Nissan X-Trail: A Reliable Vehicle for Highlanders Courier Limited

The article discusses the features and specifications of Nissan X-Trail and why it is a reliable vehicle for Highlanders Courier Limited. It also talks about the benefits and drawbacks of leasing a vehicle. The article provides a comparison table of Nissan and Mitsubishi vehicles and recommends the use of Nissan vehicles for the company. It also includes a table summarizing the features of Nissan NV200, Nissan Wingroad, and Nissan X-Trail. The article discusses the history of Nissan and its achievements in the automobile industry.

NAME OF THE STUDENT
NAME OF THE PROFESSOR
CITY/ STATE
DATE/MONTH/YEAR

Introduction
As the manager, there were vehicles to select from and I decided to take between Nissan and
Mitsubishi and see which is the best car for the company. The company fleet will consist of the
following cars.
 SUV vehicles which I recommend Nissan X-trail.
 Transit vans which I recommend Nissan NV200
 Light cars which I recommend Nissan Wingroad
A table showing a summarize features of Nissan NV200
Dimensions Features
Fuel Tank Capacity 14.5
Fuel tank location Midship
Cargo area length and width 82.8 by 54.8
Brake ABS System 4-Wheel
Drive train Front Wheel Drive
Passenger capacity 2
Engine type Regular unleaded 1-4
Displacement 2.0L/122
Fuel system Sequential MPI
SAE Net Horsepower@ RPM 131 @ 5600
SAE Net Torque 139 @ 4800
Steering type Rack-pinion
A table showing a summarize features of Nissan Wing road

Dimensions Features
Manufacturer Nissan Shatai
Class Compact
Body style 5-door van
Layout Front engine/four-wheel drive
Engine 1.8L MR18DE14
Transmission 5-speed manual
Wheelbase 2,600mm
Width 1,695mm
Length 4,395mm
Height 1,500mm
Engine type HR16DE
The product selection table is shown above comparing the features of Nissan and Mitsubishi.

Model Nissan X-trail Mitsubishi Lancer
Engine type Gas/Electric 1-4 Regular Unleaded 1-4
SAE Net Torque@ RPM 207 @ 4400 145 @ 4200
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM 176@ 6000 148 @ 6000
Trans Description CVT w/OD Manual w/OD
Market price £25,710 £27,820
As a company manager, I propose the use of Nissan vehicles for the company, Highlanders
Courier Limited. To be specific, I decided to choose Nissan X-trail 1.6 dC1 Acenta 5dr 4WD and I
propose this type of vehicle since it is a well- known and reliable company back in 1979 when
Nissan was one of the Renault- Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance which was a corporation involving
Mitsubishi Motors of Japan and Renault of France.
The company decided to build a new Auto-repair workshop that will assist them in repairing the
cars to cater for maintenance cost. The Auto repair workshop will be offering numerous
services for example;
 Mechanical and bodywork repair.
 Paintwork repairs to dents, scuffs and scratches.
The table below shows a summarize features of Nissan X-trail

Dimensions Features
Model Nissan X-trail 1.6 dC1
Acenta 5dr 4WD
Year 2008
Price £25,710
Length 4640mm
Height 1710mm
Total seats 5
Total doors 5
Luggage capacity 5501
Wheelbase 2705mm
Minimum kerbweight 1580kg
Top speed 116Mph
Engine capacity 1,598 cc
Wheel type 17’’ Alloy
In the year 2013, the sixth prime automaker globally was Nissan after Toyota, General Motors,
Volkswagen Group, Hyundai Motor Group and Ford.
In the year 2014, Nissan became the largest car manufacturer in North America and it is also
the world chief producer of electric automobiles with rummage sale exceeding 275,000
globally. The name Nissan stated back in the year 1928 and by that time it was involved in
controlling foundries and auto parts while assembling of larger vehicles with spare parts which

