Convinced with the new X-Trail, the reason why Nissan is aware of its weaknesses and promotes “e-POWER” Its driving performance that compensates for the negative in terms of fuel efficiency and its sharing with BEV (1/3) | JBpress (JBpress)

Its driving performance more than makes up for the negative fuel economy and sharing with BEV

4th generation X-Trail.In Japan, it became a hybrid-only car.

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(Koichiro Imoto: Automotive journalist)

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., which was in a difficult situation following the “gone shock”, is on the offensive this year. In January, the BEV (battery electric vehicle) “Aria” medium-sized SUV was released, in June the BEV “Sakura” light vehicle was released, and on July 25, the fourth-generation “X-Trail” medium-sized SUV was released. Compared to the Showa to early Heisei era, the number of new car product announcements has decreased dramatically, and it is rare to see three big products in a row in half a year.

Light BEV Sakura debuted in June.The product has already dispelled the view that some people think that mini vehicles cannot survive the electrification era.

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Specs of the “New X-Trail” that are unsatisfactory as an eco-car

Among them, this time, I would like to pay attention to X-TRAIL, who served as a three-shot bird. Unlike the previous two models, the new X-Trail is a hybrid car that cannot be charged from an external power source. The car itself was released in North America in 2020 under the name “Rogue”, so there is nothing new. Following the compact SUV “Kicks” and the subcompact passenger car “Note”, Nissan made the Japanese specification a hybrid-only model.

The current second-generation notebook that has become a hybrid-only car (photographed by the author)

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In addition to the series hybrid system “e-POWER” that uses the engine only for power generation and runs on 100% electric motors, a new type of electric AWD (four-wheel drive) improves driving performance by independently controlling the driving force of the four wheels. ) System “e-4ORCE” is newly installed. The maximum output is 150 kW (204 ps) for both FWD (front wheel drive) and AWD.

4th generation X-Trail.Equipped with a powerful electric four-wheel drive system with 204 horsepower front and 136 horsepower rear

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There is a feeling that every effort has been made to improve the product appeal, but as long as it cannot be charged from an external power source, the hybrid is nothing more than a technology to reduce fuel consumption. This is a point that is decisively different from Aria and Sakura, which can reduce CO2 emissions as much as possible by using electricity derived from clean energy.

The specs of the X-Trail as an eco-car are not top runners as a medium-sized SUV hybrid car. Comparing the WLTC mode fuel efficiency, which is the current exhaust gas and fuel efficiency examination value between AWD, 20.6 km / l (liter) of Toyota “RAV4”, 20.2 km / l of Honda “CR-V”, 18.4 km / l stay at l.

The reason for this is thought to be that Nissan’s e-POWER uses the engine only for power generation. It is not always the most efficient for the engine to generate power, and depending on the situation, it may be better to use the engine power for driving as it is without converting it to electric power.

Toyota’s hybrid system has a mechanism that allows the engine power to be distributed steplessly between power generation and direct drive, while Honda has a mechanism that allows the engine power to be used directly for driving when cruising at a speed above a certain level or during moderate acceleration. It can be said that the weak point of e-POWER is that it can only generate power until it is advantageous for direct drive by the engine.

Interior of the 4th generation X-Trail

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