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SUV SHOOTOUT X-trail vs fortuner vs pajero
44 CAR India OCTOBER 2009
SUV SHOOTOUT X-trail vs fortuner vs pajero
44 CAR India OCTOBER 2009
45CAR India OCTOBER 2009
Three of the biggest Japanese automakers, three unique killer SUVs but just one crown – the perfect
backdrop for a mortal combat
Words: Sarmad KadiriPhotography: Sanjay Raikar and Sawan Sekhar Hembram
45CAR India OCTOBER 2009
SUV SHOOTOUT X-trail vs fortuner vs pajero
46 CAR India OCTOBER 2009
New X-TrailpriCe: rs. 20.81 to rs. 25.08 lakh (eX-showroom, new Delhi)Nissan recently introduced the latest X-Trail SUV and the new Teana, its luxury sedan, in India. At the launch, the auto major hinted that it may also debut its premium SUV, the Murano and the mighty 370Z roadster in a bid to climb up the pecking order in the domestic automotive spectrum. While you can read about the new Teana elsewhere
in this mag, we pitch the X-Trail against some of its able rivals.
riVal no.1ToyoTa ForTuNerpriCe: rs. 18.45 lakh (eX-showroom, new Delhi) Enthusiasts in India have been talking about the Fortuner as much as the Japanese discuss Misaki Ito. Well, maybe not. But the point is that Toyota already has over 2000 bookings for its recently launched SUV. It seems that Japan’s number
one carmaker could well have a bestseller on their hands. I am saying this not because of the hype surrounding the new Toyota, but for the reason that most offerings from the competition in the Rs 20-25 lakh range perform more like soft-roaders. Imagine splurging so much for a SUV and getting one that can’t be taken for hardcore off-roading. The Fortuner promises to change this with its brute diesel force, robust design, amazing off-roading capabilities and the legendary
the winD is still anD the sky eXpressionless. this is the lull before the storm. Climbing the dark curvy roads are some gargantuan figures. the first in sight is the swift, lethal and young X-trail raring to taste first blood. heaving from the other side is the master of broken roads, the pajero roaring at the intruder. in the background, somewhere not too far, there is a hum of distant war drums
that’s gradually growing louder and heading straight at us. suddenly, leaping from behind the bushes pounces in the burly fortuner. the brute wants its share of the kill. as these three japanese warriors meet face to face, a combat is inevitable. Click! time to snap out of the cheap thriller script and come back to reality. though there isn’t much of a difference since the script is mostly true.
SUV SHOOTOUT X-trail vs fortuner vs pajero
47CAR India OCTOBER 2009
the legenDery pajero is being ChallengeD by
younger anD sliCker opponents
SUV SHOOTOUT X-trail vs fortuner vs pajero
48 CAR India OCTOBER 2009
Toyota reliability. An added advantage is that it is being made in India and is based on the tried and tested (and how!) Innova platform.
riVal no.2MiTsubishi PajeropriCe: rs. 20.7 lakh (eX-showroom, new Delhi)For years now we have had the Mitsubishi Pajero as the proven off-roader. We’ve seen, with starry eyes, celebrities braving the shutterbug in the Pajero from way back in the ‘80s to recent times. As we grew up so did the competition. Now this legend in its own right is being challenged by younger and slicker opponents. The moment you step into the Pajero’s cabin, the old school knobs and
switches look, err, old. The legendry beast is showing its age and in comparison, it lacks refinement. On flat roads, there is some body roll but the engine is strong and takes on broken roads with ease. However, the competition has younger engines that are modern and quick. As we take a closer look at the legend we feel it’s time Mitsubishi up their game.
eXTeriorThe slickest of them all is the second generation X-Trail. Based on a new platform which it shares with the Qashqai crossover, the new Nissan maintains the old iteration’s solid design cues without going ultra radical. There are distinct lines running from front to back. The
headlights bite into the front grille adding character to the SUV and avoiding the boxy look. The subtle exterior design reminded me of the Range Rover Sport I drove recently. The X-Trail looks solid and very likeable.
The Pajero’s old school design looks stark in contrast to the contemporary X-Trail. Despite being in the market without major alterations to it designs, the Pajero still manages to maintain a certain road presence. Available in dual tones, this Mitsubishi has the right mix of being a no-nonsense off-roader and a reliable city commuter. It has set the benchmark for several new SUVs and will continue to do so in the days to come. The clean, crisp lines on the sides disguise the boxy truck like
The Toyota sports a beastly 3.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine
which is the most powerful of the lot. The
big SUV has comfortable legroom even in the
third row
SUV SHOOTOUT X-trail vs fortuner vs pajero
49CAR India OCTOBER 2009
120
100
80
60
40
20
00 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
ACCELERATION (km/h)
Time, seconds
SPECIFICATIONS
Car inDia’s test and performance data is the sole copyright of next gen publishing ltd. no part of the data or text can be used in any form for any purpose or promotion or advertisement without the explicit written permission of the editor.
Performance testing by Aspi Bhathena
MAXIMUM SPEED (km/h)Gear True Speedo1 41.8 452 76.5 793 123 1274 171 1755 180.1 183
OVERTAKING ACCELERATIONRoll-ons 3rd 4th 5th40-60 3.35 5.49 13.2460-80 3.47 4.86 8.9180-100 2.06 5.61 8.9100-120 6.11 6.64 8.12
FUEL CONSUMPTIONCity 9.5kmplHighway 14.5kmplOverall* 10.75kmpl*Overallis25%highwayand75%citydriving
BRAKING TEST
From80km/hto0 30.61m/2.80sFrom100km/hto0 56.90m/3.96s
PERFORMANCE FACTORSPower/mass(PS/tonne) 87.46Power/litre(PS/litre) 57.34Torque/litre(Nm/litre) 115.02TEST CONDITIONS
Altitude 550maboveMSLWeather Warm,windless,dry
TEST RESULTS
Design & Style: 11112
Powertrain: 11111
Performance: 11111
Fuel Efficiency: 11112
Dynamic Ability: 1111
Space: 11111
Creature Comforts: 1111
Driver Appeal: 1111
Safety: 11111
Interiors: 1111
Suspension: 11112
Ride Quality: 11112
Handling: 1111
Steering: 11112
Braking: 1111
CAR RATING
ENGINECylinders FourEngineLayout In-lineFuelsupply DieselBore/stroke 96.0x103.0Cubiccapacity 2982ccCompressionratio 17.9:1Valvegear DOHC,4valvespercyl
ENGINE OUTPUTMaxpower(PS) 171Powerpeak(rpm) 3600Redline(rpm) 4500Maxtorque(Nm) 343Torquepeak(rpm) 1400-3400
TRANSMISSIONForwardspeeds,Five-speedManual1stgear 4.312ndgear 2.33
3rdgear 1.434thgear 1.005thgear 0.83Reversegear NAFinaldrive 3.58Drivewheels AWD(Fulltime4WD)
WHEELS AND TYRESWheelsize 17”Tyresize 265/65R17
BRAKESFront VentilateddiscRear Leading-TrailingDrum
STEERINGType Powerassisted,rackandpinionLocktolock 3.7turns
SUSPENSIONFront DoubleWishbone
Rear 4-LinkwithLateralRodACCOMODATIONSeating 7HeadRoom,F/R 1000/950mmLegRoomF(max/min) 1190/930mmKneeRoomF(max/min) 860/620mmKneeRoomR(max/min) 920/690mmShoulderspace 1150mmFueltank 80litersBootspace 200/600liters(withseatsfolded)
DRIVER AIDSTwoairbags,GOAbody,ABS,Parksensor,ORVMswithElectricalAdjust&Retract,4x4with‘High’/‘Low’selector
TOYOTA FORTUNER (Rs. 18.45 lakh ex-showroom Delhi) 11112 car Road Test #137
0-400metressprint: 18.45sTerminalspeed: 117.62km/h
1kmsprint: 34.21sTerminalspeed: 152.97km/h
1.19s
5.37s
3.64s
2.38s
7.51s
10.13s
Width(excluding mirrors) 1840mm Front track 1540mmRear track 1540mm Kerb weight 1955 kg
Wheelbase 2750mm
Overall length 4695mm
Over
all h
eigh
t 18
50m
m
SUV SHOOTOUT X-trail vs fortuner vs pajero
50 CAR India OCTOBER 2009
NEED TO KNOWu
MITSUBISHI PAjERo
The Pajero’s cabin has plenty of space but looks
straight out of the 1980s. It has a separate gear knob for the 4x4
which looks macho but the wood trims don’t look trendy anymore
Doing duty on the X-Trail is a 1995cc engine. The
power keeps flowing until you suddenly notice
the tacho and the speedo needle almost edging towards the
upper limit
design. The hunky front grille and guard accompanied by the practical square headlights plus the air vent carved out of the bonnet still make their point, but I say this with a heavy heart, the impact is fading away with time.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a balance of a brawny SUV with modern lines, then the Toyota Fortuner could just be it. Laced with the essence of the mighty Land Cruiser, this scaled down version has a high waistline and muscular curves that are a delight for SUV aficionados. The sleek chrome grille between the twin headlights, the beefy front bumper which holds the fog lights along with the sump shield skid plate make it look imposing. The last blow (if the ladies in the neighbourhood aren’t weak in their knees already) is the stylish air vent sitting on the bonnet that actually works and completes the overall ‘don’t mess with me’ attitude surrounding it. What brings the spotlight back on the Nissan, however, is the rear of the X-
Trail which has more character than the other two. It is neat with a large lid and the ridged tail lamps running right up to the roof further enhance the SUV’s solid theme.
