Diesel XTrail Opinions

Once these type of 4WD's and AWD's would not have been even considered as having any place among the "proper so called 4WD's....ie landcruiser/ patrol/ disco/ etc".

However I have noticed that just lately 4WD magazines are starting to do serious articles about their offroad manners and abilities.......WHY?

For 2 reasons...1 the price of fuel
2 their increasing popularity

We of the old school have had our day..... but there is a new, young and savvy generation rising up who are taking these vehicles on and achieving the unthinkable with them....ie simpson desert crossing etc...these vehicles are light, powerfull and very cheap to run.

When I did the GCR and the GRR...I was amazed with what I saw....and they just took these small vehicles out there in spite of us... : ) .....and HAD FUN.

Fraser? How much clearance does it have? Have lost count of the number of soft-roaders I've pulled/seen pulled out of the soft sand on Fraser...

Not sure the X-Trail has a low-range? There are times when Low Range is the only way out......

The ground clearance may be an issue as well..... particularly in some places on Fraser Island.

Happy to be corrected on either of the above!

Cheers

Brian

We ran a Freelander offroad for 4 years and had a ball. No low range, 180mm clearance but nothing that a solid skid plate, snatch strap, shovel, winch and a heavy right foot could not cope with.

Our biggest problems were soft sand and ruts that the bigger 4wd's had made in.

We did some awesome things in it but are glad we now own and use a Rangie and Troopy off road.

Most of the modern soft off roaders do not have anywhere to attach a solid skid plate to, I know my mate has my old Freelander skid plate for his X-Trail but there is no where to mount it and it looks like it he a very expensive gearbox in the firing line for rocks, etc which is limiting where he can go

However we are considering downsizing the Rangie next year and our problem is what to buy as we still want to get around some seriously soft rutted sand. The Troopy being a camper is really only a 2 seater and we need a 4/5 seater for the sand. That is next years problem so I am not expecting replies as to what I should buy right now.

Stevesub

There was an earlier thread in these forums referring to the relatively poor economy of the diesel model when compared to the fuel version.

In fact here we go. (Nissan Australia Spec)

Petrol 9.3 Litres / 100KM
Diesel 8.1 Litres / 100KM

Based on this you wouldn't buy the Diesel just for a fuel saving, not having driven either you would perhaps drive both and make your own mind, I would think the Diesel model to make better torque down low.

Petrol 226nm @ 4400RPM (Note the high rpm spec of 4400)
Diesel 320-360nm @ 2000RPM (Manual / Auto 320-360nm)

The diesel would have far better towing pull and thrust off the mark with those torque figures, you may want the wife to approve the noticeably louder and bang bang diesel engine vs the Petrol.

Hi

Have at look at where these guys go with their Xtrails

http://www.australianxtrail.com.au/Forum.htm

With the previous model you could buy a front bashplate, fit a smaller muffler and a 30mm lift kit and they become quite a good offroader.

Cheers

Darryl

I now drive a Disco 3... and have had a lot of "real" 4WDs over the past 35 years.

However I used to own a Hyundai Tucson that I lifted to the same height as a standard Pajero. I took that to Fraser Island twice. Switched off the traction control, locked in AWD and away we went all over the island. At Lake Mackenzie I had drivers of "real" 4WDs asking me how I got there. Tyre pressures at 18 PSI.

However..... on the second trip when they hadn't had rain for 8 weeks and the inland tracks were churned up... the old Hyundai met it's match. I borrowed a lifted Pajero and it really struggled to get around. The rain bringing moisture and therefore "density" to the sand made it easy the first time. I even passed a BMW X5 at Central Forest Station.

I guess the answer in short is that your XTRAIL will go a long way if you have good off road driving skills.... and know its limitations so you don't damage the car, the bush and yourself.

Happy travels.

Mark T

Know very little about diesel xtrails but know 3 people who have owned petrol versions and all had the clutches fail with less than 20'000 kms on the clock and 2 of those had never towed, one of them had only done gold coast/brisbane return every day.
The one that did tow had towed a tinny once since then has towed a tinny a little and has had another clutch in and g'box rebuilt TWICE, the second rebuild due to the shonky first rebuild which gave it a habit of poping out of gear on hwy.
hope they put an Extreme! clutch in the diesels......

Have you thought about the Pathfinder? It has the low range & separate chassis and has decent clearance (220mm I think)?