There is a sense that Nissan is finally beginning its redemption arc.

Their financial struggles, failed mergers, and restructuring plans are all well documented, but read the recent news about them, and you’d see they’re now in a much better situation than 12 months ago. And rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, the Japanese automaker is looking to lean on what it already has.

Part of that strategy involves its China joint ventures, while another is making better use of existing technologies and platforms that can be adapted for today's market. That makes the case of the all-new X-Trail and Kicks e-Power to the Philippines particularly interesting.

Both nameplates have been reintroduced with new-generation updates, but more importantly, both carry Nissan's e-Power electrified powertrain. Rather than simply chasing the growing number of PHEVs and EVs coming out of China, Nissan is doubling down on a technology it has already developed and refined.

We got to experience both models in a way that goes beyond the usual short media drive. Over three days, we took the all-new Kicks e-Power and X-Trail e-Power from Manila to Subic and Botolan on day one, Botolan to Bolinao on day two, then Bolinao back to Manila on day three. By the time the trip was over, we had covered a total of almost 700 kilometers across expressways, provincial roads, rougher sections, and twisty stretches, with four adults and a considerable amount of camera equipment and luggage onboard.

I was particularly interested in the Kicks e-Power, as I was curious about how much Nissan has worked on the new generation. I was only able to drive it for a short course when it was launched in Thailand earlier in the year. And surprise, surprise, it’s the car we’re taking going to Subic. 

The new look is of course something I’ve seen before, with the more mature styling and better interior materials inside making the Kicks more up to date with the latest automotive trends. But what I’m particularly curious about is the work that Nissan did to improve the drive with basically the same platform.

At first glance, the basic e-Power formula remains familiar. The gasoline engine acts primarily as a generator, while the electric motor provides the driving force to the wheels. Likewise, power output remains at 136 PS and 280 Nm of torque, but the experience feels more polished than before.

As we started the journey, one of the most immediately noticeable changes was how much quieter the cabin got at both city speeds and cruising along NLEX. Nissan has added more sound-absorbing material around areas such as the fender liner, and it becomes particularly apparent once the speeds pick up. Road noise is better isolated, giving the Kicks a more mature feel than its predecessor.

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One of the things I didn’t like about the previous generation Kicks was how its suspension behaved when loaded with passengers. While it was softly sprung, the dampers had a tendency to bottom out and return a bouncy ride as it sprang back up quickly. I’m glad Nissan has also addressed this with the new generation model, as the retuned springs and dampers squat under load, trapping the energy before bleeding it back out in a slower, more calculated release. 

The powertrain itself also felt more refined, as the gasoline engine no longer springs up to high RPMs right away as it kicks in (no pun intended) to generate electricity. We only had our music volumes on low, but it’s apparent that this recalibration has made the switchover much less noticeable.

Media drives usually mean we take a higher pace than usual to reach our destinations on time. But even with that being the case, the all-new Kicks e-Power still returned an observed 18.9 km/l over the trip. 

That's not a laboratory figure, of course, and real-world consumption will depend heavily on driving conditions, traffic, and driving style, but it is an encouraging result for a subcompact crossover that’s basically carrying a full load. 

Then there’s the X-Trail e-Power, which is a larger and more sophisticated package than the Kicks. Up to this point, I’ve only known the X-Trail and saw most of what it offers through a static display, but now I finally get to see how it drives on the road. Luckily, my stint landed on a twisty road section before reaching Sundowners in Bolinao for the second day, so there’s plenty to observe about its driving manners. 

The first thing that stood out to me is its road presence. The X-Trail doesn't necessarily look enormous from the outside. But behind the wheel, it feels considerably larger than its dimensions suggest – way more than its rivals, the RAV4, the CR-V, and even the Forester. There is a sense of stability and composure that becomes apparent once the road opens up.

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In fact, there is something almost Patrol-like about its manners. Not necessarily because it has the sheer size or imposing character of Nissan's flagship SUV, but because of the way it settles itself onto the road. It felt planted, comfortable, and remarkably composed. Whenever I wasn’t driving, I was able to get a lot of snooze time, making good use of that curtain and privacy glass at the back to shield myself from the sun.

Interestingly, despite having the more powerful motor at 204 PS and 330 Nm of torque, power delivery in the X-Trail is much more linear than that of the Kicks e-Power. And yes, the three-cylinder VC-Turbo gas engine also lets out a nice and throaty roar whenever the system needs to draw more electricity to compensate for the power it is sending to the front wheels.

With four adults, camera equipment, and plenty of bags of snacks filling the cabin, we still managed 15.9 km/l on a rushed pace as we headed back to Manila.

This most recent drive showed us that Nissan’s got some solid models in the Kicks and the X-Trail e-Power, but that’s already more of just a validation of our own expectations.

The company doesn't necessarily need to invent an entirely new formula when it already has a differentiated one with the e-Power system. What they just really need is to execute that formula well and give customers a reason to choose it. 

The first two parts seem to be happening, but there’s a third factor where things can get difficult - pricing. The Kicks starts at PHP 1.499 million, while the X-Trail retails for PHP 2.290 million. If you look among its fellow Japanese peers, both models are right in the mix for having a competitive price.

But when compared to similar-sized models from China, that’s where the impression changes. Chinese automakers are increasingly aggressive in offering generous equipment, modern designs, and electrified powertrains at a much lower price than what Japanese automakers could offer, and that has changed the landscape.

Spend enough time reading automotive discussions online, and you'll see a recurring sentiment: if a Japanese, Korean, or European vehicle costs substantially more than a similarly equipped Chinese alternative, the difference needs to be justified. Online discussions increasingly frame anything more expensive than a comparable Chinese offering as overpriced, regardless of what sits behind the badge.

That means Nissan's challenge isn't about convincing buyers that the new Kicks and X-Trail are good SUVs, because they are. Their assignment is to demonstrate why their particular combination of heritage, engineering, refinement, e-Power technology, driving experience, and brand proposition is worth the premium over a car built in PRC. 

To put it simply, Nissan will need to convince a market that has become obsessed with value that more expensive doesn't automatically mean overpriced.