iNTeriorThe X-Trail appears to be the most compact of the three, but don’t mistake it to be cramped for space within. With 940mm of headroom and 1120mm of leg room there’s enough space to stretch during long drives. As you step in, the beige-black dash looks classy and makes the interior appear light and roomy. Nissan designers have maintained the contemporary theme in the cabin and the dash is perhaps one of the cleanest designs I’ve come across in a long time. The instrument console is nicely laid out and easy to reach. At both corners of the dash, just above the AC vent, are bottle holders with a lid that cools your drink on the go. Nice touch there.
Even the interiors of the Pajero are showing their age. It was a brilliant
Price Rs.20.7ex-showroom
engine 2835cc,120.2PS,292.3Nm
Transmission Five-speed,4WD
Performance 17secs0-100km/h, 191.3km/htopspeed
Fuel efficiency 8.9kmpl(overall)
51CAR India OCTOBER 2009 51CAR India OCTOBER 2009
52 CAR India OCTOBER 2009
package when it was designed, but times have changed and so has the competition. The interior has plenty of space but looks straight out of the ‘80s. It has a separate gear knob for the 4x4 which is a hit with me but the wood trims somehow don’t look trendy anymore. The AC has manual controls and other gadgets that look dated and don’t live up to a car in this price bracket. The seats match the dual tone exteriors of the car. They look sporty but cannot be electronically adjusted and doing it manually can be a pain.
I get off the Pajero and literally climb into the mighty Fortuner to find Toyota’s legendary fit and finish. The cabin is large with enough elbow room and a nice beige black dashboard. However, I could soon identify some styling like the wood trims and controls lifted from the
Innova, for example, the wood trims and the dash. I would have liked Toyota to be a little imaginative here especially because the Fortuner belongs to a completely different price bracket as compared to the Innova. The Fortuner’s steering has practical controls including a set that controls the music system – a feature missing on the X-Trail’s steering wheel. The all-beige leather seats of the Toyota provide apt support and this seven-seater has decent room even in the third row. The other SUV that has third row seating is the Pajero but it lacks leg room and the folding mechanism is rather clumsy. However, the third row seats can be folded to make adequate storage room. The X-Trail is even more practical than the previous version with the rear seats splitting into 40:20:40 and the smart two-deck luggage compartment.
eNgiNe aNd PerForMaNceNissan India is offering the new X-Trail with a first-in-this-segment six gears which is wonderful because you end up saving fuel. However, I had to constantly remind myself about the extra gear. I didn’t waste too much fuel though as the X-Trail stretched a litre of diesel to an impressive 10.25 kilometers whereas the Fortuner sipped a litre in 10.75 kilometers and the Pajero could just manage around 9kmpl.
The X-Trail is the only SUV in this shootout that also offers an Automatic Transmission in the SLX AT variant. The Fortuner is being offered with a five-speed manual transmission, though the automatic variant will be introduced soon. The Toyota comes with a full time all-wheel drive (4WD) which is more than eager to gulp down the challenges you set for it.
Laced with the essence of the mighty Land Cruiser, this scaled down version has
muscular curves - a delight for SUV
aficionados
52 CAR India OCTOBER 2009
53CAR India OCTOBER 2009
Even the Pajero has the traditional five-speed manual gearbox but comes with another gear lever for the 4x4 that is effective and looks charming, giving you the complete SUV experience.
