The Nissan X-Trail has finally been electrified. It would’ve been such a good headline for a local news story had it arrived maybe just a few years earlier. But it’s 2026, and it’s only now that this SUV has been given the e-Power treatment.

Frankly, it’s been a bit baffling what Nissan has done with the X-Trail in the Philippines. This model has been teased and previewed so many times in the years leading up to its official arrival. In this same extended period, for all we know, Nissan could already be developing the next-generation model. By the time the X-Trail e-Power launched at the last Philippine International Motor Show, it already felt dated.

Being dated, however, doesn’t automatically mean it’s a bad car, which was why there was still some excitement when I learned I’d finally be able to get my hands on it. I was actually able to drive this in Japan a few years back, so frankly, I was eager to see if this hybrid could still stack up against the competition in 2026. Is it too late to the game, or is it just in time?

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Styling

PHOTO BY Leandre Grecia

As old as the platform is, I’d still have to tip my hat to Nissan—this is a solid design. That V-Motion grille on this fourth-generation X-Trail has, at the very least, aged well for this era of automotive design. It looked a bit futuristic when it first launched several years ago, so it looks apt for the times today. But more important, it’s not just a rebadged Mitsubishi, so the styling is unique to this model.

There isn’t too much chrome on the front or rear, and there’s just enough contrast courtesy of the black plastic cladding underneath and the two-tone finish on the wheels. The rear is nothing spectacular, but at least it doesn’t look too busy. At least on the outside, this still looks like a car that would easily pass off as new in 2026.

Interior

PHOTO BY Leandre Grecia

The inside, however, is questionable. I wouldn’t be surprised if you mistook this as a sub-P2-million SUV rather than a compact hybrid that goes toe-to-toe with the likes of the all-new Toyota RAV4. For me, it’s here in the cabin where the X-Trail really shows its age.

Not because it looks really old, but because it doesn’t feel too ‘new’ compared to the likes of the Terra and Kicks. Sure, there’s more leather inside, and the wood trim on the dash is a nice touch, but all the controls here feel old. The steering wheel design, the instrument cluster, and the center console layout with all the buttons it houses—you get that feeling you’ve seen all of this before. And you have.

PHOTO BY Leandre Grecia

But let’s not even compare it to its stablemates—competitors like the RAV4, the Honda CR-V, and the Hyundai Tucson have more well-thought-out cabins. In the X-Trail, there’s a sheer lack of storage space. There’s a cubby underneath the center stack, but the opening is tight and it’s not the easiest to access, especially from behind the wheel. What the X-Trail e-Power lacked in interior quality, it could’ve made up for in functionality, but sadly, it isn’t the case.

Fortunately, there’s decent space for four passengers—maybe even five. There’s plenty of legroom in the second row with average-sized Filipinos on board. The floor is also flat, so there isn’t any tunnel getting in the way of the feet of rear passengers. You can also fit a few large pieces of luggage in the trunk, which also gets a tonneau cover as standard.

Engine performance

PHOTO BY Leandre Grecia

Nissan’s e-Power system was one of the true pioneers in the hybrid space and was also what helped push electrified models into the mainstream. It first arrived in the Kicks, and it’s now finally available in the X-Trail, and this I can tell you: It’s still as good as ever.

The X-Trail comes with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine paired with a 1.84kWh battery that’s mated to a single electric motor driving the front wheels. That internal combustion engine is the brand’s new (well, sort of) variable-compression turbo powertrain. To put it simply, the turbocharged engine uses varying compression ratios that adjust to optimize fuel efficiency and performance. True enough, it does its job excellently. It’s not a plug-in hybrid, but Nissan claims there’s about 1,000km of range on a single full tank here.

PHOTO BY Leandre Grecia

There’s plenty of power—201hp and 330Nm, to be exact—and the X-Trail is able to put it down easily. This being a series hybrid, meaning the wheels are always driven by the electric motor, there’s instant acceleration when you mash the accelerator. If you’ve driven the Kicks e-Power, it’s the same sensation, only there’s more oomph in the X-Trail.

Granted, the engine still whirs loudly like the generator that it is, but it’s a small price to pay to get a peppy hybrid powertrain that can do north of 20km/L with plenty of highway driving and light traffic in the city. Funny enough, the X-Trail had a dismal start during my drive, doing 11-12km/L in heavy traffic. The numbers started climbing as the roads opened up, and I eventually netted around 16-17km/L in mixed conditions after a few hundred kilometers. Still not the best in its segment, but decent performance nonetheless.

Ride and handling

PHOTO BY Leandre Grecia

Handling-wise, the X-Trail e-Power is about average. Piloting it around the city should be easy enough, as steering feels light at low speed and there’s excellent visibility from behind the wheel. As you get up to highway speeds, there’s more weight to the steering wheel, and it feels light through corners. For its size, it has solid road-holding, and there’s some confidence when you flick it around through twisties, but it’s still not the sharpest to drive in its segment.

As far as comfort goes, though, it’s better. Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats are still some of the best seats you can get in the market, and it plays a big role in terms of ride quality. That’s not to say that the suspension here doesn’t do its job well, because it does. Road imperfections are dealt with ease, and the ride remains plush on long, open stretches of asphalt. There’s decent noise insulation, and road vibrations don’t feel harsh inside the X-Trail e-Power. During heavy downpours, however, good luck holding a conversation with your passengers, as sound pierces easily through the roof.

Styling

Interior

Engine performance

Ride and handling

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