In the old days, driving an SUV was proof that you led an active lifestyle, pretty much like sporting a tan.
An active lifestyle, everybody knows, is much better than an
inactive one. An inactive lifestyle leads to bigger pants, a pallid
complexion and diminished attractiveness to the opposite sex.
Driving an SUV, we were told, changed all that. It made us seem virile, athletic and a lot more fun to be with.
Today, SUV makers still flog the
"active lifestyle" horse, even though a sport-utility vehicle is a different beast from what it was 20 years ago.
Hard, angular shapes that maximised functionality and ruggedness
have given way to soft, urbane silhouettes that blend in with the
cityscape.
More radically, many have begun offering a third row of seats. Now,
as every parent knows, it is easier for pigs to fly than for people
with more than three children to have an "active lifestyle".
So who are the extra seats for? The in-laws? Well, those are usually the antithesis of lifestyle, active or otherwise.
Which brings us to Nissan's new X-Trail. Forget everything you know
about the original X-Trail, which was a boxy, no-nonsense car built for
outdoorsy men who brew coffee over an open fire.
The new model is based on the Qashqai, a modern crossover that would squeal if you drive over a puddle.
It is not an unattractive car per se. In fact, from many angles, it
comes across as well-proportioned and sharply dressed, with all the
cues you would find in a modern crossover.
But it is not something you expect of an X-Trail.
There is no resemblance, no matter how long and hard you look. It is
like staring at a close relative who has just emerged from a season of
Extreme Makeover.
Then, there is that third row of seats. It is the smallest and tightest row of seats in town.
Thankfully, it can be collapsed completely flat to free up a decent
amount of cargo space. Quite likely, that would be the default mode
because with the last row of seats up, there is hardly space for an
overnight bag.
Ignore that small degree of pretentiousness that most SUVs are prone to these days and the new X-Trail is a fair proposition.
It has lots of room for five, a panoramic sunroof and a slew of
contemporary features, some of which are a tad irrelevant in Singapore.
These include automatic hill descent, which helps the driver get the
car down from a steep, craggy hillside. You might want to activate this
if you are coming down from a carpark ramp.
As before, there is a rotary switch that lets you choose whether you
want the car to be in permanent front-wheel, all- wheel or Auto mode.
You are supposed to be able to open the tailgate by merely waving
your hand at a sensor located near the number plate lights. But in
practice, you need to at least touch the sensor.
The X-Trail is equipped for road trips. Cruise control makes long
drives less tedious, navigation ensures you do not get lost, powerful
dual-zone airconditioning keeps everybody onboard happy and a tiny air
vent in the cupholders keeps beverages chilled.
The car's 2-litre engine is a tad underwhelming, but paired with a
cold, efficient CVT gearbox, it gets the X-Trail moving without too
much fuss.
Just do not expect exhilaration and excitement, which are low on the X-Trail's priorities.
The car does not even have a manual mode for its transmission.
Passengers will fare better. The ride is rather comfortable, with
reasonably well-controlled damping that takes the edge off rebounds
from speed humps and poor surfaces. In fact, its ride is even better
than the Nissan Sylphy's. The cabin is adequately insulated too.
In other words, it is rather ideal for the modern suburban family of two to five and, quite possibly, up to seven.
As for "active lifestyle", just put on the latest Nike trainers and a pair of Ray-Bans before getting behind the wheel.
Specs
NISSAN X-TRAIL
Price: From $148,800 with COE
Engine: 1,997cc 16-valve inline-4
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 144bhp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,400rpm
0-100kmh: 12.1 seconds
Top speed: 180kmh
Fuel consumption: 7.5 litres/100km
