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If looks could kill, then the X-TRAIL won’t even sting. The boxy profile and upright design are easily digestible—for such an understated look. It’s like wearing a pair of Dockers khakis to your clubbing night. Sure, it’s nice, reliable and comfortable, but don’t expect to woo a sexy girl with your safe fashion sense. The same goes for some details such as the alloys, which conspicuously looks identical to the RAV4’s. So, it’s like wearing Dockers pants with matching black Florsheim shoes, then. Luckily, there’s some degree of bling-bling in the complex jewelry of the headlamps. Along with the sharply creased hood and mesh-grille, it gives some inclining of rebellious spirit: like wearing a dangling earring ala David Beckham. So, it’s not all boring understatement, then. For motorheads, however, the X-TRAIL is all thumbs up. When was the last time you had someone give you a hand signal other than the middle finger gesture on the South Superhighway? I rest my case. The X-TRAIL comes in three variants, the names of which don’t exactly connote anything. So, I personally have conjured up my own line-up: strong, full-strength and extra-strength. Distinguishing factors are similar to any other SUV in the same category: the base model 200 gets everything but the essential four-wheel drive system; the mid-priced 200X has all the reasons for getting an SUV plus some distinguishing exterior marks. Of course, the range-topping 250X gets cow hide and a funky radio. Like my favorite cup of espresso, extra-strength would keep my hands shaking and palms sweating ‘til the next morning, so I’d rather go for full-strength then for all of the thrills and none of the frills. The power goes down smoothly, like Colombian blend, without any hiccups all the way to the last drop. It kicks hard, all 150 ponies keeping my senses in check. There’s a hint of Bailey’s too with that baritone growl. The road tightens and turns to an uphill bend, then reality bites—downshift, upshift, downshift; for all that hair-on-chest experience, the transmission’s a fag. So too is the steering action, but engaging the four-wheel drive ‘Auto’ quells the helm: better balance and no more torque steer. |
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