The new Nissan X-Trail is no longer powered by the good old Nissan engines that were considered reliable and flexible. Now, it comes with the only available option – the 1.5 VC-Turbo engine that is also accompanied by the mild-hybrid system called e-Power. So, this is the hybrid engine. Interestingly, it’s offered in Europe, but not in the US. The American Rogue is sold with the clean VC-Turbo engine with no hybrid addon.
Today, I will tell you about the 1.5L hybrid engine in the Nissan X-Trail that appears to be the single available drivetrain option for the model. I will cover its common problems and also give you my view on its durability. Although this engine is very fresh, we already know some facts about it that help us make certain conclusions.
Here’s what exactly I will cover in the article:
- What are the key facts about the hybrid engine in the new X-Trail?
- How many kilometers will this engine last?
- What are the most obvious common problems with the engine?
- Can you prolong the life of the engine?
What should you know about the 1.5L Hybrid engine in the X-Trail?
This is the mild-hybrid powertrain that is based on the Nissan KR15DDT engine. The engine is very new – it was only introduced in 2021. But it’s just the same as the KR20DDET or 2.0 VC-Turbo that powers the most luxurious Nissan and Infiniti models. So, the engine is really interesting and has been here for some time before they just cut one cylinder.
Up to this point, you may have started suspecting that the 1.5L engine in the new X-Trail is the 3-cylinder engine, and yes, that’s true. This engine differs from the 2.0 VC-Turbo with only one thing – the absence of one cylinder which makes its displacement smaller exactly to 0.5 liters.
Here’s what you may want to know about the machine:
- this is the 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbocharged engine codenamed KR15DDT;
- the engine is equipped with an electric motor and a small lithium-ion battery pack to form the mild-hybrid system;
- the hybrid can’t go all-electric or be charged from any external source, the electric part works to add some torque and also improve the start-stop system;
- the engine offers 207 horsepower in the current version and 330 Nm of torque which is more than just good for the 1.5L engine;
- the mild-hybrid system has a Li-Ion battery pack of slightly less than 2 kWh;
- the only available transmission type is CVT Xtronic, no manual is available for buyers;
- the system is pretty fuel-efficient and offers up to 56 MPG UK or 5L/100 km on highway which is just great for an SUV.
Also, Nissan may offer upgrades to this engine and make it even more powerful by changing the parameters of the hybrid system. There are already versions with 213 horsepower. But I believe they will change something only on paper because the change is not that significant and you will not feel the difference when you are behind the steering wheel.
I should say that the engine feels really good and it drives the X-Trail wonderfully, with no compromises to flexibility and comfort. You can expect the 3-cylinder engine to vibrate and make some noises, but you will surprisingly find out that the Nissan X-Trail is pretty quiet and comfortable in all driving modes.
How many kilometers will the 1.5L Hybrid survive?
Well, the engine is not thought to be the record holder in terms of durability. This is a 3-cylinder hybrid engine with a lot of power and high torque. My take is about 200,000 kilometers or 130,000 miles – this should be the average dying milestone for the KR15DDT engine.
Why so short lifespan, you may ask? Well, first of all, the engine is small and it gives you a lot of power. Also, the hybrid means that you have a battery pack that is going to degrade at about 100K miles or 160K kilometers and require replacement which is expensive.
And then, there is another killer point in my evaluation of the lifespan of this engine – it’s the CVT. Unfortunately, this CVT transmission is not as durable as a manual Nissan transmission, for example. So, at about 100K miles or 160K kilometers, it may ask for very expensive repairs. This will mean that investing in this engine after it reaches 200,000 kilometers is not the best idea.
But you will always have the option of engine replacement or overhauling. Well, replacement sounds better for the KR15DDT because repairing it is not always possible.
What are the common problems with the 1.5L Hybrid in the X-Trail?
Although the engine is new, I already know about some cases with serious problems and even warranty replacement. I don’t want to say that the engine is bad. And I ask you to treat this section as a warning for those who want to buy the new X-Trail. Of course, you still should buy this car, but with this information, you will know what you should expect from it.
Also, this may help you prevent some issues or address them as soon as the first symptoms show up.
So, here are some common issues you should know about:
1. The start-stop is not that good
Although the mild-hybrid system is almost all about the start-stop function, the start-stop itself doesn’t work really well. It may turn off the engine too early or not turn it back on when needed. Nissan issued several software updates but they don’t seem to help cope with the problem.
I still believe that the issue is purely in the software and soon Nissan will manage to deal with it by issuing another update.
2. Direct injection issues
Quite soon after you buy this car, you will need to have the intake valves cleaned. The direct injection system leads to carbon buildup on intake valves and you will have to pay for cleaning. In these engines, it will be required about once every 50,000 kilometers. Unfortunately, the cleaning in the dealership is going to cost you some money.
3. The variable compression system
All VC-Turbo engines have a system that allows the machine to jump from one compression setting to another. This allows the engine to be completely flexible and efficient. And now the system works well in all X-Trail models. But I’ve checked it with Infiniti cars in Europe and the US, and the 2.0 VC-Turbo has quite a lot of problems with this system after about 50K kilometers.
The problems may start with leaking or just losing power. If you notice something like that, go directly to the dealer and have the system inspected.
4. Thin timing chain
Like all modern engines that are equipped with timing chains, the 1.5L hybrid engine in the X-Trail has quite a thin and tender chain. It means that it may or may not live long enough. Of course, now no one is going to have problems with chains because the engines are new, but after some time, these chains will start stretching like crazy.
If you hear the engine rattling in your X-Trail, it’s now the best time to get the car in for the inspection and maybe replace the chain kit.
5. High consumption
Some owners notice that the hybrid engine in the X-Trail loves burning petrol and drinks up much more than the manufacturer promises in its ads. You will most likely see 7L/100 km on highways and up to 9L/100 km in the city traffic. Also, when the battery starts degrading, the gas mileage will also get worse.
So, why do they offer a complicated hybrid system for this engine? I see no difference with the non-hybrid VC-Turbo that’s offered in the US.
Can you prolong the life of this engine?
If you are the owner of the X-Trail, you may start thinking about the pretty sad longevity of the engine. But you can also do something to improve its lifespan.
Here are just some ideas:
- use only Nissan oil and never change its viscosity;
- change oil and filters regularly, cut the intervals when the engine is out of the warranty;
- pay attention to the health of the CVT, change fluid when needed;
- if you notice any vibration or unusual sounds, get the car inspected as soon as possible;
- warm up the engine at least 30 seconds before you start driving;
- when warming up the engine, put the gearbox in D or R to let it warm up, too;
- avoid abusing the engine and the transmission (but active driving is OK).
By the way, you may want to compare it to the older diesel engine (M9R) – I’ve recently written about it in this article.
To wrap up
The new X-Trail offers a much more modern powertrain than the previous model. This is the 3-cylinder hybrid engine that feels perfect and drives like crazy. If you decide to buy the X-Trail with this engine, be careful though because it has some surprises that you probably won’t like.
I’ve outlined the most common problems that you may expect in this engine and also given some ideas on how to prolong the life of the machine.
Overall, I think this is a decent bridge between ICE-driven cars and EVs. Also, among the competitors, this is one of the most technological engines.
