Can the 2023 Nissan X-Trail (T33) shake up Malaysia's SUV market? Here's 33 photos why it might

Overlooked and outgunned no more is what the 2023 Nissan X-Trail (T33) aims to be. Promising more tech underneath a cool new look, it's something SUV fans can expect to arrive in Malaysia, renewed to better fight rivals like the Proton X70 and Honda CR-V.

In this gallery post we'll take a look at the X-Trail sold in Europe, Japan, and Australia, just to see what to expect. Jump in!

Exterior: Hey there, good lookin'

And refreshed it is. Nissan's current crop of models are rather pleasing to the eye, with this SUV being no different. Split headlights – sorry X7, Nissan did it first – flank the V-Motion grille lend a futuristic face.

Also read: 2022 BMW X7 facelift revealed; Split headlights, iX-inspired interior

Pronounced fenders on the sides further adds to the tough look, and matching with that is its set of sweet set of 18-inch, dual-tone wheels which seem to be all the rage right now.

The X-Trail is platform mates with the latest-gen 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander, so their general shapes are similar.

Also read: Great looks, new features: All-new 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander makes global debut

A Mitsubishi-Nissan co-developed car isn't anything new. Remember both companies are allied (with Renault too) and in this part of the world, the first fruits of that labour are the Mitsubishi Xpander/Nissan Grand Livina twins.

Interior: Rugged chic

Perhaps it's the interior that you'll be looking forward to see, because, well, you'll be spending most of your time there anyways. The new cabin is refreshing, and the design cues are dare we say...European in execution.

Also read: Plug-in hybrid SUVs wouldn't be popular today if it wasn't for this Mitsubishi Outlander

The old car's interior is long in the tooth already – it debuted 9 years ago, in 2013 – so this newfangled look is appreciated. On some variants there's a fully-digital instrument cluster, and on top of the multi-layer dash sits a 12.3-inch infotainment headunit, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, of course.

In Japan at least, the T33 X-Trail is offered in both 5-seater or 5+2 guises, whereby you can prop up the last row seats on occasion, something like the VW Tiguan Allspace.

Also read: Review: 2022 VW Tiguan Allspace Elegance, still Malaysia's best European SUV? Hmm...

The seat materials are primarily made of what Nissan calls TailorFit. In their release it's said that the goal of this fabric is to create an "ideal seat material" that feels better than genuine leather or fabric, something like how a tailor-more garment feels like on the body.

Fancy seats aside, Nissan's also peppered lots of tech and conveniences within. There's a digital instrument cluster (on higher-end variants), a head-up display, and an expansive sunroof too.

Also read: Review: All-new 2020 Nissan Almera Turbo, is it worth your purchase?

Other fun stuff available on the X-Trail is its 100V AC power supply (1500W), which will be plenty useful if you're lost on a, well, trail. Nissan lists a things that can be powered through this outlet, including a 40-inch TV, electric kettle, toaster, coffee maker, over, and even a fridge. More than enough for an emergency!

Boot space has ballooned to 585 litres with the second-row seats up, while a powered tailgate is fitted as standard.

Performance: New tech for a new gen

Depending on markets and configurations, the X-Trail is either powered by a 2.5-litre direct-injection four-cylinder petrol engine that does 183 PS and 245 Nm, or a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine, codenamed KR15DDT, paired to Jatco's CVT-type automatic transmission.

Also read: The new Nissan Kicks goes swinging in Japan with second-generation e-POWER

This is a fancy new engine that uses a complex multi-link system in place of regular conrods, effectively combining variable compression technology with turbocharging.

Being one cylinder less also means Nissan can strap their signature e-Power series-hybrid motor to it, and still keep weight low, as is the case with the Japan-spec X-Trail that comes with this turbocharged hybrid system. 

Also read: The all-new Nissan X-Trail is the first to combine the e-Power and VC Turbo tech

This series-hybrid system means the engine doesn't drive the wheels directly, but only used as a generator to charge the high voltage battery which in turn drives the electric motor and thus, wheels. Power figures for this are 201 PS and 305 Nm.

Per standard e-Power tech, this also gets one-pedal driving, called e-Pedal.

In comparison, a series-parallel hybrid such as Honda's e:HEV or Toyota's THS sees the engine driving the wheels as well as charging the high voltage battery.

Driving prowess is further aided by the brand's new e-4orce electric-drive all-wheel technology. It's able to assess road surfaces and vehicle condition instantly, integral to maximise fricting by controlling the driving force and braking of the front and rear electric motors to maximise traction.

Safety: Full ADAS, as expected

Besides the fancy new powertrain and looks, the 2023 Nissan X-Trail (T33) comes complete with the Nissan Safety Shield suite of ADAS, encapsulating:

• Autonomous Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection (AEB)
• Forward collision warning (FCW)
• Blind spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert (BSM, RCTA)
• Lane departure warning (LDW)
• Auto high-beam (AHB)
• Traffic sign recognition (TSR)

When is the 2023 Nissan X-Trail coming to Malaysia?

The big question on when the 2023 Nissan X-Trail arrives in Malaysia is yet unanswered. Typically, it takes more than a year between its initial launch to local sales – and don't forget lead times for local assembly (CKD) adds to that too, as our industry still contends with chip shortage and supply issues.

Also read: Old vs new: Prices are up, but these are the added features in the the new 2022 C27 Nissan Serena S-Hybrid

Prices will definitely see a rise too. It ranges from JPY 3.2 million (~RM 100,257) to JPY 5 million (~RM 158,177) now, roughly 15 percent up since the last-gen facelift model.

This price hike can also be expected here as we contend our Ringgit's falling value. But that's a bridge we'll cross when we get there; for now, we still have the old T32 Nissan X-Trail on sale, with prices as below: