd, X-3703
T32 4x4 ST-L in Gun Metallic
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8/Jun/2014, 10:50 am
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Re:
The 4WD system on the x-trail is the on-demand type, which means the car is always driven in 2WD (front wheel drive) until the 4WD selector is engaged and/or when wheel slip/spin is detected. It should make any difference in terms of acceleration and cruising power between the two T32 models which have identical engines.
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12/Jun/2014, 2:00 pm
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Re:
Won't be that noticeable to make a difference at all.
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12/Jun/2014, 8:12 pm
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t32stl
X-TRAIL NEWBIE
Date Registered: 07-2014
TOTAL POSTS: 12
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Re: Ownership thoughts after 3,000klm
Hi all
So just clocked up 3,000km on my STL 2WD 7 seat. Just thought i would share my experience with the car...
Things i love:
After test driving a lot of other competitors in its class, the drive and handling was one thing that stood out for me, i have read reviews that say otherwise but i feel that the CVT and engine work together as a great package, and for a 2.5 there's definitely power there when you need it!
For its price point i thought the interior is nicely refined, could be a bit more storage but feels and looks good. A lot of room and rear seats are very roomy and comfortable as for the +2 seating well that's explained on things I don't love haha.
It's exterior was one thing that was really appealing to me as well, i replaced the headlights with whiter globes and looks fantastic now! Although the fog lights are a bit of a let down, i used to have a 2003 CRV and the foggies on that gave a lot more road coverage.
The cameras are nice, an audible warning at the rear would have been nice but oh well.
Things i don't love:
The smell of the faux leather interior, its ok now but for the 1st couple thousand k's a real skunk would get stuck in my throat driving the car, and i always had fresh air cycling through the cabin.
The 2 additional seats are small at bes, I knew this when I bought it though and they cab be used for 1 additional adult or 2 small kids.
The DAB issue everyone has, although i dont get it as much as some. I had it happen just after 1000k service over a week i think it happened 4 times. Then nothing for almost 2 months and then just yesterday happened again, still waiting on dealer system update (hopefully not BS).
ECO mode really helps out on the fuel, although the best i get is 7.6 and I have been running premium too. L J G any tricks to get 6.4? Are you on long freeway drives?
Overall really enjoying the car, could have had an outlander with every option under the sun but i drove 2 of them and both made an unusual noise from the front left strut over bumps, manufacturing default perhaps.
Love that car! Xtrail that is! 
Last edited by t32stl, 25/Aug/2014, 5:50 pm
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17/Aug/2014, 10:11 pm
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I'm looking to see what mads are out for this model. I would love LED metal scuff plates.
