New X-trail 171 bhp problems?

[xtrailman]

I've just had a test drive in the new xtrail.

I like the car, but would like to hear any problems present owners may have.

The cars only been out a year so the what car forum has nothing negative on it.

Low 30s mpg being the only negative.

I drove the 148 bhp version, which didnt hill climb as well as my present 2.2 sve, but it is'nt a problem, just needs to drop a gear.

So from that i assume the 171 should be fine?

Feedback on tow bar height would be great, to enable a decision on the make to fit.

 

[Duggie_374362603]

Ray i had a 55 plate 2.2 xtrail great car but had 3 turbo,s in 40,ooo go onto witter towbars website will give you the towball height it should be within legal heights so should not be a problem

hope this helps

Duggie

 

[Bryan_374360331]

Hi Ray

I have the 171 X-Trail, just over a year old and with 14000 miles covered.

Long-term fuel consumption measured tank-to-tank is about 42 mpg, a little less in winter and a little more in summer. That's in mixed driving. Travel at more than 70mph and the awful aerodynamics take their toll. Towing an 1100kg caravan - 28-30 mpg. I leave the drive in auto 4WD solo or towing.

No problems so far (fingers crossed). Power seems pretty adequate. Tows my Bailey van level - no problems.

Coming from a VW there were some petty annoyances to do with the lack of effort by Nissan's electrics designer, but I've forgotten most of them .

Bry

 

[Bryan_374360331]

Oh yes - our towbar is a Witter. Not particularly pretty but neither is the rest of the car.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I have had 3 of the older model XT 2.2 diesels and now have had the new model 148bhp for over a year

I find the performance better than the old model and maybe the one you tried needed to be run in more as diesels take a while to free up

My mpg is not as impressive as the figures quoted above and 37 seems the best on mainly 10 mile runs

It pulls the Award Nightstar @ 1550kg max with ease

I always use "auto" and have the air con on

When joining the main road we have to pull out onto a steep hill and it just flies up it

We live at the top(from one direction) of a very steep(1 in 4) narrow and winding hill with passing places of sorts

The XT has no problem at all and is at least as good as the previous ones and usually better

The hill start is great if you meet another vehicle coming down and have to stop

The only problem I have found if it is a problem is that the rear suspension has settled and is softer than the old models so that I have fitted M A D spring assisters.

Overall the car is great and the sat nav rear view camera etc pack is god with the camera especially so when backing up to the caravan

We also have the Witter towbar

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I have had 3 of the older model XT 2.2 diesels and now have had the new model 148bhp for over a year

I find the performance better than the old model and maybe the one you tried needed to be run in more as diesels take a while to free up

My mpg is not as impressive as the figures quoted above and 37 seems the best on mainly 10 mile runs

It pulls the Award Nightstar @ 1550kg max with ease

I always use "auto" and have the air con on

When joining the main road we have to pull out onto a steep hill and it just flies up it

We live at the top(from one direction) of a very steep(1 in 4) narrow and winding hill with passing places of sorts

The XT has no problem at all and is at least as good as the previous ones and usually better

The hill start is great if you meet another vehicle coming down and have to stop

The only problem I have found if it is a problem is that the rear suspension has settled and is softer than the old models so that I have fitted M A D spring assisters.

Overall the car is great and the sat nav rear view camera etc pack is god with the camera especially so when backing up to the caravan

We also have the Witter towbar

Last week we took the van in for service and on pulling out onto the hill the outfit was much quicker than the solo car in front

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I have had 3 of the older model XT 2.2 diesels and now have had the new model 148bhp for over a year

I find the performance better than the old model and maybe the one you tried needed to be run in more as diesels take a while to free up

My mpg is not as impressive as the figures quoted above and 37 seems the best on mainly 10 mile runs

It pulls the Award Nightstar @ 1550kg max with ease

I always use "auto" and have the air con on

When joining the main road we have to pull out onto a steep hill and it just flies up it

We live at the top(from one direction) of a very steep(1 in 4) narrow and winding hill with passing places of sorts

The XT has no problem at all and is at least as good as the previous ones and usually better

The hill start is great if you meet another vehicle coming down and have to stop

The only problem I have found if it is a problem is that the rear suspension has settled and is softer than the old models so that I have fitted M A D spring assisters.

Overall the car is great and the sat nav rear view camera etc pack is god with the camera especially so when backing up to the caravan

We also have the Witter towbar

The newer model is higher geared than the 2.2 so that has to be allowed for when climbing hills but is better on the motorway

 

[darren_374234478]

Hi Watson(JohnG)

I also have the new xt 171 hp and i must say am very pleased with it. Performance towing our pageant Champagne is very good, although i do find that it travels slightly nose down, which becomes an issue sometimes with the jocky wheel be to low. Do the MAD spring assisters help ith this problem? Also can you fit them yourself, or do i need a machanic? I also have the Witter towbar. I would like a towbar cycle carrier but could not even think of it as it is. With the 100kg nose limit, i should be able to load the van sensibly and put one bike on ok.

