Nissan X-Trail Silver

Only petrol or hybrid powertrains will be available in this generation of X-Trail. The 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine includes mild-hybrid technology to extend stop-start periods and provides some engine-off coasting, too. It is available only with front-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox. That same turbocharged petrol engine is used for Nissan’s e-Power hybrid system, although the engine doesn’t directly drive the wheels in that car. Instead, it acts as an onboard generator for the hybrid battery, providing power to an electric motor driving the front wheels. In cars with the e-4orce dual-motor set-up there’s another at the rear for, effectively, all-wheel drive. The power delivery is impressively smooth thanks to those electric motors and, unlike some other hybrids, when you put your foot down the petrol engine doesn’t begin to rev excessively, resulting in a smoother and quieter driving experience. It’s not exactly like an electric car, but it is much closer than other hybrids have managed to date. A small battery means it can only cover short distances without running the petrol engine, though. Still, it does perform well in urban or city settings and returns decent fuel consumption figures for an SUV of this size.