Nissan X trail Diesel questions
Submitted: Friday, Sep 25, 2009 at 22:54
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mattd
Hopefully the wealth of knowledge can help,
The wife, myself and 2 kids under 4 and small dog, are planning a 5 month trip, starting in
melbourne, up the east coast, across to
Darwin, and home via Alice and
Adelaide. We will be towing a
Tambo camper weighing in around 800kg. We will stick mainly to the "black top", due to standard hitch and limited 4wd experience, but would like to do some beach and light off road trips.
We are thinking of buying a new Nissan X trail diesel manual. Wondering if anyone has some comments regarding this car. Thought I might include some stastistics about the car.
1. Fuel consumption highway 7.0 lt per 100km
2. Fuel consumption towing camper 8.5 lt per 100km. Tested by me on weekend demo
3. 360 nm at 2000 rpm
4. New AT tires all round
5. New springs(Kings) with airbags in rear. Total lift 40 mm from standard
Just wondering if this vehicle is up to the challange, and could get us into some out of the way
places. Anyone who has done the same with an x trail, I would like to hear and see some of the
places visited, and what you put it through.
Any thoughts or comments would be
well received.
Thanks,
Mattd
Reply By: Traveller - Saturday, Sep 26, 2009 at 08:44
Saturday, Sep 26, 2009 at 08:44
Can't help you with the diesel as we have the petrol model.
The XTrail is a good little commuter and softroader. It is mainly built from plastic and most of the parts like linkages and axles etc are very light in construction. The petrol is economical enough but suffers when towing. We have had a good run from our Xtrail so far at 107000km with no issues. I have seen Xtrails on beaches and also crossing the
Simpson Desert but we don't use our car for such journeys(we have a proper 4by for the hard stuff...lol). An Xtrail should take you to most out of the
places as long as you bear in mind that it is only a lightweight car without low range gearing
AnswerID:
384677
Follow Up By: Who was that again? (Vic) - Sunday, Sep 27, 2009 at 16:16
Sunday, Sep 27, 2009 at 16:16
Better half is interested you got over 100K already. Seems only a little while back it was bought.
FollowupID:
652590
Reply By: Member - Toyocrusa (NSW) - Saturday, Sep 26, 2009 at 11:16
Saturday, Sep 26, 2009 at 11:16
Hi Matt. Don't want to confuse things too much but have you looked at a Hyundai Santa Fe CRD. The later models are an excellent vehicle with similar economy to the X Trail. I am a self employed mechanic and I have a customer who has just completed 15000km towing a 16ft Corimal poptop van over the same area as you intend to travel. His worst fuel figure was 10l/100k The car was comfortable and towed efortlessly. He had a Subaru Outback 2.5l previously and said there was no comparison as the Hyundai ran rings around it in all aspects. Both vehicles were/are autos. Regards,Bob.
AnswerID:
384698
Follow Up By: mikehzz - Saturday, Sep 26, 2009 at 11:28
Saturday, Sep 26, 2009 at 11:28
I'll second that.
I was at
Stockton in a tag along tour a few months ago and one of the cars was a Santa Fe diesel. After a shakey start where the driver was still learning what to do, it actually went very
well for the rest of the day. It got up some pretty decent dunes and surprised everyone.
Mike
FollowupID:
652439
Reply By: Member - William H (WA) - Saturday, Sep 26, 2009 at 13:21
Saturday, Sep 26, 2009 at 13:21
Get your self a Toyota...............you wont regret it.
Cheers for now.....William h...Bunbury...WA.
AnswerID:
384713
Reply By: kingswoodwagon - Saturday, Sep 26, 2009 at 21:18
Saturday, Sep 26, 2009 at 21:18
We did a trip from W.A. up the East Coast and back to W.A. in 2007 with a petrol auto x-tail towing a offroad eagle camper weighing around 1.5t loaded.
We drove mostly on road towing at 100km/h.
Standard road tyres. Heavy Duty rear springs.
Fuel consumption was high while towing at 100km/h. Which is no surprise.
The car went
well, no problems towing. Theres enough room in the car for 4 and a dog. I believe the new x-
trails have even more space than our 2005 model.
We have had a couple of x-
trails new - and done 150,000km in each of them. We found them good on
the beach, launching dingys at
the beach and great to drive on the gravel.
They dont have much underbody protection, so I wouldnt go joining the local weekend warrior 4WD club.
Our decision to buy x-
trails were based on kW's. They had much more power than any other 4cyl in the same range - and had a 2tonne tow rating. If a diesel was available back then - we would have bought one.
AnswerID:
384751
Reply By: Member - Ian H (NSW) - Saturday, Sep 26, 2009 at 22:00
Saturday, Sep 26, 2009 at 22:00
Before you decide take a look at a sit called "www.motorsm.com/complaints" and go to category, then Nissan then Xtrail. Some very disturbing reports.
Like someone else said" buy Toyota". I think the Xtrail looks a nice little car but I think they also have problems like their big brothers Patrol and Navara.
Good luck with the decision.
AnswerID:
384754
Follow Up By: Traveller - Sunday, Sep 27, 2009 at 07:34
Sunday, Sep 27, 2009 at 07:34
Toyotas are by no means trouble free AND you pay up to a 25% premium for the honour of owning one
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Reply By: Best Off Road - Sunday, Sep 27, 2009 at 08:53
Sunday, Sep 27, 2009 at 08:53
Matt,
You might also add the Kia Sorento to your shopping list. Excellent vehicle which will give you the ability to tow something larger and do some serious off roading should your needs change with time.
Jim.
AnswerID:
384769
Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Sunday, Sep 27, 2009 at 17:51
Sunday, Sep 27, 2009 at 17:51
Just dont buy a petrol one.
My neighbour had both models and couldnt believe how thirsty both of them were.
Would also say with who you want to take you would be cramped for space as they sure arent commodious in the space dept.
Cheers
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652605
Reply By: ozjohn0 - Monday, Sep 28, 2009 at 10:57
Monday, Sep 28, 2009 at 10:57
I was very impressed with the quality of finish for the Kia Sorento.
If anyone is considering one buy the current model.
Max Tow is 2800kg with a max Ball Weight of 280kg.
The next model will be down graded to a smaller motor with a max Tow Weight of only 2000kg and a Ball Weight of 200kg. They are also going to do away with the Ladder Rail Chassis on the new model.
Kia being 39% owned by Hyundai it looks as though the Sorento is going to finish up as a Santa Fe clone.
ozjohn.
AnswerID:
384891