Nissan X-TRAIL 2013 Problems

June 30 is D-Day. The end of the financial year is the best time to buy a new car because there are always special deals in showrooms. As carmakers and dealers aim to clear their outdated stock, Toyota uses a June push to cement its showroom leadership. Some of the special deals are on cars that have done demonstrator duty, or were built in 2012, or are just not selling as well as expected. So they're not the tastiest fruit in the bowl.But there is great buying across the board as demand for new cars fuels one of the longest growth periods in motoring. The bottom line is that you can save money -- and lots of it. So here's a look at the June sales, with Carsguide's assessment of the best deals on wheels.CITROENThe new importer is pushing hard so the Aircross SUV starts at $31,990 drive-away front-wheel drive or $33,990 with AWD, a saving of $3800. There's $5000 off the C4 Seduction turbo diesel auto hatch at $25,990. Carsguide says: The Aircross isn't great, but the C4 discount is tasty.FORDThe death notice for the Falcon and Territory has not helped buyer confidence but a 2.9 per cent finance push on Fiesta and Focus still looks good. The superseded Kuga SUV from $31,990 drive-away is a $10,000 saving. You can save about $3000 on a 2012 Escape SUV from $27,990 drive-away.The Territory gets a $6500 tickle, the TX seven-seater at $38,490 drive-away (third-row seat usually costs $2500). The impressive Mondeo liftback starts at $29,990. Good buying on Falcons, thanks to the arrival of the VF Commodore, from $33,990 and better if you haggle.HOLDENAs the VF Commodore creates queues, the outgoing Z-Series starts at $34,990 with five years' warranty and roadside assist. That also applies to the SV6 at $35,990 and the Cruze SRi and SRi-V at $23,490 and $26,990. Last year's Barina CD hatches are $15,990 drive-away with a sunroof. The Colorado is $39,990. Hard to see past the excellent Cruze SRi.HONDAClipped prices and free on-roads. The City VTi sedan is $17,990 and the (slightly) more lavish VTi-L automatic version starts at $21,990. The bigger Civic sedan is being cleared from $21,990. Free auto on the Jazz VTi at $19,990. The Civic is worth a look at $2500 off.KIAFree on-roads, discounts and $1000 gift vouchers on many models. A five-door Rio S is about $3K off at $15,990 drive-away with a $500 gift card; the three-door Rio is $14,990 and the five-door Si is $18,990. Runout Cerato TD sedans start at $17,990 for the S, saving about $5000, the Si sedan is $23,990 and hatch at $17,990. All get a $1000 gift card. Cerato SLi and SLS have drive-away pricing but miss the gift card. All Optimas have free on-roads. A 2012-build Optima Platinum is $37,990, saving about $4000 with a $1000 gift card. Most Sportage SUVs include on-roads and a $1000 gift card. Carnival and superseded Rondo pricing is drive-away. The Sportage diesel and Optima are top-notch.MITSUBISHIThe manual Lancer gets an old-school value pack on the Special Action Model for $19,990 drive-away. The Mirage is $12,990 drive-away for the ES manual, with a $500 cash-back that also applies to the auto.Driveaway prices also for the compact ASX at $24,990 for the 2WD manual, the Outlander LS 2WD auto at $29,990, Pajero GLX-R auto at $54,990 or $59,990 for VRX. Both come plus $3000 cash-back, saving about $6000.The Triton ute is now tackling Great Wall from China at $19,990 drive-away for a GL single-cab 2WD with alloy tray, or add luxury for a GLX dual-cab 4WD diesel at $31,990 drive-away with $2000 cash-back, saving about $14,000. The utes look good at those prices.NISSANA 2.9 per cent finance package, with agreed value after three years, makes the Pulsar ST sedan look good at $49 a week or $19,990 drive-away. The X-Trail ST 2WD petrol manual cops a $4000 reduction