Photo: nissan.de
There's no question about it, the new Nissan X-Trail is much better to look at than its boxy ancestor. But with a lack-luster badge and lots of top-class of competitors fighting for the same piece of the market, selling it is a difficult task for the Japanese automaker.
Nissan Germany seems to believe taking the fight straight to the enemy is the best solution. We've just discovered a section of their official website that compared the new X-Trail 1.6 DCi in Visia trim with four Japanese rivals, two German premium models and the Korean Kia Sorento.
Engines, specs, pricing and trim levels are all taken into consideration. Of course, the X-Trail can't directly match something like a BMW X3 in terms of performance and driving enjoyment, but you always get the sense that buying a Nissan is a great idea.
Showing you've got a better product than the competition is an unusually blunt approach to marketing, but it can work in some cases, especially with America consumers. But this is Germany we're talking about, the country where BMW and Audi have cult following.
The reason why Nissan has such an easy time taking on its rivals is actually the 1.6-liter DCi diesel engine, which a couple of years ago replaced their larger 1.9-liter unit. With an output of 130 horsepower and 230 Nm of torque, it seems like a competent four-cylinder, even when compared to a petrol engine. Most of the Japanese models use bigger 2.0 or 2.2-liter diesels, somethings with even lower outputs.
Is what Nissan is doing right? And are these sorts of comparisons being made in other markets? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section.
Engines, specs, pricing and trim levels are all taken into consideration. Of course, the X-Trail can't directly match something like a BMW X3 in terms of performance and driving enjoyment, but you always get the sense that buying a Nissan is a great idea.
Showing you've got a better product than the competition is an unusually blunt approach to marketing, but it can work in some cases, especially with America consumers. But this is Germany we're talking about, the country where BMW and Audi have cult following.
The reason why Nissan has such an easy time taking on its rivals is actually the 1.6-liter DCi diesel engine, which a couple of years ago replaced their larger 1.9-liter unit. With an output of 130 horsepower and 230 Nm of torque, it seems like a competent four-cylinder, even when compared to a petrol engine. Most of the Japanese models use bigger 2.0 or 2.2-liter diesels, somethings with even lower outputs.
Is what Nissan is doing right? And are these sorts of comparisons being made in other markets? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section.
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