CAR Reviews

Click Thumbnails to Enlarge

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Statistics

How much?	£20,395
On sale in the UK:	Now
Engine:	1997cc turbodiesel, 150bhp at 4000rpm, 236lb-ft at 2000rpm/173bhp at 3750rpm, 266lb-ft at 2000rpm
Transmission:	Six speed manual; six-speed auto optional; four-wheel drive
Performance:	12.5sec 0-62mph, 112mph, 39.8mpg, 190g/km
How heavy / made of?	1711kg/steel
How big (length/width/height in mm)?	4630mm/1785mm/1770mm

Need to know

CAR's rating

3

Handling

3

Performance

3

Usability

4

Feelgood factor

3

Readers' rating

3

Nissan X-Trail 2.0 dCi (2007) CAR review

By Daniel Harrison

24 May 2007 08:12

Is Nissan pulling a fast one? This looks the same as the old X-Trail

It’s a dead ringer for the one that's just been discontinued, isn’t it? Incredibly, it’s totally new, right down to the engines. Two new 2.0-litre diesels (150 and 173bhp, both lifted from the Renault Laguna) replace the old dCi unit, while the 2.0-litre petrol and underpinnings come from the Qashqai. You can blame those same-again looks on existing owners. In customer clinics they told Nissan not to meddle with the styling.

Qashqai underpinnings? That sounds like it could struggle off-road

X-Trail may share much with the Qashqai, but it uses a modified version of the platform with Nissan’s new 4x4 system, All-Mode 4x4-i. It’s controlled by a dial on the dash. Most of the time it can be kept in auto – sensors link the ECU, wheel speed, steering angle and yaw rates to anticipate when a wheel will slip and rectify it by applying more torque appropriately. It does such a good job that it only needs to be locked into four-wheel drive for very muddy conditions and to engage hill descent control.

CAR Reviews

Click Thumbnails to Enlarge

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Statistics

How much?	£20,395
On sale in the UK:	Now
Engine:	1997cc turbodiesel, 150bhp at 4000rpm, 236lb-ft at 2000rpm/173bhp at 3750rpm, 266lb-ft at 2000rpm
Transmission:	Six speed manual; six-speed auto optional; four-wheel drive
Performance:	12.5sec 0-62mph, 112mph, 39.8mpg, 190g/km
How heavy / made of?	1711kg/steel
How big (length/width/height in mm)?	4630mm/1785mm/1770mm

Need to know

CAR's rating

3

Handling

3

Performance

3

Usability

4

Feelgood factor

3

Readers' rating

3

Nissan X-Trail 2.0 dCi (2007) CAR review

By Daniel Harrison

24 May 2007 08:12

Does that mean it’s a bit of a brute on the road?

This is where the Qashqai bits come in handy. It drives like a hatchback from behind the wheel and behaves itself on the road with good body control, reasonably accurate electric power steering and a supple ride. The ride is impressive too – thanks in part to a new, longer wheelbase.

Are those diesels any good?

Both are better than the old 2.0 unit that the previous X-Trail had. They’re a bit clattery when they start up, but quieten down once warmed through. With 236lb-ft (150bhp) or 266lb-ft (173bhp) of muscle on offer, they pull well too. The 150bhp version is offered with a six-speed auto gearbox. Unusually for an auto, it harnesses engine braking when it’s not accelerating. This makes it feel much more akin to a manual and helps smooth out some of the gearchanges. Fuel economy’s good too: both return upwards of 38mpg on the combined cycle – not bad for an SUV.

CAR Reviews

Click Thumbnails to Enlarge

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Statistics

How much?	£20,395
On sale in the UK:	Now
Engine:	1997cc turbodiesel, 150bhp at 4000rpm, 236lb-ft at 2000rpm/173bhp at 3750rpm, 266lb-ft at 2000rpm
Transmission:	Six speed manual; six-speed auto optional; four-wheel drive
Performance:	12.5sec 0-62mph, 112mph, 39.8mpg, 190g/km
How heavy / made of?	1711kg/steel
How big (length/width/height in mm)?	4630mm/1785mm/1770mm

Need to know

CAR's rating

3

Handling

3

Performance

3

Usability

4

Feelgood factor

3

Readers' rating

3

Nissan X-Trail 2.0 dCi (2007) CAR review

By Daniel Harrison

24 May 2007 08:12

So has it got any tricks up its sleeve?

Just being good in the mud doesn’t cut the SUV mustard these days. So X-Trail’s picked up a few tricks from MPVs. There are fold-flat seats in the back, a ‘double deck’ boot with a long pull-out drawer for the odds and ends that usually slide around in the back and cubbies galore. Interior quality is much improved and Nissan’s moved the instruments back from the centre of the dash to in front of the driver.

Verdict

It may lack the off-road bloodline of a Land Rover Freelander and doesn’t carry the same cachet as the BMW X3, but the X-Trail is surprisingly capable. It’s comfortable, clever inside and can hold its own in the mud. It's just a shame the styling isn't more adventurous.

CAR Reviews

Click Thumbnails to Enlarge

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Statistics

How much?	£20,500
On sale in the UK:	February 2008
Engine:	1968cc four-cylinder 16v turbodiesel, 138bhp @ 4200rpm, 236lb ft @ 1750-2500rpm
Transmission:	Six-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Performance:	10.5sec 0-62mph, 116mph, 39.2mpg, 189g/km CO2
How heavy / made of?	1590kg/steel
How big (length/width/height in mm)?	4430/1810/1670

Need to know

CAR's rating

4

Handling

4

Performance

4

Usability

4

Feelgood factor

4

Readers' rating

3

VW Tiguan 2.0 TDi (2007) CAR review

By Georg Kacher

24 September 2007 01:38

Why is VW so late to the 4x4 party?