Darren

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Hi Darren

I fitted them myself and they improve handling(less roll) without spoiling the ride

The van now rides almost level but slightly nose down

You have to jack the car up and remove the wheel

The new spring then has to be threaded inside the existing one which is tricky but do-able

It sits on a top hat shaped seat and you then have to lever(against the existing spring) the top half of the spring down while fitting a similar shaped seating into the top of the spring

You need a long lever.I used a crowbar about 3 feet long and had an assistant to pop in the seating while the spring was being compressed

To do it easily you really need a lever with a rounded almost spoon like section at the end that will allow pressure on the new spring without slipping off

It shows you the type of lever in the instructions

They cost

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Hi Darren

I fitted them myself and they improve handling(less roll) without spoiling the ride

The van now rides almost level but slightly nose down

You have to jack the car up and remove the wheel

The new spring then has to be threaded inside the existing one which is tricky but do-able

It sits on a top hat shaped seat and you then have to lever(against the existing spring) the top half of the spring down while fitting a similar shaped seating into the top of the spring

You need a long lever.I used a crowbar about 3 feet long and had an assistant to pop in the seating while the spring was being compressed

To do it easily you really need a lever with a rounded almost spoon like section at the end that will allow pressure on the new spring without slipping off

It shows you the type of lever in the instructions

They cost

 

[xtrailman]

Thank you for your comments.

It appears that not many own the new xtrail as yet.

The first xtrail was i feel way in front of the field.

Now though i count a lest 17 options available!

With the first xtrail maybe only six?

Will let you know if i manage to get one. At the price im willing to pay.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Thank you for your comments.

It appears that not many own the new xtrail as yet.

The first xtrail was i feel way in front of the field.

Now though i count a lest 17 options available!

With the first xtrail maybe only six?

Will let you know if i manage to get one. At the price im willing to pay.

Good luck --its the time to buy now

 

[Trevor_374396997]

I have had my 148 since september, and love it however do not even consider the auto.

My son works for a Nissan dealer and he told me to use the Intellient 4 X4 which i do and this makes about 4mpg better consumption. Get abot 41 solo

towed to Holland in the snow no problems at all

Highly recommend

 

[xtrailman]

Update

i ordered the 171 xtrail yesterday.

if all goes to plan should have it in a couple of week.

I drove the crv but found it little different to my 2.2 sve.

The forester 2l diesel was impressive, but the interior was out dated for 25k.

I was hopeing the Q5 would fit the bill, but a 80kg nose weight killed that.

Wife liked the volvo s60 (i think thats the number) but the interior i thought was a dissapointment.

I swore to never buy a nissan again, due to the poor dealers,

and the fact that the engine is now a renault unit.

But the xtrail still ticks all the boxes, including the chain cam, no belt to snap.

Just keep my fingers crossed that the reliability is good.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Update

i ordered the 171 xtrail yesterday.

if all goes to plan should have it in a couple of week.

I drove the crv but found it little different to my 2.2 sve.

The forester 2l diesel was impressive, but the interior was out dated for 25k.

I was hopeing the Q5 would fit the bill, but a 80kg nose weight killed that.

Wife liked the volvo s60 (i think thats the number) but the interior i thought was a dissapointment.

I swore to never buy a nissan again, due to the poor dealers,

and the fact that the engine is now a renault unit.

But the xtrail still ticks all the boxes, including the chain cam, no belt to snap.

Just keep my fingers crossed that the reliability is good.

I thought that the new engine was a belt --anyone else know?

 

[xtrailman]

Watson(john g)

Could i ask you to reply to the original message john.

I have noticed that although you had replied i was still named as the last to post.

So i was unaware at a glance to the forum list that you had actually repied.

Hope i dont sound petty.

On the subject of the latest xtrail you could be correct, it may be belt.

I read a roadtest of the Qashqai on honest john, and i thought he said it was a twin chain cam.

I may of misread it. It refered i think to the 148bhp unit.

It is very difficult to get any technical imfo on the nissan site ,even the options arn't clear.

 

[Bryan_374360331]

The service schedule for the X-Trail 2.0 diesel doesn't mention a belt change, so it must have a chain.... I suppose/hope....

Bry

 

[Bryan_374360331]

Ah - here you go:

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=1207
"2.0 dCi 175 chain cam engine for New Laguna Hatch and Sport Tourer open for ordering 4th December 2007"

Don't worry - it's made for French drivers...

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Watson(john g)

Could i ask you to reply to the original message john.

I have noticed that although you had replied i was still named as the last to post.

So i was unaware at a glance to the forum list that you had actually repied.

Hope i dont sound petty.

On the subject of the latest xtrail you could be correct, it may be belt.

I read a roadtest of the Qashqai on honest john, and i thought he said it was a twin chain cam.

I may of misread it. It refered i think to the 148bhp unit.

It is very difficult to get any technical imfo on the nissan site ,even the options arn't clear.

I have replied twice plus comments ??

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Thanks Brian

I was sure that I had read that it was a cambelt but Honest John doesn't seem to think so

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Ray

I was told by Witter that the towball height was 450mm to top of ball

It was that on delivery but the suspension settled somewhat and so I fitted the MAD spring assisters

Its difficult to get specific towbar heights

I went back with my XT about the suspension height and they measured the empty vehicle(no tools etc) and it was 17in from the rear wheel arch to the centre of the hub which they said was correct

What they didn't measure was how much the springs deflected under load

 

[WatsonJohnG]

It now measures 450mm to top of ball with a lot of tools etc in the boot and it doesn't compress as much under load with the MADs

 

[xtrailman]

Thanks for that john.

i will measure my tow ball today.

At present i have the witter, with the van on the ride height is just right.

 

[xtrailman]

Trevor

When you say your son said use the vehicle in auto, and save 4mpg, did you mean over the auto version, or over the fwd option?

I have always used my xtrail in auto from day one, i just dont see the point in fwd.

 

[jacky3]

Thank you for your comments.

It appears that not many own the new xtrail as yet.

The first xtrail was i feel way in front of the field.

Now though i count a lest 17 options available!

With the first xtrail maybe only six?

Will let you know if i manage to get one. At the price im willing to pay.

hi

i have the x trail 2.0lt 173 bhp and its awsome.had teranno 3.0lt sve and this car is better all round,you won't be dissapointed