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Look out Toyota RAV4 Hybrid! New Nissan X-Trail e-Power fuel and power figures revealed - reports

Is the Nissan X-Trail e-Power a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid conquerer?

Nissan's X-Trail will adopt an e-Power engine generating 140kW and 330Nm, while sipping a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid-equalling 5.0L/100km on the combined cycle, according to new media reports.

Japan's Best Car Web is reporting a scoop on an incoming electrified X-Trail - which will be Nissan's best shot yet at tackling the dominant Toyota RAV4 Hybrid - and, if proven accurate, the numbers are looking strong.

According to the Japanese news site, the e-Power X-Trail will be equipped with the same second-gen e-Power system as the new Qashqai, which will mean 140kW of power and 330Nm of torque. But unlike its smaller sibling, the new X-Trail is also expected be offered in AWD guise.

For reference, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid makes up to 163kW combined from its 2.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor.

The X-Trail is also expected to return fuel figures of around 5.0L/100km combined on the WLTP cycle, which again should see it about on-par with its core rival, with the Toyota hybrid system returning around 4.7L/100km.

But the big difference is what powers the wheels. Most brands' hybrid systems - including the powertrain Toyota uses in its RAV4, Corolla, Camry, Prius and Kluger, or Subaru uses in its XV and Forester - allow both electric and petrol to power the vehicle, but Nissan's e-Power tech works differently.

With e-Power, the petrol motor is used exclusively to recharge the on-board lithium-ion battery, with only the electric motor used to power the driving wheels. It's this, says, Nissan, that separates it from the pack.

Best Car Web is also reporting that a plug-in hybrid will follow around 12 months after the launch of the e-Power model, borrowing its powertrain from its Alliance sibling, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

Nissan in Australia is yet to confirm an e-Power X-Trail for our market, but has locked in the Qashqai e-Power for a local launch.

Nissan Australia boss Adam Paterson said e-Power offers drivers the benefits of an electric drivetrain without needing to plug in.

“Nissan prides itself on delivering Intelligent Mobility solutions in every vehicle, and nowhere is that more obvious than with this Nissan-exclusive solution,” he says.

“While a traditional hybrid adds battery power to an internal-combustion engine, e-Power delivers an EV-like driving experience, including exhilarating acceleration and near-silent operation, all while drastically reducing your fuel use and emissions.

Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist
Andrew Chesterton should probably hate cars. From his hail-damaged Camira that looked like it had spent a hard life parked at the end of Tiger Woods' personal driving range, to the Nissan Pulsar Reebok that shook like it was possessed by a particularly mean-spirited demon every time he dared push past 40km/h, his personal car history isn't exactly littered with gold. But that seemingly endless procession of rust-savaged hate machines taught him something even more important; that cars are more than a collection of nuts, bolts and petrol. They're your ticket to freedom, a way to unlock incredible experiences, rolling invitations to incredible adventures. They have soul. And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard. When "Chesto" started his journalism career with News Ltd's Sunday and Daily Telegraph newspapers, he covered just about everything, from business to real estate, courts to crime, before settling into state political reporting at NSW Parliament House. But the automotive world's siren song soon sounded again, and he begged anyone who would listen for the opportunity to write about cars. Eventually they listened, and his career since has seen him filing car news, reviews and features for TopGear, Wheels, Motor and, of course, CarsGuide, as well as many, many others. More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will.
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