The firm sells the Pajero in India with the tried and tested 2835cc four-cylinder Direct Injection diesel unit which produces a decent 120.2PS and 292.3Nm of power. I won’t think twice before jumping into it to go off the beaten path, but when pitched against the newcomers, this vehicle lacks refinement. Talking about newcomers, doing duty in the Nissan is a 1995cc Direct Injection Common Rail four-cylinder engine that churns out a peak power of 149.6PSat 4000rpm and 320Nm of torque at 2000rpm. But what it lacks is low end torque. Having said that, the Nissan is smooth and its power delivery is
SPECIFICATIONS
Car inDia’s test and performance data is the sole copyright of next gen publishing ltd. no part of the data or text can be used in any form for any purpose or promotion or advertisement without the explicit written permission of the editor.
Performance testing by Aspi Bhathena
MAXIMUM SPEED (km/h)Gear True Speedo1 40.9 422 74.6 803 115 1214 159.3 1685 188 1976 199 210
OVERTAKING ACCELERATIONRoll-ons 3rd 4th 5th40-60 3.35 5.49 13.2460-80 3.47 4.86 8.9180-100 2.06 5.61 8.9100-120 6.11 6.64 8.12
FUEL CONSUMPTIONCity 9kmplHighway 14kmplOverall* 10.25kmpl*Overallis25%highwayand75%citydriving
BRAKING TESTFrom80km/hto0 29.68m/2.66secFrom100km/hto0 45.80m/3.26sec
PERFORMANCE FACTORSPower/mass(PS/tonne) 94.77Power/litre(PS/litre) 74.98Torque/litre(Nm/litre) 160.04
TEST CONDITIONSAltitude 550maboveMSLWeather Warm,windless,dry
TEST RESULTS
Design & Style: 1111
Powertrain: 1111
Performance: 1111
Fuel Efficiency: 11112
Dynamic Ability: 1111
Space: 1111
Creature Comforts: 1111
Driver Appeal: 1111
Safety: 11112
Interiors: 1111
Suspension: 11112
Ride Quality: 1111
Handling: 11112
Steering: 1111
Braking: 11111
CAR RATING
ENGINECylinders FourEngineLayout InlineFuelsupply DieselBore/stroke 84.0X90.0Cubiccapacity 1995ccCompressionratio 15.6:1Valvegear DOHC
ENGINE OUTPUTMaxpower(PS) 149.6Powerpeak(rpm) 4000Redline(rpm) 4500Maxtorque(Nm) 320Torquepeak(rpm) 2000
TRANSMISSIONForwardspeeds,SixspeedManual1stgear 4.192ndgear 2.40
3rdgear 1.584thgear 1.165thgear 0.856thgear 0.68Reversegear 3.45Finaldrive 3.30Drivewheels FWD/4WDWHEELS AND TYRESWheelsize 17”AlloyTyresize 215/60R17
BRAKESFront VentilateddiscRear Ventilateddisc
STEERINGRack&pinion,PowerAssistedLocktolock 3.2turns
SUSPENSION
Front IndependentstrutRear Multi-LinkACCOMODATIONSeating 4HeadRoom,F/R 940/900mmLegRoomF(max/min) 1120/920KneeRoomF(max/min) 850/620mmKneeRoomR(max/min) 840/620mmShoulderspace 1260mmFueltank 65litersBootspace 479/603liters(withoutdrawer)
DRIVER AIDSFront,SideandCurtainairbags,ABS,EBD,BA,CruiseControl,4x4,ORVMs
NISSAN X-TRAIL (Rs. 20.81 lakh ex-showroom Delhi) 11112 car Road Test #138
120
100
80
60
40
20
00 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
ACCELERATION (km/h)
Time, seconds
1.17s
7.79s
4.72s
2.63s
10.75s
15.78s
0-400metressprint: 17.69sTerminalspeed: 127.84km/h
1kmsprint: 32.33sTerminalspeed: 162.55km/h
Width(excluding mirrors) 1785mm Front track 1530mmRear track 1535mm Kerb weight 1630kg
Wheelbase 2630mm
Overall length 4630mm
Over
all h
eigh
t 16
85m
m
SUV SHOOTOUT X-trail vs fortuner vs pajero
SUV SHOOTOUT X-trail vs fortuner vs pajero
54 CAR India OCTOBER 2009
almost petrol like. Speaking of which, after my initial short spin, I pulled over and opened the refueling lid just to double check if it was actually running a diesel engine. Okay, I didn’t. I was just trying to make the article more graphic. Coming to the Fortuner now. Toyota has fitted this beast with a refined 3.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged D-4D diesel engine that is the most powerful of the three SUVs. This mighty engine makes 343Nm of torque between 1400-3400rpm and 171PS at 3600rpm!
