Anyone following Nissan will know by now their brand of choice is kicking it into high gear this year and has launched a quartet of Company Vehicle relevant – well, mostly – products in the first quarter.
Three of those vehicles are SUVs, the fourth – the Nissan Z – has also arrived.
All vehicles are scheduled for evaluation drives later this month, but for now, in the absence of an official launch from Nissan, here’s a little teaser of what we’re expecting.
New Qashqai
Qashqai now has an incrementally more powerful 1.3-litre turbocharged engine with 110kW on tap and 250Nm of torque – all of which goes to the ground via a newly developed X-Tronic automatic CVT transmission.
For its fourth generation, the Qashqai comes to market with four familiar Nissan grades: St, ST+, ST-L and Ti – all of which are five-star ANCAP safety rated through Nissan’s inclusion of blind spot intervention, intelligent cruise, and centre far-side airbags.
Other features throughout the range include a 12.3-inch HD infotainment with wireless Apple Carplay, wired Android Auto, satellite navigation and Around View monitor.
The upper end ST-L model boasts advanced Pro-PILOT semi-autonomous driving and safety aids, wireless phone charging, heated steering wheel and heated front seats.
Qashqai’s flagship Ti incorporates a 10.8-inch Head Up Display, integrated with the navigation and infotainment systems, a quilted leather interior with massage function on the front seats, 12.3-inch full TFT instrument cluster, hands-free power tailgate and a 10-speaker premium BOSE audio system.
X-Trail
Nissan’s most technologically advanced SUV, the Nissan X-Trail e-Power with e-4ORCE arrives in either ST-L or Ti-L grades, with five seat configurations and AWD.
The X-Trail’s e-POWER with e-4ORCE system is comprised of a high-output 1.8kWh battery integrated with a variable compression ratio petrol engine, power generator, inverter and twin electric motors (150kW front axle, 100kW rear axle with a combined system output of 157kW) powering the wheels.
Power for the electric motors and battery is generated by a highly advanced variable compression turbocharged petrol engine which runs quietly in the background to feed the battery, which then supplies power to the electric motors via the inverter.
The e-4ORCE twin-motor all-wheel drive system delivers reassuring traction and confident acceleration in all conditions thanks to Nissan’s most advanced all-wheel-control technology.
X-Trail is extremely generously specified and pricing for the electrified X-Trail range sees the ST-L e-POWER with e-4ORCE at $62,990, followed by the X-Trail Ti-L e-POWER with e-4ORCE at $66,990.
Pathfinder
The Pathfinder has been comprehensively redesigned for 2022, with a dramatic new exterior design, significant additional safety features and a new nine-speed automatic transmission complete with wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
The new gearbox pairs perfectly with Nissan’s potent V6 petrol engine (202kW and 340Nm), allowing for effortless acceleration and easy overtaking.
A specific tow mode and trailer stability program allows for easy towing of up to 2700kg.
Nissan’s advanced Pro-PILOT semi-autonomous driving system also makes its debut on Pathfinder as a standard inclusion on the ST+ model upwards.
A 10.8-inch Head Up Display (HUD) is introduced as standard across all models, projecting key information, including turn-by-turn satellite navigation.
An upgrade to the infotainment system also spans all models, with integrated wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, four USB charging points are standard, as are two 12-volt outlets.
The MY22 Nissan Pathfinder will be offered in ST, ST-L and Ti grades with highlight features including EZ Flex latch-and-glide seating adjustment, 10.8-inch Head Up Display underbody protection, the option of captain’s chairs in the second row (reverting seating capacity to seven), and a “smart” rear view mirror with switchable digital imagery.
