Nissan has had its fair share of challenges in recent years. While the company is beginning to see some improvement in its financial standing, it still has a long way to go. Here in the Philippines, the competition is just as demanding with Chinese brands making their presence felt through an expanding lineup of electrified vehicles. But Nissan is far from sitting this one out.
At the 2026 Philippine International Motor Show, Nissan gave us a glimpse of four electrified models coming to the country this year. We recently got to experience two of them in their natural habitat: out on the open road.
Our drive took us from Solaire North to the coastlines of Zambales and Bolinao, Pangasinan, before making our way back to Quezon City via the expressways. Over three days and roughly 700 kilometers, we had plenty of time to get acquainted with the Nissan X-Trail e-POWER and Kicks e-POWER. In that time, we were living with them on the road, finding out what they do well, and discovering the little things that make a difference when the journey gets long.
Nissan X-Trail e-POWER
If you’re the type who likes to sit back and let someone else take the wheel, the Nissan X-Trail e-POWER makes a pretty convincing case for itself. It’s the kind of vehicle that makes you appreciate being the boss, especially when you’re seated in the second row.
There’s plenty to like back there. Individual temperature controls, rear air vents, USB-C ports, and sunshades make long journeys more pleasant. The seats are nicely contoured to keep you in place, while the center armrest comes with cupholders and a phone holder. It’s the sort of setup that makes you feel like the vehicle was designed with passengers in mind.
I particularly appreciate the elevated seating position. It takes some strain off my legs, which is something I don’t always get from the back seats of other vehicles. Even after the long drive to Zambales, I stepped out with very little fatigue. For someone who spends a good amount of time on the road, that’s a big deal.
Of course, the boss eventually has to take the wheel. Up front, the X-Trail remains comfortable and easy to settle into. I also appreciate having a dedicated button for the e-Pedal system, unlike the Kicks, where it automatically activates in Eco and Sport modes.
However, you start noticing a few things that could have been better. The X-Trail only comes with standard Cruise Control and Lane Departure Warning, without a Lane Keeping System. If you’re usually chauffeured around, that may not matter much. But for those who regularly drive themselves on expressways, it’s something to keep in mind.
Then there’s the e-Pedal system, which takes some getting used to. In Eco mode, its response feels vague, especially at low speeds. Crawling through traffic, the effect is barely noticeable. At higher speeds, it becomes more apparent, but the way it responds also changes depending on how quickly you lift off the accelerator. Ease off gradually and you get one kind of response. Lift your foot quickly and you get another. Even when you release the pedal by the same amount, the car can behave differently. Sport mode makes the system feel more predictable, but that leaves me wondering why Eco mode has to feel so subdued in the first place.
Fortunately, the X-Trail has a more convincing answer when it comes to fuel economy. Over our drive from Solaire North to Zambales and Pangasinan, it returned an average of 16 km/l. That included everything from city traffic and NLEX congestion to long highway stretches, overtaking, rural roads, uphill climbs, and idle time. Not bad for a vehicle of its size, especially considering the variety of driving conditions we encountered. Still, I couldn’t help wondering how much better the figure might have been had we spent the entire trip in Eco mode with e-Pedal.
What I’ll remember most about the X-Trail, though, isn’t its fuel economy or the quirks of its driving modes. It’s how effortlessly it handled the long journey. Despite its size, it was surprisingly easy to maneuver through tight streets, and the 360-degree camera system made parking and squeezing through narrow spaces less stressful. But if you ask me where I’d rather spend the next few hours, I’d still choose the second row. The boss has a throne for a reason.
Nissan Kicks e-POWER
The Nissan Kicks e-POWER may be the smaller sibling, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it’s settling for second place. Nissan has carried over the same powertrain package from the Kicks’ original Philippine launch, choosing instead to focus on its design and safety features. The V-motion front end is more restrained, while the extended taillight detailing around the rear corners adds a little character without trying too hard.
But the biggest surprise came once we started driving. The Kicks actually has a more agreeable e-Pedal system than the X-Trail. Eco mode feels more predictable, making it easier to drive smoothly while taking advantage of coasting when the situation allows. It’s the kind of setup that makes you want to keep using it rather than switching modes just to get a more natural response. Adjustable regenerative braking would have made the experience even better, but as it stands, the Kicks gets the fundamentals right.
The safety equipment also gives it a considerable advantage over its bigger sibling. It comes with Intelligent Cruise Control, or Adaptive Cruise Control, and a Lane Keeping System—features missing from the X-Trail. There are also 16 Advanced Driver Assist features available, with several offered across the lineup. Even the base variant gets features such as Intelligent Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. That’s a lot of assistance packed into a relatively compact package.
The second row, however, is where the Kicks starts to show its limitations. There are no rear air vents, although the cabin remains reasonably well-ventilated thanks to the positioning of the dashboard vents. The USB-C ports at the back of the center console are also a welcome touch, especially when you’re traveling with passengers who need to keep their devices charged.
Comfort is another matter. The rear seat base could use more cushioning. After a while, I could feel the seat frame pressing against me, making it difficult to settle into one position. During our four-hour drive from Pangasinan back to Quezon City, I found myself squirming around and constantly shifting to find some relief. Interestingly, I didn’t experience the same discomfort during the two-hour drive to our lunch stop. It seems the Kicks’ second-row comfort is something you’ll appreciate more on shorter trips than on a full day of driving. And to be fair, I’m a heavy guy, so my experience may not reflect how every passenger would feel.
That said, the Kicks more than made up for it in other areas. It returned 17.5 km/l during our trip, edging out the X-Trail in fuel economy. More importantly, its overall driving experience felt more cohesive. The e-Pedal system was easier to work with, its driver assistance features were more comprehensive, and its compact size made it a more natural fit for everyday driving. For a vehicle that’s smaller and more affordable than its sibling, it makes a compelling case as the model that best represents Nissan’s e-POWER technology today. This short king has plenty to prove, and it does so without needing to be the biggest vehicle in the room.
Three days, 700 kilometers, and no range anxiety
There’s something special about experiencing Nissan’s e-POWER technology over a long road trip. On paper, it may take a little explaining. But once you’re out there, covering kilometers and watching the scenery change, the appeal becomes much easier to understand.
Both the X-Trail and Kicks offer the familiar convenience of an electric drive without requiring you to plan your journey around charging stops. We spent three days covering roughly 700 kilometers, and neither vehicle demanded a refueling stop or a charging break along the way.
By the time we returned to Quezon City, even the car with the least fuel remaining still had around half a tank left.
After three days on the road, their shortcomings didn’t overshadow what the two vehicles managed to deliver: a comfortable, efficient, and largely stress-free way to explore. And sometimes, that’s all you really want from a road trip. A full tank, a long stretch of road, and the right amount of VL to enjoy the drive longer.
