Nissan X-Trail 2022: midsize SUV confirmed for Australian launch late next year, hybrid still in question

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Nissan Australia has confirmed the fourth-gen X-Trail is set to launch in Australia late next year, though powertrain options – including a potential hybrid – are still up in the air. 

At the launch of the Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior, Chasing Cars spoke to Nissan Australia managing director Adam Paterson who confirmed the new ‘T33’ X-Trail is gearing up for local launch.

The X-Trail will arrive in Australia sharing its CMF-CD underpinnings with the all-new Mitsubishi Outlander, but whether it will adopt the 2.5-litre four-cylinder, new turbo triple or even a hybrid is yet to be confirmed.

Managing director Mr Paterson is a veritable X-Trail (or Rogue in North America) veteran, and oversaw the new midsize SUV’s launch in Canada which he described as a “runaway success” with the midsize SUV taking “record [market] share”. 

The Rogue/X-Trail has become Nissan Canada’s biggest-selling vehicle, and if the marque can get the specification right the same could be the case in Australia, though it will need to work hard to take more than last year’s 11,486 Navara ute sales.

Why has the X-Trail taken so long to get to Australia?

The Rogue/X-Trail was unveiled to the North American market in June 2020, though Chasing Cars understands the chief reason behind the X-Trail’s two-year Australian lag is production facilities.

Australian-market right-hand-drive X-Trails are built in Japan. The Tennessee plant currently producing the North American market ‘T33’ X-Trail/Rogue is tooled up to only produce left-hand-drive vehicles.

We shouldn’t be too upset by the late arrival, as the current fourth-gen X-Trail is still soldiering on in Nissan’s home market despite its 11-year vintage.

What will power the X-Trail on its Australian arrival?

This is the largest area of conjecture at the moment. When the Rogue launched in North America it did so with a 135kW/245Nm 2.5-litre direct-injection petrol four-cylinder and a CVT automatic transmission – the same configuration found in Aussie Mitsubishi Outlanders. 

On that powertrain, Mr Paterson said “I’ve driven the rogue with the 2.5, because that’s what it launched with in North America, and it’s a great powertrain.”

However, in North America, the Rogue has transitioned to only offering a modern 150kW/305Nm turbo petrol three-cylinder engine, Mr Paterson did not comment on the prospect of that engine making it to Australian X-Trails. 

Is an X-Trail hybrid on the cards?

Finally, the possibility of a Toyota RAV4-slaying hybrid remains unconfirmed for the X-Trail. The now closely-related Mitsubishi Outlander became one of the most prominent plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) in its previous generation. 

Mitsubishi has confirmed that a PHEV Outlander successor will be offered as soon as next year comprising a 98kW/195Nm 2.4-litre petrol ’four and a pair of electric motors. Combined with a 20kWh battery pack, the EV-only range is up to 86km according to the WLTP. 

Nissan may choose to leave electrification in the midsize SUV space entirely down to the similarly-sized Ariya EV with 460km range, though the forthcoming Qashqai’s range-extender setup suggests Nissan is keeping its options open.

With Nissan’s sister-brand doing the legwork, the X-trail could feasibly use the Outlander’s powertrain, though it is yet to be confirmed.

If you want to read more detailed information about the fourth-gen X-Trail, we have a full breakdown available.

Finishing up our chat about the forthcoming X-Trail, Mr Paterson said to “expect [X-Trail] to be a massive success when we get it here in the next calendar year.”