Now let’s shift our focus to the figures, no not the ones you daydream about in office. In our best run in the Fortuner, we reached form naught to 60km/h in 5.14 seconds and 0-100km/h in 12.47 seconds. A strong midrange is the key to the brilliance of this vehicle and is probably what will be most useful for off-roading and city commuting. Into the X-Trail now. We
managed to reach 60km/h from standstill in just 4.72 seconds and zero to 100km/h in 10.75 seconds. That’s impressive by SUV standards especially one that weighs over 1600 kilos. With over 2 tons of kerb weight, the Pajero took 17 seconds to 100km/h from standstill.
To bring this shootout to a halt, let’s finish off with the brakes. The Fortuner’s front wheels have discs and the SUV comes loaded with ABS and EBD. However, what I couldn’t come to terms with was the rear drum brakes which have a tendency to become even less effective on excessive use. Like the Fortuner, the Pajero has ventilated front discs and drums in the rear that deliver just average performance. The X-Trail boasts the best brakes among the trio with discs in front and rear. The SUV is also equipped with ABS, EBD and Brake Assist. Like I said, the brakes are great!
the X-trail has gooD fuel eConomy anD amazing
refinements
The Toyota Fortuner can give the Mitsubishi Pajero a run for its
money off roads, but it would have a tough time matching the Nissan X-
Trail on a flat road
55CAR India OCTOBER 2009
VerdicTComingtothereallytoughpart.JudgingtheseverycapableSportsUtilityVehiclesindividuallywasalotoffunbutwhentheyareputonthesameplatter,itgetsreallydifficult.Simplybecauseeachofthemhasadifferentcharacterandtheirownsetofmeritsanddisadvantages.Tobereallyhonest,therearecertainthingsIsimplyadoreaboutthemliketheX-Trail’samazingfueleconomyandrefinement,theFortuner’simpressivestanceandbrilliantpricingandthelegendaryPajero’ssuperoff-roadingcapabilities.Itreallyisaverysubjectivechoice.Personally,theNissanX-Trail’srefinedengine,compact
sizeandgreaton-roadperformancecoupledwithitssoberlooksandmodernequipmentlikeABS,EBDandHillStartAssisttonameafew,makesitanattractivebuyforthoselookingforanunderstatedstylewithanoccasionallyurgeforsomeadventurearoundthecityoutskirts.Thisisnottosaythatitcan’thandleintenseoff-roading,however,itissofterincomparisontothePajeroandtheFortuner.Honestly,thereisnothingwrongwiththePajerobutithas
allsortsofknobsandmanualcontrolswhenthereareneweroptionsatthesameprice,ifnotlower.PajerofansneednotdespairasMitsubishiisalreadyofferingthenextgenerationPajeroinIndiaintheMonteroavatar,butasofnow,itcoststwiceasmuchasitspredecessorcourtesyimporttaxesandcustomduties.PeoplewillcontinuetobuyPajerosaslongasHindustanMotorskeepssellingtheminIndiabecausethoughdated,theyarenostalgic,hardyandreliable.ButifMitsubishiisaimingforbiggernumbers,theywillhavetouptheiranteinthissegment.ThefinalcontenderforthemidsizedSUVcrownisthe
Fortuner.Toyotaisbettingbigbucksontheirlatestofferinganditsurehasshakenupthecompetition.ThevehiclelooksrobustandisabornshowstopperwiththepedigreeofbigdaddyLandCruiser.IthasthebiggestandthemostpowerfulengineamongstthethreeandlikethePajero,theFortunerhassomeoldschoolcharmlikeaseparatemanualgearknobtoselecttheHighorLowgearofthe4x4.ItcangivePajeroarunforitsmoneyofftheroad,buttheFortunerwouldhaveatoughtimematchingtheX-Trailonaflatroad.TheplussideisthatunlikethePajeroandtheX-TrailthatcometoourshoresasCBUs,theFortunerismadeinIndia’\.JustliketheInnova,theFortunerhasthebody-on-chassisconstructionandinthisway,Toyotahasmanagedtokeepacheckonthecosts.TheFortunerhasapricetagofRs18.45lakhsmakingitthemostaffordableofthethree,thoughitcouldhaveeasilybeenafewgrandcheaper.Additionally,Toyota’sreliabilityandalreadywellestablisheddealershipnetworkinourcountrymakestheFortunerthebestdealamongthethreeSUVShere.Itoldyouthisisatoughcall.Sochuckthemapandforgetthespecifications.Justfollowyourheart.Withoneofthesebadboysbyyourside,whoneedsroadsanymore? car