2024 Nissan X-Trail vs Toyota Fortuner vs other rival crossovers

With the exception of the Tucson, this market segment is really full of "oldies"....cars that have been around for a while and which don't particularly feel modern.

BHPian Ripcord009 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Nissan X-Trail

What you'll like:

• Handsome-looking SUV with a perfect blend of conventional & modern styling
• 1.5L turbo-petrol with variable compression is refined and offers decent performance
• Smooth CVT combined with a light steering makes the X-Trail a good urban car
• 585 litres of boot space (3rd row folded) is accomodating enough for family holiday luggage
• 3rd-row of seats gives it an advantage over 5-seater competitors
• Features such as the panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, paddle shifters, drive modes, fully digital instrument cluster, etc.
• 5-star Euro NCAP & ANCAP rating. Safety features such as 7 airbags, ESP and brake limited slip differential among others
• 210 mm of ground clearance is great for tackling bad roads

What you won't:

• Missing features in what’s pitted as a premium SUV – lacks leatherette seats, ADAS, a spare wheel, powered and ventilated seats, ambient lighting, connected car tech, hands-free tailgate, rear sunblinds, wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, etc.
• 20-inch alloy wheels and shorter tyre sidewalls make the ride firm. Should’ve had smaller wheels as an option
• Since this is a direct import / CBU, the X-Trail is the most expensive in its segment. Not many people would be willing to pay big money for a Nissan
• Single variant and single powertrain on offer. No turbo-diesel, no AWD
• Cramped 3rd row has very limited usability & is best for kids. This is more of a 5+2 seater SUV than a 7-seater
• Not as engaging to drive as the Kodiaq or Tiguan
• Nissan's tiny dealership network & poor after-sales service

Review Link

Skoda Kodiaq

What you'll like:

• The ultimate “value luxury” SUV! Classy styling, solid build & superb quality
• Cabin offers space, practicality and lots of intelligent features
• Impressive 2.0L turbo-petrol is mated to a quick 7-speed DSG automatic
• Cushy ride quality in “Comfort” mode (L&K variant)
• Sorted handling & road manners in “Sport” mode. Adjustable suspension is a USP of the L&K
• 3rd-row of seats is an advantage over some 5-seater competitors
• Massive boot with 3rd seat row down. Boot is useable even with the 3rd seat row up
• Impressive kit (12-speaker Canton ICE, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, auto parking...)
• AWD available to get you out of tricky situations. Tourers will love it
• 5-star safety rating & equipment (9 airbags + a host of electronic aids)

What you won't:

• Workhorse 2.0L turbo-diesel is no longer available. Heavy users will miss its low running costs
• Single digit fuel economy of the turbo-petrol AT in the city. Drops drastically if you drive aggressively
• Its sibling, the VW Tiguan, is priced ~ 5 lakhs cheaper
• Expensive! Even with the recent discounts, it is still an expensive SUV
• Cramped 3rd row of seats is strictly for small children. A 5+2 SUV, not a 7-seater
• Styling does look Estate-ish from some angles. Doesn't have that much street cred or presence
• We feel that the “Sportline” variant should’ve been offered with the DCC & other L&K features
• Skoda’s ill-famed dealership network & after-sales horror stories
• Skoda’s patchy long-term reliability track record (including, but not limited to, the DSG)
• Silly feature deletions from older Kodiaq (rear door sills, 1 umbrella, 1 blanket, chrome tip on power window switches, removable torch in the boot, red warning lights on the front doors…)

Review Link

Jeep Meridian

What you'll like:

• Handsome unmistakably-Jeep styling & loads of character
• Robust build quality. Feels very solid, just as a Jeep should
• Classy cabin now boasts a versatile 5+2 seating configuration and better accommodation when compared to the Compass
• Competent 2.0L diesel. Good driveability in the city, quick on the open road
• Mature suspension setup, nicely-tuned EPS & rock-solid stability
• Capable AWD available, with 214 mm of ground clearance
• Feature packed: electric front seats (driver memory), panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, powered tailgate, LED projector headlights…
• Topnotch safety kit: Strong all-disc brakes, a plethora of electronic aids & 6 airbags
• Diesel AT now available without the AWD as well, thereby making it more accessible for urban dwellers (Compass Diesel AT only available with AWD, 5-lakhs more OTR)

What you won't:

• Cabin has limited width, can feel snug for larger passengers. 5th passenger (in the 2nd row) will feel unwelcome
• 3rd row is strictly for children and small adults
• Should’ve had more power for the price. Same 2.0L diesel available in SUVs from a segment below
• No petrol engine in a market that is moving to petrols in a big way. Delhiites will be disappointed
• 9-speed Automatic gearbox is competent, but not brilliant
• We’d have liked to see front parking sensors, paddle shifters, gearbox ‘sport’ mode, a sliding middle row, more connected tech features (it’s very basic currently)
• At low speeds, the firm ride quality always keeps you aware of the road quality you’re driving on
• Jeep India’s dealer & service network coverage is still limited

Review Link

Volkswagen Tiguan

First Look Link

Hyundai Tucson

What you'll like:

• A futuristic-looking, well-engineered premium SUV
• Complete urban package with comfortable suspension, light steering and a smooth automatic
• 2.0L diesel engine is not just refined, but punchy too
• 540 litres of boot space is enough to haul holiday luggage
• ADAS safety features like autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitor and lane-keep assist are cool & work reasonably well
• Loaded with features like a panoramic sunroof, multi-air mode AC, ventilated and heated front seats, connected car tech, wireless charging, boss control for the front seat etc.
• 5-star Euro NCAP rating. 6 airbags, ESC, VSM, downhill brake control, TPMS, 360-degree camera & more

What you won't:

• Edgy looks & funky styling may not be to everyone's liking
• At ~43 lakhs on road for the top-end variant, the Tucson is expensive!
• Not as engaging to drive as the Kodiaq or Tiguan
• Naturally-aspirated petrol isn't as punchy as the competitors' turbo-petrol units
• Other crossovers & SUVs offer a 3rd-row of seats. Tucson is a 5-seater only
• Some missing features such as paddle shifters, rear sunblinds...
• Hyundai badge lacks the snob value that many 40-lakh rupee customers are looking for

Review Link

Citroen C5 Aircross

What you'll like:

• A superbly engineered & properly premium crossover
• Very stylish exteriors & interiors! We love the design. It's matched to solid build quality
• Good quality cabin with comfortable seats, lots of storage & fantastic insulation
• 2.0L diesel engine is quick, efficient & extremely refined
• Smooth 8-speed AT gearbox impresses
• Excellent ride comfort and mature road manners. High speed behaviour is sorted too
• Large, well-shaped 580 liter boot gobbles up holiday / airport luggage
• Loaded to the gills with features such as a panoramic sunroof, handsfree tailgate opening, customisable instrument cluster, double laminated front windows, terrain modes...
• 4-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test. 3-point seatbelts for all five occupants, 6 airbags, blind spot monitoring system, ESP, hill hold, hill descent control and more

What you won't:

• Very expensive! We wish Citroen had priced-it-to-sell-it (aka penetration pricing)
• Rear legroom is strictly adequate. Two 5’10" adults can sit behind each other, but not two 6-footers
• No turbo-petrol engine (big miss), no AWD for tourers & no manual gearbox for MT fans
• Not really sporty to drive. Cars like the Compass & Tiguan are more fun
• Missing some features we expect today (connected car tech, ventilated seats, electrically adjustable passenger seat, ADAS, 360-degree camera, subwoofer…)
• The bolstering of the 3 individual rear seats is suitable for slim passengers, not heavier ones
• Audio sound quality is alright, but nothing special as you’d expect in a 40-lakh car
• Many competing crossovers & SUVs offer a 3rd-row of seats, which the C5 Aircross doesn't have
• Long-term reliability & after-sales service quality are still big unknowns

Review Link

Toyota Fortuner

What you'll like:

• Fantastic 2.8L diesel engine has gotten even better. More power, more responsive!
• Smooth and competent 6-speed automatic gearbox
• Contemporary styling & imposing street presence
• Tough build. Toyota body-on-frame UVs are known to have very long lives (400,000+ km is realistic)
• Smooth petrol also available, if you want more refinement and / or are from Delhi-NCR
• Features such as Quad-LED headlamps, powered tailgate, wireless smartphone charging, ventilated seats & more
• Impressive offroad capability (by big SUV standards) is superior to its direct competitors
• Top-notch safety kit. 7 airbags, ESP, TC, hill assist, ISOFIX & 3-point seatbelts for all
• Outstanding long term reliability. And you get great resale value as well
• Toyota's excellent after-sales quality, fuss-free ownership experiences, low service costs & up to 7 years of extended warranty coverage

What you won't:

