How good is the Nissan Xtrail or Ford Escape off road?

[zlcrazy]

Hi all,

So im considering keeping my XR6T since i have only had it 6months but mind you i have done 15,000kms in that time.

But with my adventurous weekends with my little nephew or friends and their little ones i am beginning to find the XR restricting new places to explore so i am considering buying a second car such as a Xtrail or Escape to explore some 4x4 tracks, mountains, beaches etc

So what i am wanting to know is just how do such vehicles fair off road? Im not comparing them to things like Land Crusiers etc but just general 4wding???

[rancidpunx]

Not sure about the Escape but the xtrail will go up and down the beach all right. BUT you have to get on to the beach first and thats the trickiest bit. Soft road all wheel drivers are generally referred to as "Graders" as the low ground clearance scrubs everything you pass over, lots of things under there you down want to get bashed. Beach access points are usually rutted up and have the softest sand. 4x4 tracks for the most part will not pose a problem and the bits that do are usually sign posted. If its wet and muddy though the road tyres supplied will get you stuck quite quickly. You will also not get Low Range allowing you control to tackle terrain rather than just gunning it with all wheel drive.
Short answer is yes you will have more access than you would have with the XR, you wont really get much "4wding" done. However dont let me put you off there are plenty of guys out there who defy the norm conquering country that would surprise you in cars that really have no right to be out their. A bit of knowledge, thought process and they go all right. Its rare though. Most vehicles stuck at beach access points are soft roaders with no ground clearance, recovery points or equipment and road tyres at 38psi.

[Mr Hardware]

Well the xtrail (xfail? entrail?) doesn't have low range....
Only the grand vitara and the escape have low range in that segment iirc

[Dr Danger]

Bashed an X-trail around the top end for a year. Only got stuck doing silly things and once by choosing the wrong line through a long stretch of deeply rutted soft sand. Doesn't have low range but the 'lock' feature worked well.

As above, if you know your limits, they can be surprisingly capable.

One of the things I found that limits most softroaders is the sponge-like nature of the rear springs. Doesn't take much load to start hitting the bump stops.

[chevypower]

I understand the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk has low-range, rear locking diff, 9 speed auto, and optional diesel engine for Australia. Perhaps it's not out yet?

[BleedBlue]

I had a 2001 V6 Escape which I took off-road a few times. Standard it went OK but was let down by ground clearance however after throwing a set of raised king springs at it it went really well on the beach. Just be aware the centre diff (used when "locked in") can overheat and then fail returning it to front wheel drive. Letting it cool down (which didn't seem to take long) will sort it out though. Great little SUV really, only replaced cause we needed more room.

[Quicksand]

We've taken our X-Trail on the dunes and beach a number of times. Flawless, provided you do all the basics like drop tyre pressure and choose the right lines etc. They are a great little car and will get you to most places where clearance isn't an issue.

2011 Nissan X-Trail TL (4 cylinder 2 litre turbo diesel, 6 speed auto)

[GYRKIN GT]

Agree with Quicksand 100%. We bought a new X-Trail manual diesel TS at the end of 2009. It's just about to click over 80K kilometres. Most of that has been on the road but, on occasions, it's been driven on the beach. It's also done quite a bit of time on fire trails and not so rough bush tracks. The X-Trail has never let us down. If you not a complete d**khead and you don't take it to places only a Disco or Landcruiser should be taken, you would be surprised where an X-Trail will take you.

[GYRKIN GT]

Actually, take a look at this forum. It will help you.

http://baustralianxtrail.runboard.com/

[tommolt]

Hi I remember being Camped at Well 26 on the Canning Stock Route in 2006 and Five 4x4 turned up .One was Escape pulling a small Camper Trailer. Every one around the Campfire that night could not believe how good it was on the trip from Wiluna to camp 26 .Dont know if it made it to Halls Creek ?

[cheap]

Have seen X-Trails on Fraser beach but not on the inland tracks. Almost anything can do the beach as long as the sand isn't power dry and you let the tires pressures down. Have even seen a Lexus RX and CX9 on Fraser.

The limiting factor for soft 4x4's are:

Tires (most use road profile tires)
Low Ground Clearance
Lack of Low Range
Limited Towing capability
and so so recovery points

No matter how good the vehicle, it is the driver's ability and common sense makes a big difference. I've seen a moron in Subaru who got himself into trouble not thinking about high tide and demanding other 4x4's stop and rescue him - not a good idea to demand.

Vitara's would be my pick as they can go virtually anywhere a big 4x4 can go and sometimes even further.

[GASWAGON]

Tyre selection would make a big difference to either car......And yes the mighty Vitara with low range would be great too.

[zlcrazy]

Hi all,

Just a quick one. Which is a more capabable off road out of a BA Escape or early 2000's Nissan Xtrail??

Any advice or experience or opinions much appreciated.

[Mr Hardware]

Escape has low range, Entrail does not.

[Raptor]

Is there a reason your asking this again?

Only 2 weeks after you started this thread;

How good is the Nissan Xtrail or Ford Escape off road?

No, I'll merge the thread for you then

[Stealth00]

Owned a 2004 Series 2 x-trail for 9 years. Great unit.

The nissan 4x4 system works well - just lock in 4x4 mode. Yes the xtrail does lack low range - however in this category not a problem, as they are not designed as serious bush basher.

If you want to do some minor off road / sand driving the xtrail will handle it fine.

I test drove an Escape (not sure if it was BA) wasn't as good as the xtrail.

[zlcrazy]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

Escape has low range, Entrail does not.

Correct me if im wrong but i didnt think any Escape had low range???

Im looking at th BA model mainly but still havent other models Escapes with low range???

[Vesper Martini]

I didn't think it did either, I searched and couldn't find anywhere where it had a 2 speed transfer case

but here's good article describing escape and explorer systems
http://www.fourwheeler.com/project-v...ransfer-cases/

[Vesper Martini]

For the record we did own a Vitara with low range, its really good for manovering and for situations where the car didn't have enough grunt, (for example pulling a trailer of firewood out of a Paddock)
but if you want to go off road there no compromise for the right set of tyres

[ILLaViTaR]

They're not real 4wd's if it's for offroading a Suzuki Sierra/Jimny or even a Vitara will put a land cruiser/patrol to shame everywhere offroad besides steep slopes.

[Mr Hardware]

Originally Posted by zlcrazy

Correct me if im wrong but i didnt think any Escape had low range???

Im looking at th BA model mainly but still havent other models Escapes with low range???

I beg your pardon, I seem to have been misled. Carry on.