Nissan launches its completely renovated X-Trail, born with the intention to climb to the top of its category. To ‘measure’ their virtues, nothing beats face to a reference weight, the Mitsubishi Outlander, also recently remodeled.

He X-Trail next generation comes to occupy the space left free the previous Qashqai + 2, and was created with the intention of ‘mark territory’ in the segment in which it will compete. Brandishing weapons to achieve this are his new aesthetic, a extended equipment elements and technology, and a finishes and qualities revised upwards. The problem is that the newcomer ‘attacks’ in a segment upward its commercial interests, and must compete with rivals who are not going to put anything easy that task. Among them, we have chosen to Mitsubishi Outlander, a model that despite not being among the best sellers in its last remodeling wields arguments not only to vindicate himself, but to plant tough battle newcomer.

Variants are facing the most representative in terms of technology, equipment and services, ie, the top-end, all-wheel drive and seven-seat configuration. At one end of the ring, and for 37,000 euros, we have the Nissan X-Trail dCi Tekna 130 with six-speed manual transmission. On the other, and for 36,390 euros, with the Mitsubishi Outlander 220 DI-D Kaiteki automatic gearbox with six ratios.

The purists readers you can ask why we face a model with manual transmission and one with automatic transmission. The reason is twofold. On the one hand, the X-Trail with four-wheel drive does not have at the moment with a change of this kind. On the other, taking as true the price, we have sought the Outlander that is more get close in their characteristics, because this would allow us to assess whether the price / product of the new Nissan relationship is competitive.

Not so much alike

Moving on and therefore refers to “presence” physical, equality seems remarkable as the outer dimensions are almost traced in length, width and height, with minimal differences in battle and track width. Once inside, however, the most generous in space is the Mitsubishi. If you only need five seats, the interior width is exactly the same in both models, but the feeling of space is greater in the Outlander, thanks to a rather more generous headroom. And if we need to boot retractable seats, the Mitsubishi are much more usable, not only because access to them is easier, but because its width is greater than 4 centimeters, and much more rational and usable design. The X-Trail seem set to ‘sell’ that argument, that to be used. Reach them is much more complicated because of the very small access hole, just they have legroom, even throwing forward the second row, and his stool is so at ground, which determines a position most uncomfortable.

If what we talk about is load capacity, the advantage still falling side Outlander, whose trunk, regardless of the seating configuration you choose, it is always generous. Supports 5 more liters with all seats used, 25 if omit the third row of seats, and no less than 40 if further move the second row of seats to its forwardmost position.

full equipment

If we talk about equipment and the chosen finishes, the level is outstanding. Comfort features such as the dual climate control, electric windows, parking assistance systems and even leather upholstery, They are present as standard in both models.

To them Nissan added rearview camera and 360, trunk opening and closing electric, ‘Active Control of Calzada’, which decreases the pitch body, or ‘Smart Protection Shield’, It is including obstacle detection system in the blind spot warning unintended lane departure and presence of an obstacle moving at the rear. The Mitsubishi includes warning lane departure, rear view camera, Active Cruise Control can completely stop the car, mitigation system frontal collision (FWD), xenon headlamps Super-HID, tailgate opening and electrical closing, sensors on lights and wipers…

Despite this apparent equality, the advantage must grant it the diamonds pattern, since for a lower price, offers an engine with 20 hp more, and automatic gearbox with paddles on the steering wheel, which is a delight and It provides additional driving comfort when shooting or city must tackle road jams.

sends power

Both the Outlander as the X-Trail are available at the moment, with a single engine. He 2.2 DI-D 150 hp in the case of Mitsubishi, and 1.6 dCi with 130 hp in the Nissan. That difference of 20 hp for the Mitsubishi, and weighing less than 82 kg according to our measurements, allow the Outlander accelerate better and, above all, present a stronger resilience that its rival, which results in faster and safer overtaking. Because while the ‘Mitsu’ invests 8.7 seconds and 241.4 meters from 80 to 120 km / h in 5th, Nissan needs 10.7 seconds and 301 meters. The X-Trail engine moves with reasonable dynamic model between 1,500 and 3,500 rpm, but it never does with the same energy as the engine of Mitsubishi, which also enforces the help of an automatic transmission that works without a hitch. Faced with such maneuvers, in the X-Trail it is essential to use gearshift below 1,500 rpm, and the resilience is poor and also the engine runs out fairly quickly to exceed 3,700 rpm, making it advisable to go to upshift to put up the gear.

In terms of behavior, and on simple road layout, the sense of poise that offer both models is similar, but when we are faced with more demanding paths, the driver of the Nissan has the feeling of driving a car more cumbersome. The difference is not exaggerated, but his greatest awkwardness when stringing curves, the result of a softer suspension than the Outlander, gives advantage to the latter as far as effectiveness is concerned. In return, the X-Trail enjoys a quicker steering, and consumption are clearly cut, requiring on average liter less than its rival at rates similar way.