to $25,990 drive-away, while the Navara RX 4WD dual-cab manual is cheaper than ever with a $9500 cut to $30,990 drive-away. The Pulsar sedan deal is attractive.OPELThere are drive-away deals across the range. The basic Corsa is down by about $2500 to $16,990 drive-away, the Astra is from $22,990 drive-away for the 1.4-litre turbo petrol hatch with three years of free servicing, saving about $5500. The top-line Insignia sedan is from $39,990 drive-away with heated leather seats. The Astra is easily best of this breed.PEUGEOTFree on-roads at Peugeot on most models but not the cool new 208. The 4008 SUV cops a $1500 saving from $29,990 drive-away and there are deals on the outgoing 4007. Nothing to see here.RENAULTA Koleos from $26,990 drive-away looks even better with interest-free finance. The Megane hatch is from $22,990 drive-away with finance pegged at 1.9 per cent. The slow-selling Fluence and Latitude sedans are available with 2.9 per cent finance. The Megane CC convertible goes from $43,990 including on-roads. The sporty Clio RS is from $34,990 drive-away and the hotrod Megane RS has 2.9 per cent finance.Commercial deals start with the short-wheelbase Kangoo petrol manual with dual sliding doors from $20,990 drive-away, moving up to the Trafic short-wheelbase manual for $29,990 and the long-wheelbase manual for $32,990, while the Master large van starts from $46,990 drive-away. There's a five-year/200,000km warranty on all light commercials ordered in June. Hard to argue against a $3000 bonus on the Koleos but stocks are tight.SUBARUDrive-away pricing -- for savings of $3000 to $4000 -- is the bait, with Impreza pricing from $23,990 (excluding the WRX, of course). The Tribeca from $54,990 now includes on-roads but you need to visit a dealer to get the full story. Nothing outstanding.SUZUKIThe front-drive SX4 gets a Navigator pack with voice-controlled 6.6-inch satnav with Bluetooth for $19,990 drive-away for the manual and $21,990 auto. That also applies to the 2WD auto Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away, including reversing camera and satnav with Bluetooth. The Alto GL manual also gets satnav for $11,990 drive-away for the manual, with the Swift GL manual at $17,490 drive-away including cruise control and Bluetooth. The Grand Vitara is a polished piece.TOYOTAThere's 2.9 per cent finance on Aurion and Camry with the Camry Altise looking best at $29,990 drive-away. Other drive-away deals include $15,990 for the Yaris YR five-door, $21,490 for the Corolla Ascent automatic, $39,990 for the Kluger KX-R 2WD five-seater, $60,990 for the Prado GXL turbo diesel auto and $39,990 for the HiLux SR 4WD dual-cab ute. The right time for the cabbies' new favourite, the frugal hybrid Camry.VOLKSWAGENDrive-away pricing on passenger cars and zero finance on commercials. The Polo is $16,990 on-road, the Jetta is down to $25,990 and the Passat $36,690. The Polo is Carsguide's 2010 COTY.VOLVOFuel and servicing for three years or 60,000km plus roadside assistance. There are conditions -- with a pre-paid BP card based on 15,000km a year and $1.50 a-litre pricing -- and the latest V40 hatch is excluded. Clever twist on bargaining but a pity it doesn't apply to the V40.Paul Gover's 10 COMMANDMENTSYou must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise.But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price.The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today.If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it.Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties.No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead.The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot.And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs.Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already. 

