Nissan has reduced the prices of three of its most well-liked worldwide SUV models as a sign of its commitment to the Indian market; the new X-Trail will follow in due time. In addition, the most recent models of the Juke and Qashqai were on display in New Delhi, with the latter being tested on Indian roads.
- A major benefit of all the models being considered as low-volume CBU
- imports might be the e-Power range-extender hybrid.
- On Indian roads, the X-Trail and Qashqai are being tested.
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Nissan will release the X-Trail after testing is finished.
Despite claims that it will display all three and test two of these SUVs, the Japanese manufacturer will first introduce the X-Trail in India. The SUV was sold in this country in both its first and second iterations, and although it was never put on the market, the third iteration was displayed here a few years ago, much like the fourth iteration is now. Everything is obvious that it has always been planned.
One of the best executive SUVs available is the Nissan X-Trail, which can seat 5 or 7 people. Its rivals include vehicles like the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan. The most recent model, which is based on Renault-CMF-C Nissan’s chassis, has a special trick up its sleeve in the form of the 1.5 e-Power option. It is available internationally with a 2.5-liter gasoline engine or a 1.5-liter turbo-petrol mild-hybrid powertrain.
Range-extender hybrids, also known as e-Power in Nissan lingo, will be a distinctive and intriguing alternative in India, where EV adoption is soaring and powerful hybrids are now stealing the show. It is essentially an electric vehicle (EV), with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine serving only as a generator to charge the batteries. Since the engine never drives the wheels, it is never stressed by range anxiety or the need to plug the car in to recharge, potentially resulting in excellent fuel economy.
The Nissan X-Trail e-Power is even offered in 2WD and AWD models, with the former producing 204 horsepower and 330 Nm and the latter with 213 horsepower and 500 Nm, however, it is unclear which of these Nissan is considering.
Nissan particularly included the e-Power and mild-hybrid models in its display, and the latter might give the X-Trail a distinct advantage over its competitors. Additionally, because it is an executive SUV, the price premium will be less aggressive and easier to swallow than in the segments of smaller SUVs where competition is greater. After all, the Kodiaq is also an import from CBU.
Nissan Qashqai and Juke were also on display.
The Qashqai and Juke, two other Nissan SUVs on show, are also well-liked in foreign markets. The 5-seat Qashqai is slightly smaller than the X-Trail and competes with vehicles like the Jeep Compass and Hyundai Tucson worldwide. The third-generation Qashqai has the choice of turbo-petrol mild-hybrid and e-Power models in addition to sharing the same fundamental foundations as the X-Trail. The former has a CVT or 6-speed manual transmission with a 156 horsepower, 1.3-liter engine from the Nissan Kicks that is assisted by an electric motor. The latter produces 190hp and 330Nm, making it a less potent version of the fuel-saving range-extender technology than that found in the X-Trail.
The Nissan Juke from the second generation is the least likely to be introduced in our country, and Nissan claims that it is merely displaying it to assess demand. Although its quirky, curvy appearance can be divisive, it is undoubtedly eye-catching, which could be to its advantage. Similar to the Toyota Hyryder and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, it is powered by a 1.6-liter turbo-petrol strong hybrid system, which means it offers the promise of exceptionally good fuel efficiency.
Although the Juke’s 4.2-meter length legally places it in India’s wildly popular midsize SUV sector, it is far from as roomy as vehicles like the Nissan Kicks, and its standing in other markets is entirely different.
What is Nissan India’s strategy?
Nissan presently offers the Kicks midsize SUV and the Magnite compact SUV for sale in India, with the latter model expected to be discontinued soon due to an outdated base that would require a significant modification to comply with upcoming safety regulations. This endeavor will cost Nissan even more money because its platform brothers, the Terrano, Duster, Captur, and Lodgy, are also no longer in production. Nissan effectively becomes a one-model brand now that Datsun has also been canceled, which would not have been profitable.
This decision to import worldwide models through CBU is a good one as there won’t be any new mass-market models in the near future. It demonstrates the brand’s dedication to India and the fact that it isn’t hesitant to delve into its big and potent collection of overseas models.
According to Frank Torres, president of Nissan India, “The Indian market has limitless potential, and it is vital that we provide the best car lineup to correspond with what modern Indian consumers want and need.” After the Nissan Magnite’s success in India, “we want to sharpen our emphasis and exploit our experience on high-quality SUVs that have been synonymous with our name.”
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However, there is a reason why worldwide models cannot just be imported into India; they are constructed at a far greater cost, which is simply uncompetitive in our price-sensitive market. Due to this, our Renault Captur differed greatly from the European version, and while having a similar exterior design, our VW Taigun is not the same as the European VW T-Cross.
The low-volume CBU route fills that gap. Nissan can save money (and time) by forgoing the expense (and time) of having the vehicles homologated in India as long as imports stay under the 2,500-unit limit. But with the absurdly high import taxes still in place and the increased build costs indicated above, it will be challenging to make any of these SUVs affordable. The X-Trail, as previously said, has the best chance due to the market it competes in. Still, the Qashqai and Juke will have a much harder time, especially considering their complicated and pricey hybrid powertrains in price-sensitive SUV segments.
Even still, it’s encouraging to see a firm display three brand-new, foreign cars with at least the goal of evaluating the Indian market. It will be interesting to see how reasonably Nissan can price the X-Trail once it is made available to the public.