Which 4WD will get top honours?
NissanX-TrailTS
Nissan X-Trail TS … from $37,740 plus on-road and dealer costs; 2.0-litre turbo-diesel 4-cyl; 127kW/360Nm; 6-sp man; 7.5L/100km and 200g/km CO2; 4WD.
Value Climate and cruise control, sunroof, leather seats with power/heated fronts. Recent update added an iPod jack and Bluetooth, as well as tinted windows.
Inside Lots of clever storage, including cooled drink holders and a handy cargo area with drawer. Room for five with luggage.
Engine The 127kW turbo-diesel’s not quiet but offers ample power. Choice of manual or auto (power drops to 110kW/320Nm).
How it drives Rides well and there’s plenty of grip from the tyres of the 17-inch alloys. Steering is a bit vague but offers good enough handling.
Safety Same as Suzuki, but adds hill-hold and descent control.
Verdict The X-Trail is a serious soft-road vehicle that has impressive off-road cred to boot.
Suzuki Grand Vitara DDiS … from $35,990 plus on-road and dealer costs; 1.9-litre turbo-diesel 4-cyl; 95kW/300Nm; 5-sp man; 7.0L/100km and 185g/km CO2; 4WD
Value It’s cheaper than the Nissan, though doesn’t offer the same equipment level. No iPod or Bluetooth but it does have climate, cruise and 17-inch alloys.
Inside Finish is far from inspiring but it offers reasonable room. It’s squishier than the X-Trail, with less boot space.
Engine Engine lacks power, but impressive fuel economy. Five-speed gearbox feels sloppy and clicky. No auto.
How it drives Easy to manoeuvre in town and composed on the freeway. Sloppy on-road performance but strong off it. Noisy inside but cruises well.
Safety Four stars, six airbags, stability control.
Verdict It may look like a big loss but in this price bracket Suzuki needs to offer more equipment.
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