were gotten from Graham Paige Company thus attaining the license to enable them to
manufacture buses, passengers’ cars and trucks. The information given above showed that the
Nissan vehicle is a reliable vehicle which can which is preferable in Highlanders Courier limited
Specifications
The Nissan X-trail is a compact crossover produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan since
2000. During the launching of this vehicle, other manufacturing companies were launching their
vehicles, for example, Honda CR-V, Mazda Tribute, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Hyundai Tucson and
Toyota RAV4. The manufacture of Nissan X-trail started back in the year 2000 and it was
assembled in Japan from 2000 to present and in Russia from 2009 to present (Giustina, 2012).
Vehicle Body
The body of Nissan X-trail is a compact crossover with a 5-door and a transverse front engine,
front wheel or four-wheel drive. This type of car was manufactured after Nissan Raheem and
was later succeeded by Nissan Rogue.
The X-trail enables the driver to select between 2WD, 4WD by using an electronic switch on the
dashboard. The main production plants of the X-trail are based in Kyushu, Kanda, Fukuoka in
Japan (Krambeck, 2014, p. 45).
Vehicle Engine

The engine available in the Japanese market is the SR20VET which produces 206kW. The
Australian model is powered by a QR25DE 2.5L four-cylinder engine initially producing 132kW
and later in the year 2006, it was detuned to 123kW with the manual or automatic
transmission.
The X-trail has had three model revision, the series 1 and series 2using Nissan FF-S platform and
series 3 using Renault C platform/ Nissan.
There is a quick key owned for Nissan X-trail that permits keyless access and push-button
engine start. And there is also an extensive 7 touchscreen display with satellite navigation built
in it. With hands-free Bluetooth phone and Audio streaming, your phone can be retrieved and
functioned merely and securely. The vehicle is also equipped with certain features such as
safety alerts and tire pressure.
Space and practicality
There is 40/20/40 seat system in Nissan X-trail which offers excessive suppleness comprising
being in a position to house double travelers in the rear while camping down the middle
armchair for lengthy objects like skis. The keeping of cherished stuffs such as a laptop computer
is done in the rear drawer. The drawers can also be removed thus allowing additional storage
space (Fenton, 2013, p. 431).
Comfort

The front seat is well padded and it was found that they are precise contented throughout
lengthy challenging and the fold-down armrest makes the rear seat back to be hard.
Ergonomics
The center attached dash show is hindmost behind the steering wheel and buttons and
switches are within the drivers’ easy reach (Downings, 2009, p. 32).
Safety
The Nissan X-trail has seriously taken safety into serious consideration such that it entails Active
Brake, Limited Slip Differential, X-trails off-road competencies enhance by availability of4WD,
Steadiness and Traction Control with Active Brake, hill descent control, and hill-start assists.
There are also front airbags for driver and passenger, available air bags for protecting the head,
tallness of the front seats can be accustomed with pre-tensioners, Brake Assist, Anti-lock
Braking Systems, Electronic Brake-force Distribution and front active headrest (Brannen, 2013,
p. 45).
Vehicle Performance
The vehicle is equipped with aluminum engine with 125Kw power production and 226NM of
torque making the X-trail a sensible quantity of power on exposed impenetrable roads or
challenging four-wheel – drive tracks. The user is capable of applying decelerating pressure to
make entire wheels at a practicable 8km/h thus assisting the user to control the vehicle during
steep descents. The vehicle is also equipped with first-hand framework grounded on the
Alliance C- Platform thus enhancing on and off road drivability (Lowe, 2010, p. 174).

