THE NEW Nissan Livina X-Gear is, in essence, a crossover vehicle for those who like the great outdoors and want a vehicle that reflects their individual lifestyles.
Based on the same platform as the Grand Livina, the X-gear has a shorter rear overhang, and instead of seven seats, there are only five.
Outwardly, the X-Gear is a little shorter and there is a black plastic skirting that runs around the lower part of the vehicle – this is to provide protection from undergrowth should you decide to take it off the tarmac.
At the front end, the grille is of a new design, and so is the bumper, which also includes built-in fog lights. The rear bumper is new and designed to give a diffuser effect.
The overall rendition makes the Livina X-Gear stand out as more masculine in demeanour to appeal to those who like SUV-type vehicles.
The Livina X-Gear shares the same mechanicals as the Grand Livina 1.6, with the same 1,598cc DOHC, all-aluminium engine and a four-speed automatic transmission.
Horsepower and torque values remain the same at 105PS at 5,200rpm, and 150Nm at 4,400rpm. With a compression ratio of 9.8:1, the Livina X-Gear will run happily on RON 95 petrol.
The 52-litre fuel tank will yield in excess of 500 kilometres per tank, and more if you are light-footed.
According to a spokesman from Edaran Tan Chong, the suspension has actually been softened to compensate for a lighter kerb weight, but the handling, if anything, is more crisp, due to the different front/rear weight distribution.
The new X-Gear tips the scales at 1,140kg, a good 105kg lighter than the Grand Livina, and is 145mm shorter at 4,275mm. Wheels remain at 15-inch size.
On the road, the Livina X-Gear is easy to drive, with the effect of a lighter body translating into more eager acceleration and better balance around bends.
With the same front disc/rear drum brake configuration, everything the Grand Livina can do, the X-Gear does it better, except for the fact that there are two seats less.
We took the X-Gear all the way to Penang and back as part of a media ride and drive event organised by Edaran Tan Chong ahead of the public launch. The route covered a mixture of roads that are representative of the typical roads that one would encounter in Malaysia.
In the spirit of a crossover vehicle, we even took the X-Gear on a very short ‘adventure’ into a grassy park by a lake just off the main trunk road for some photography.
The X-Gear can take minor excursions off-road to farms and kampung roads with no issues.
On the highways, at regulation speeds, the X-Gear feels at home, but being motoring media, we of course had to push it a little. It is good to report that one can maintain a cruising speed of between 140-160kph with ease. Top speed achieved on a ‘safe’ stretch was 180kph.
It handles well, being able to take all the corners along the trunk roads and B-roads that the test drive route took us through, and straight-line stability along the highway was excellent.
Incidentally, we must mention that the steering is of an electro-mechanical design – this keeps the steering effort light while contributing to the overall fuel economy.
On the whole, I would say the Livina X-Gear is a good vehicle for those who want a cross between a SUV and a car. With an asking price of RM82,800, it is a great bang per buck package.
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