• The already-expensive Fortuner has gotten even more expensive! Top variants cost 51-lakhs OTR
• Legender variant has many limitations (no MT, no petrol, no colour options, no 11-speaker sound system)
• Firm & bumpy ride quality. Bad roads in the city are prominently felt inside
• Heavy steering at low speeds will bother you
• Lots of body roll. Go easy on the curves
• Missing sunroof, lumbar adjustment, auto-wipers, TPMS, adaptive parking guidelines etc.
• 6-speaker sound system is terrible for a 40-lakh rupee car!
• Cost-cutting evident in a couple of areas; some interior plastics, ICE audio quality, camera display…
• Fortuner's petrol variant is a guzzler. We've seen merely 6 – 7 kmpl on the AT
• No longer a full-time 4x4 like the 1st-gen car. Also, 4x4 carries a Rs. 5 lakh OTR premium

Review Link

MG Gloster

What you'll like:

• Huge & imposing size! Bigger than even the likes of the Fortuner and Endeavour
• Splendid long-distance mile muncher. The Gloster is built for expressway cruising. Just set the adaptive cruise control and let the Gloster waft along
• ADAS safety features such as autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitor and lane change assist are cool & work well
• Suspension is tuned for comfort. Gloster owners will enjoy its ride quality
• Spacious cabin with captain seats at the back and a usable third row too!
• Interior ambience is nicer vs the competitors which are utilitarian in comparison
• Loaded with features - panoramic sunroof, 12.3" touchscreen ICE, driver seat with massage function, 360 degree camera, three zone climate control, PM 2.5 air filter etc.
• 343 liter boot even with the 3rd-row seat being used

What you won't:

• Engine and gearbox tuning are shockingly terrible inside town. Turbo lag and the gearbox's reluctance to downshift make things awful in city traffic
• Massive size can be a handicap in urban India. Quite cumbersome in tight areas
• While the interior looks premium, you know it is not as well-built as a Toyota or Ford
• Top-end Savvy variant is optimistically priced at par with the well-established Fortuner & Endeavour
• Savvy variant doesn't get the 3-seater bench option for the middle row. Captain seats = 2 occupants
• 4,000 rpm redline is too early. Engine has a very narrow powerband
• Urban fuel economy is mediocre due to the power & fat kerb weight
• Twin-turbo diesel, 8-speed AT & gizmos bring a lot of complexity. Long-term reliability is unknown (unlike the Fortuner & Endeavour)

Review Link

Isuzu MU-X

Launch Discussion

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

With the exception of the Tucson, this market segment is really full of "oldies"....cars that have been around for a while and which don't particularly feel modern.

That's why the choices remain the same. If Petrol, then the Kodiaq with that sweet 2.0L turbo petrol, DSG & adaptive suspension. If Diesel, then the Tucson which is quite the all-arounder. If Electric, I'd ditch both of these and choose the Ioniq 5 .

Honestly, there is more action & product dynamism in the 15-30 lakh SUV & Crossover segment than the 40-50 lakh one.

Here's what BHPian CentreOfGravity had to say on the matter:

My pick is the Hyundai Tucson. Second choice = Kodiaq. Here's why:

• The design is to die for. This is a rare Hyundai that impressed me on the design front in recent times, the only other ones being the i20 N-Line and Ioniq 5. Not only is it proportionate, but it also looks good from all angles IMO. Now this is "Sensuous Sportiness" done right!
• The interiors look premium and futuristic. It is also feature loaded to the brim. The Kodiaq is the only car that matches/betters the Hyundai on this front.
• CRDI + 184 bhp + 416 Nm = A blast on the highway! More than makes up for the weak performance of the 154 bhp 2.0L MPI engine. AWD is an added plus.
• Hyundai ASS is reassuring. I think it's safe to assume that issues with the car and service will be few and far between.
• My second pick = Skoda Kodiaq. I do think the Kodiaq is the better car overall and expect the votes to tip in its favour with time. Compared to the Tucson, it has better build and material quality, a 190 PS turbo-petrol engine vs the Tucson's NA unit, better ride and handling balance and the "Skoda" badge. However, it never managed to tug at my heartstrings for some reason ever since its debut in 2017.
• IMO, the Meridian and Tiguan lack the X-factor, the C5 Aircross is overpriced, the Fortuner and Gloster belong to a different segment and the X-Trail deserves a separate point - see below. And MU-X? What is that?!
• A 523 bhp BYD Seal costs around 3 lakhs less OTR Mumbai than the 163 bhp X-Trail, while offering way more features and tech. Forget the X-factor, buyers (whoever they are, a big salute from my side ) will be waiting to be (e)X-X-Trail owners. There you go, two factors of X

At the time is typing this post, there is one vote for the X-Trail. I sincerely hope the vote was cast by mistake. If not, I am dying to hear the rationale behind it from the BHPian.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.