Blame management, complicated model cycles and just about every other excuse under the sun. And speaking of the sun, those countries from the land of the rising sun have been doing the medium-sized 4x4 thing since the mid-1990s. Toyota launched the Rav4 over a decade ago, let's not forget. Only this year have we seen offerings from Europe: Vauxhall’s Antara has just arrived, and we’re still awaiting the Ford Kuga and Renault Koleos. Now VW are plugging the small 4x4 hole in their line-up with this, the Tiguan. No, not Touran or Touareg, but Tiguan.

So if you’re late to the party you bring something special, right?

Well yes and no. Nothing stands out as spectacular but tardiness does mean that the Tiguan gets the latest Haldex four-wheel-drive system. The system no longer needs to register wheelspin to engage the four-wheel drive. In general driving conditions about 90 percent of the torque goes to the front wheels but it can momentarily go 100 percent rear drive. There’s also what VW calls APA, which is short for axle parallel steering. It’s VW’s latest electro-mechanical steering that auto adjusts to compensate for crosswinds and camber, and also reduces kickback should you ever leave the tarmac. But perhaps the highest accolade we can give the Tiguan is that with the right equipment, right colour and a nice set of wheels, the new VW will exude enough street cred to challenge the BMW X3. It’s a soft-roader you can pose in, then.

CAR Reviews

Click Thumbnails to Enlarge

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Statistics

How much?	£20,500
On sale in the UK:	February 2008
Engine:	1968cc four-cylinder 16v turbodiesel, 138bhp @ 4200rpm, 236lb ft @ 1750-2500rpm
Transmission:	Six-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Performance:	10.5sec 0-62mph, 116mph, 39.2mpg, 189g/km CO2
How heavy / made of?	1590kg/steel
How big (length/width/height in mm)?	4430/1810/1670

Need to know

CAR's rating

4

Handling

4

Performance

4

Usability

4

Feelgood factor

4

Readers' rating

3

VW Tiguan 2.0 TDi (2007) CAR review

By Georg Kacher

24 September 2007 01:38

Why is VW so late to the 4x4 party?

Blame management, complicated model cycles and just about every other excuse under the sun. And speaking of the sun, those countries from the land of the rising sun have been doing the medium-sized 4x4 thing since the mid-1990s. Toyota launched the Rav4 over a decade ago, let's not forget. Only this year have we seen offerings from Europe: Vauxhall’s Antara has just arrived, and we’re still awaiting the Ford Kuga and Renault Koleos. Now VW are plugging the small 4x4 hole in their line-up with this, the Tiguan. No, not Touran or Touareg, but Tiguan.

So if you’re late to the party you bring something special, right?

Well yes and no. Nothing stands out as spectacular but tardiness does mean that the Tiguan gets the latest Haldex four-wheel-drive system. The system no longer needs to register wheelspin to engage the four-wheel drive. In general driving conditions about 90 percent of the torque goes to the front wheels but it can momentarily go 100 percent rear drive. There’s also what VW calls APA, which is short for axle parallel steering. It’s VW’s latest electro-mechanical steering that auto adjusts to compensate for crosswinds and camber, and also reduces kickback should you ever leave the tarmac. But perhaps the highest accolade we can give the Tiguan is that with the right equipment, right colour and a nice set of wheels, the new VW will exude enough street cred to challenge the BMW X3. It’s a soft-roader you can pose in, then.

CAR Reviews

Click Thumbnails to Enlarge

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Statistics

How much?	£24,095
On sale in the UK:	Now
Engine:	1991cc, 16v, turbodiesel 4-cyl, 148bhp @ 4000rpm, 236lb ft @ 2000rpm
Transmission:	Five-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Performance:	12.8 0-62mph, 110mph, 32.8mpg, 238g/km CO2
How heavy / made of?	1821kg/steel
How big (length/width/height in mm)?	4576/1850/1747

Need to know

CAR's rating

3

Handling

3

Performance

3

Usability

3

Feelgood factor

3

Readers' rating

2.5

Vauxhall Antara 2.0 TDi (2007) CAR review

By Ben Pulman

01 August 2007 01:10

A Vauxhall 4x4 is all well and good, but aren’t they a bit late to the party?

Ignoring all the environemtal isssues for a moment, Luton is indeed very late to the segment – if you discount the Frontera. Toyota launched the Rav4 back in the early 1990s, and the compact 4x4 sector has grown phenomenally since. The Japanese (Toyota, Honda, and Nissan) have dominated the sector and only now are the Europeans catching up. Vauxhall is one of the first out of the blocks with the new Anatara, co-developed with the Chevrolet Captiva in South Korea. Credit where it's due though; Vauxhall is ahead of other European 4x4s entrants. We've seen official pictures of the VW Tiguan, driven the Peugeot and Citroen twins in this month's CAR Magazine, and we’ll soon have the Renault Koleos and Ford Kuga.

It looks a bit dull compared with the Captiva...

It depends who you ask. Vauxhall previewed the car as the Antara GTC concept at Frankfurt in September 2005 - it was a swoopy three-door crossover with a dash of style. The production Antara is a fairly boxy, blander five-door, with none of the cheeky looks of the Corsa or imposing elegance of the forthcoming Vectra. And it's got the scourge of modern design, fake side vents on the flanks. To these eyes, the sister Chevrolet Captiva is much smarter on the outside, better resolved. If this isn't your cup of tea, you can always investigate get the chunky Irmscher styling kit.