On winter training with Nissan e-4ORCE (2024)

four wheel drive 2.0

Electricity has increased the speed of four-wheeled vehicles. Logically, electric motors are small and therefore do not require a complex transmission. In addition, they often have a lot of torque, so that with more powerful electric motors, four-wheel drive provides a solution to the loss of traction.

So it’s a little less about the physical transmission and a little more about the software. On the other hand, let the software and electric motors match well and you get four-wheel drive systems like the Nissan e-4ORCE, which can do calculations in 1/10000 of a second.

electricity

Do you need that much computing power? Of course it’s good to show off. The main thing is that you don’t realize it at all. Nissan offers optional all-wheel drive on the most powerful engines on its electric Ariya and electric X-Trail.

The top model of the new X-Trail is called e-4ORCE. The drive is electric, but the power of the electric motor is not provided by the battery but through the gasoline engine. It sounds complicated, but in practice you should see it as a Hybrid. In other words, the best combination. The Nissan system works very well. Without the grinding engine sounds you can sometimes have in a conventional hybrid. The X-Trail e-4ORCE feels like an EV, but you can add fuel.

enough softness

E-4ORCE in X-Trail produces about 213 hp, allowing the SUV to run up to 100 km / h in 7 seconds. Ariya e-4ORCE goes further. Ariya is definitely electric. It has a total power of 306 hp and therefore runs to 100 in a very respectable 5.6 seconds. all forms of e-4ORCE contain nothing.

more than a four-wheel drive

Nissan took us to Finland, the Mecca of winter testing. We were allowed to play in the snow and on the ice between and in the lakes. Well, “play”, cars are of course equipped with tires – all cars in Finland are. So we can describe the experience very simply as follows: safe and comfortable. Da Ariya and X-Trail are not sports cars, nor do they have to be. We were very impressed with the X-Trail. After all, it weighs much less than Ariya and is therefore more moisture friendly. What also helps is the regeneration system that does not allow cars to “dive” when braking or “take off” when accelerating.

conclusion

There are few things to consider on Nissan’s e-4ORCE, even on icy slopes the X-Trail or Ariya don’t notice much. Should you also choose e-4ORCE in Belgium? Yes and no. With the X-Trail you pay about 2,800 euros more, while the Ariya is 3,000 euros. In both cases you are already starting in the higher motorization regions. In Ariya you get more than 60 additional hp, but you lose 33 km of range. In X-Trail unlike X-Trail e-power the best is probably very small. There is also no difference in the towing capacity (2 tons drawn). So we would not blindly choose e-4ORCE. But if you have the money for it or need a four-wheel drive, don’t hesitate.