Though often used only as an on-road station wagon, Nissan's X-Trail is pretty competent as an SUV. While not intended to be used in extreme 4WD conditions, it can handle most recreational off-road driving with little trouble. Providing enjoyment to adventurous families while doing so.  Nissan X-Trail uses a complex

With the X-Trail riding on a wave of popularity Nissan chose to tweak the compact SUV rather than re-invent it when it launched the new T31 model in 2007.As a result, the T31 looked very similar to the outgoing model, unless you got up close and saw the changes in detail.If you did that you would have seen it was longer, wider and taller, with more interior space, but it was also heavier.The 2.5-litre petrol engine was carried over with minor retuning, but the growing demand for diesel engines saw a turbo-diesel engine added to the range.In search of improved fuel consumption a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) became the automatic transmission option on the petrol engine.To meet the changing wants of SUV buyers, as more and more switched to the high-riding wagons, was the addition to the X-Trail range of a front-wheel drive model.By the time the T31 X-Trail was launched in 2007 the switch to SUVs, particularly compact models like the X-Trail, was in full swing.This new breed of buyers appreciated the practicality and versatility of a wagon, they liked the visibility of the high driving position, and while they weren’t necessarily going off road, they found the safety of all-wheel drive appealing.But they wanted more, hence the introduction of a turbo-diesel engine for better fuel economy, and a front-wheel drive model for those who had no desire at all to go off-roading.The T31 was launched with a revised model range, which was made up of ST, ST-L, and Ti with petrol engines, and the TS and TL with turbo-diesel engines.Entry to the T31 X-Trail club was through the ST, which boasted an extensive list of standard features, among them air-conditioning, a tilt-adjustable steering column, CD player and four-speaker sound, remote/keyless central locking, cruise control, variable intermittent wipers, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power windows and mirrors, a rear wiper and washer, roof rails, a vanity mirror, cloth trim, and a trip computer. Metallic paint was optional.A step up to the ST-L added 17-inch alloy wheels, six speakers, climate control for the air-conditioning, an in-dash CD stacker, MP3 compatibility, front fog lights, and chrome exterior highlights.On top of all that, the Ti also came with power front seats, leather trim, and a sunroof.The diesel-powered TS was similarly equipped to the ST-L, the TL similar to the Ti.The spare wheel was full-sized until 2012 when a space saver spare was introduced.Bluetooth was added in 2009 allowing an iPhone or Android device to be connected.A MY10 update saw the ST-L get heated front seats and leather trim, the Ti got 18-inch alloy wheels, a DVD player, parking sensors, a reversing camera, and sat-nav.Another update in MY11 saw the release of front-wheel drive only versions of the ST and ST-L. At the same time Ti buyers were treated to automatic xenon headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, and keyless entry and drive away.The spare wheel was full-sized until 2012 when a space saver spare was introduced.There was no touch screen, or park assist system.The cabin had accommodation for five in a roomy and comfortable environment.Gone was the annoying centre-mounted speedo and other gauges that so many criticized in the T30; in its place was a more conventional dash in front of the driver.There were plenty of storage options, including the centre console, a cooled glovebox, door pockets in the front doors, and cupholders in the front and rear.The boot was a generous 633 litres with the rear seat in position, and 1651 litres when the split-fold rear seat was folded flat.The 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine carried over from the earlier model, but had lower noise, vibration and harshness levels, better fuel economy, and its mid-range response was improved.With VVT variable valve timing the double overhead camshaft engine put out 125kW (167 horsepower) at its power peak, and maximum torque of 226Nm.The engine was a willing performer with solid mid-range performance, but with extra weight to haul around its zip was dulled a little compared to the T30.To meet the growing demand for diesel engines a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine was added to the range in 2008.At its peaks it produced 127kW (170 horsepower), and 336 Nm of torque, and delivered the fuel-consumption savings motorists were looking for along with the smooth drivability that comes with a good level of pulling power.Those buyers who chose the petrol engine had the choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or a CVT auto, the latter with six preset ratios to make it feel more like a conventional automatic.With a little more weight to haul around the petrol engine isn’t