Nissan has officially announced that the new X-Trail will arrive in South Africa very soon.
The Japanese carmaker confirmed that the first batch of the new SUV has left the Land of the Rising Sun and is now en route to the tip of Africa.
It stated that the 2026 Model Year X-Trail will make its debut in local showrooms this August, making South Africa one of the first markets to receive the new SUV after Europe.
“This 2026 model is based on the fourth-generation X-Trail, continuing the X-Trail’s success as one of the best-selling SUVs in the world, with over 8 million units sold since the introduction of the first generation in 2001,” said the company.
The full specification sheet will only be announced closer to the car’s launch; however, Nissan did confirm that the new model will include features like 19-inch alloy wheels, chrome detailing, roof rails, and LED headlights.
It will also have a full Advanced Driver Assistance Suite (ADAS), including Nissan’s ProPILOT self-driving system, depending on the trim level.
The carmaker did not confirm the engine selection, but in other markets, the X-Trail is sold with a variety of internal combustion and hybrid powertrains.
Given there has been no official confirmation, the hybrid options seem unlikely for our market, so it’s fair to assume the X-Trail will continue to be offered with a 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine.
As a refresher, the current version produces 125kW and 244Nm, and is available with either a front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive configuration.
2 more Nissan cars coming to South Africa
The new X-Trail is the first in a series of new products that Nissan has lined up for South Africa and other African markets.
It stated that this is part of Nissan’s renewed plans to strengthen its position in South Africa and, in partnership with its network of over 100 dealers, expand its presence further.
“On its introduction, the new Nissan X-Trail will become the company’s SUV flagship until the arrival of the new Nissan Patrol, also approved for local introduction.”
“It will be offered in both five- and seven-seat configurations, alongside the highly popular Nissan Magnite and the Nissan Navara.”
The other two models that have been confirmed for our market thus far include the aforementioned Patrol, and the new Tekton.
Developed in partnership with Renault, the Tekton is a new crossover that will be built at the brand’s Chennai factory in India.
It will be exported to 50 global markets in Africa and the Middle East, including South Africa.
“As we continue to strengthen our SUV-led portfolio and sharpen our market focus, the world premiere of the all-new Nissan Tekton reflects our ambition to leverage strategic partnerships to expand our market coverage,” the company said at the car’s recent unveiling.
The full spec sheet was not revealed at the event, though we do know that it shares the CMF-B platform with the Renault Duster.
It will feature one of two turbo-petrol engines: either a 1.0-litre unit with 74kW and 166Nm, or a 1.3-litre unit with 120kW and 280Nm.
As for the Patrol, the luxurious Toyota Land Cruiser 300 rival will feature one of two V6 engines, either a 3.5-litre twin-turbo with 313kW and 700Nm, or a 3.8-litre naturally aspirated block with 232kW and 386Nm.
Both versions are equipped with a nine-speed automatic transmission and a permanent four-wheel-drive system with six distinct modes: standard, sand, rock, mud/rut, eco, and sport.
It also introduces a 4WD transfer mode interlock system, a first for Nissan, allowing drivers to seamlessly switch between modes and tackle challenging landscapes with ease.
Nissan Tekton
Nissan Patrol
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