2WD X-Trail to be Released in Australia in 2011

Nissan Australia announced this week that a two-wheel drive version of the X-Trail will be added to the popular compact SUV's range. Nissan brand manager for SUV and Light Commercial Vehicles Andrew Holbrook believes that two wheel drive versions will make up a third of the company's compact SUV sales for 2011.

This announcement follows a strong response to the two-wheel drive version of the Dualis crossover, the front wheel drive model making up 90 percent of Dualis sales.

With the X-Trail being viewed upon as more of an all-roader, Nissan Australia's head of corporate communications Jeff Fisher said that the new 2WD variant will attract new customers to the compact SUV segment and will not cripple the sales of the AWD, but increase overall sales of the X-Trail.

The 2WD X-Trail will only be available with the ST and ST-L spec, powered by the 167 hp and 226 Nm (167 lb-ft) 2.5-liter four cylinder petrol engine. For now, higher series Ti, TS and TL along with all diesel powered versions will remain four-wheel drive.

The two-wheel drive model will weigh less then the all-wheel drive, therefore resulting in a reduced fuel consumption, but without the safety benefits of all-wheel drive traction.

Pricing information has not yet been released, but considering the 2WD Dualis sells for 2,000 AUD less then the AWD variant, the base model for the two-wheel drive X-Trail will probably cost less than 30,000 AUD, with the AWD X-Trail ST being priced at 31,990 AUD with a manual transmission or 34,490 AUD with a CVT. The ST-L variant currently bears a price tag of 38,490 AUD and only comes with a CVT gearbox.