the zippiest performer.The turbo-diesel came with a choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or a conventional six-speed automatic transmission.Final drive was courtesy of an improved version of Nissan’s acclaimed 'All-Mode' system, which offered three modes of operation; front-wheel drive, automatic, or 4WD lock for off-road driving up to 40 km/h. Hill start and descent assistance features were added to the system.To meet the demand for a high-riding wagon from buyers not wanting to go off road in their SUVs Nissan added front-wheel drive versions of the ST and ST-L to the range in 2011.The ride is comfortable with good damping and body control on road and off.With its independent MacPherson strut front suspension and coil springs in the rear suspension, handling is balanced and assured in most situations.The steering is light and responsive, and the turning circle is tight enough to make maneuvering easy.Both engines, even the diesel, are acceptably quiet, and there’s little road noise to bother those inside.With a little more weight to haul around the petrol engine isn’t the zippiest performer, and the diesel is better with good response and drivability thanks to its torque.With a comprehensive array of safety features ANCAP rated the T31 at four stars out of a possible five.Passive safety features included front airbags for the driver and front seat passenger, side front airbags, head airbags, and seat belt pre-tensioners.It was also well equipped with active safety features, including ABS braking, BAS emergency brake assistance, EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution), and ESP electronic stability control.Lap sash seat belts on all five seats facilitate the fitment of a child seat, and ISOFIX baby car seat mounting points are fitted.The earliest of the T31 X-Trails will now have done on average between 150,000 and 250,000 km, which means they need to be approached with caution and require thorough checking before being purchased.Owners report they the reliability is good and they give little trouble, but any car of the age and odometer reading of those early cars needs careful assessment of its condition.Check under the car for damage from off-road excursions. The X-Trail is quite a competent off-road performer, but its ground clearance limits it to light off-roading rather than rock climbing.Buy the car in the best condition, with the lowest odometer reading, and a complete service history.Nissan recommends servicing every 10,000km or six months. If the service book doesn’t show a car has been serviced as recommended, be skeptical.Regular oil changes, using 5W-30 oil, are the key to long and reliable engine life.Capped price servicing didn’t apply to the T31, but service costs are not excessive, and any competent mechanic can do it.Anyone opting for the CVT auto should road test a car before making their decision, as they’re a different beast to drive and you need to get used its idiosyncrasies, one being the constant whirring noise.There were some issues with the CVT in early T31 X-Trails due to a bearing that was overloaded and prone to failure, and Nissan replaced many transmissions. Listen for odd metallic noises coming from the gearbox during your road test.Another problem reported on a number of diesel models is the failure of he DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter). They’re expensive to replace if you have to.The engines use a timing chain, which means there is no requirement for regular replacement.When new, the X-Trail carried a warranty of three years/ 100,000km.MORE: If anything crops up, you’ll probably find it on our Nissan X-Trail problems.Michael Liagourdis: My 2012 Nissan X-Trail Ti 4WD auto has 93,000km on the clock and has been trouble free. It’s great cruising on the highway, and it is impressive off-road. The 2.5-litre petrol engine is both fuel-efficient and smooth. Overall it’s a fun vehicle and a pleasure to drive.Ken Collins: I have a 2012 X-Trail and I love it. I’m tall, but it’s easy to get in and out, it’s great on petrol, has a ton of power, and is great to drive, especially long distances.Ross Weldon: I have been an X-Trail owner for 13 years; the latest is a 2012 ST-L. I wanted a good highway cruiser that could go off-road when required, and the X-Trail fills the bill perfectly. It is easy to enter and exit, has one of the biggest cargo areas in their class, and the fit and finish is spot on.Rigby Gilbert: My 2008 TS diesel manual is my second X-Trail. It has now done 160,000km and is still running as well as ever. The first was a petrol model, but I find the diesel relaxing to drive when towing and the fuel consumption when towing improved.Ian & Rae Singleton: We bought our 2011 X-Trail manual because we wanted easy access in and out of the car. It’s done 43,000km, none off-road, and it has been very reliable, easy to drive and gets good fuel economy on the open road. There’s nothing glamorous about it, but it’s a good, reliable and simple SUV.Roomy, practical family wagon that’s at home on the road and off.