The Nissan X-Trail vs the Toyota Harrier, Engine transmission,

If you would like a strong, fast speed car, go for Toyota Harrier. If you prefer fuel consumption and more capacity, go for Nissan X-trail. Otherwise, both these giants are equally well performing on many other accounts. STOCK PHOTOS

What you need to know:

SUV (Sports Utility Vehicles), are four-wheel drive with on-or off-road ability; classified as a light truck, but used as a family vehicle. Thus, these cars offer extra-spacious for passengers with an easily accessible place for goods. Today, we will have a look at two models from two famous Japanese car manufacturers: Nissan X-Trail Vs Toyota Harrier

Toyota and Nissan are known for their stylish looking cars. Today, we will be looking at Nissan’s X-Trail and Toyota’s Harrier, which have been around since the beginning of 90’s and they have released many versions.

Nissan X-Trail
The X-Trail has maintained its box-like shape over the years. According to Thomas Kayinja, a mechanic at Grace Lubega Motors, it has an adjustable air conditioning vent in rear portion of the car. It also comes with a 2.0 litre engine. The superior suspension system of the X-Trail is exceptional and makes your rides very smooth. Kayinja says the suspension and road noises are well contained and they do not reach the cabin. But you may experience a bit of vibration from the engine, especially when you are sitting in traffic.

Toyota Harrier
The initial Toyota Harrier model was just a double of Lexus RX but with every revamping there has been a noticeable upgrade. It was one of the cars Ugandans embraced and according to the Toyota website, the Harrier has two rows to accommodate five passengers. The engine uses smaller displacement for its four cylinder engines. There is a 2.0 litre cylinder having variable transmission and a 2.5 litre four backed cylinder that is supported by electric engine. The Harrier utilises 3.5 litre V6 engines and is available in both hybrid and gas modes.

Engine transmission.
According to Kayinja, the Harrier has six cylinders in contrast to the four in the X-Trail. He says the two extra cylinders lead to less vibrations and offer smooth running of the engine. Harrier’s engine power is 183kw while X-Trail has a power of 127kw, this means that Harrier has more power and is able to cater for more speed. Kayinja says the piston strokes for the X-Trail are also longer, pointing to its fuel efficiency. However, the X-Trail produces 12 per cent more torque than its competitor meaning it can accelerate faster.

Performance
Reachel Amoding, who drives a Toyota Harrier, says it is a fast car even with a simple step on the accelerator. She adds that she is lucky to have driven her friend’s X-Trail and admits it is also fast but the Harrier is exceptional, especially on hills and steep terrains.

Weight
The maximum weight for Harrier is 2,700 kilogrammes while that for X-trail of 2,170 kilogrammes. So it is believed that the Harrier can hold more weight. However, the X-Trail has a maximum trunk space of 1,773 litres more than the Harrier meaning it carries more weight.

Fuel Consumption
The X-Trail is more fuel efficient among the two cars. According to Bosco Kigongo, a mechanic, the performance of the Harrier leads to its increase in fuel consumption compared to the X-Trail. He says the X-Trail consumes even less on the highways than Harrier, on the contrary when making rounds around the city the X-Trail still consumes less of fuel but a little higher than on the highway because of the traffic that keeps the car in high gears leading to more consumption.

Verdict
It is hard to separate both vehicles. They are equally well performing on all accounts. It is no wonder that both are so popular among car lovers. We leave the decision for the best car to you.