The vehicle is also equipped with McPherson beams to the forward-facing and a fresh multi-link
suspension system to the back leading to improved rear belongings space and also ventilated
rear and front brake (Meersman, 2013, p. 53)
Other features of Nissan X-trail 1.6 dCi Acenta 5dr 4WD
Corner confidentiality
The performance of the vehicle when taking a corner is done by the presence of Active Trace
Control. The state of cornering is read and if required, can break every wheel independently to
assist one to drive through the turn with self-assurance (Merkin, The Law of Motor Insurance,
2008, p. 67).
Straight Ahead
The Active Brake Limited Slip System senses wheel spin and applies braking pressure onto any
slipping wheels while transmitting power to the wheels with the best traction.
Forward and not backward
Starting to drive a vehicle on sharp hills after stopping, the rolling back of the vehicle will be
prevented by the presence of Hill-start Assist (Miller, 2009, p. 54). It clutches pressure brake for
a little second, permitting one to shift from the brake pedal to the accelerator.
No Bump fearing

With active Ride Control, the brakes can be applied automatically in Nissan X-trail and engine
torque adjusted subsequently you hit a bump to smooth out your ride (Simo, 2008, p. 43).
Smooth Operator
Whether you are coming to a stop or slowing for a corner, the CVT transmission is used by
Active Engine Braking to apply engine braking so that to assist in giving smoother deceleration
and more confident feel when braking (Seatzu, 2008, p. 65).
Petrol engine
Each adventure is powered with this particular vehicle with the spirited 4-cylinder 2.5L engine
that kicks out 169HP at 6000 rpm and 233Nm at 4000rpm. The Nissan x-trail confirms the
output of torque is high at low revs and enhance fuel low-cost (Stauffer, 2009, p. 409).
Recommendations
Vehicle leasing
This process will involve giving out or using a vehicle for a secure time period at a decided
amount of money for the lease. The process of leasing the vehicle is done by the merchants, a
substitute to buying the vehicle but is extensively applied by companies as an approach of
obtaining vehicles for company deprived of the typically required cash expenditure. The vehicle
leased must be reverted to the leasing company after the agreed period of time normally 2,3 or
4 years.

The leasing of vehicle offers benefits to the sellers and buyers such that the expenditures for
leasing will generally be lower than outflows on a car loan. Any sales tax is due only on
respectively regular payment rather than immediately on the whole buying price as in the case
of a loan. The consumers prefer leasing o vehicles so that they are in a position of returning a
car and selecting a brand new model thus enabling them to drive a new vehicle without
carrying a load of selling the old vehicle (Weaver, 2007, p. 65).
The contract contracts typically lay down an early dissolution fee and limit the number of miles
a lessee can drive. If the mileage allowance is surpassed, fees may apply and the suppliers may
permit a lessee to talk a higher lease payment. The contract agreement normally specifies how
much wear on the vehicle is allowable and the lease may face a fee if that wear may be
surpassed. Excluding the insurance and fuel cost, the vehicle running cost will include a lease
with maintenance. There is the similarity between the loan payments and lease payment such
that all of them are calculated in a very identical manner. The vehicles can be returned or
bought from the leasing company in case the agreed time comes to an end (Weinstein, 2012, p.
37).
The leasing of the vehicle in the case of Nissan X-trail, then it is calculated as
Personal price per month inclusive of VAT
24months £427.06
36months £369.19
48months £329.38

Advantage of leasing
When returning the car one will not be affected financially in the case is involved in the
collision and the value of the car is reduced.
There is the possibility of buying the vehicle outright or upgrading to something different at the
end of the leasing agreement.
The leasing companies do offer favorable services to the clients when the agreement is coming
to an end for example waived payments and fees as well as special terms for a lease extension.
Disadvantages of leasing
Expensive in the long run- In case the agreed period of leasing the vehicle was 2 years than
paying off the vehicle for 2 years will be equivalent to buying a new vehicle since there will be
extra costs that will be incurred for example depreciation and also the monthly payments.
Limited mileage- The vehicle mostly leased by the leasing company mostly entails the speed
limit of between 10,000 and 15000 miles per year. And penalization will arise the amount is
surpassed.
High Insurance cost- Insuring a leased car is expansive since most leasing companies need to
acquire a higher level of insurance coverage on the vehicle-normally $300,000 in liability
coverage (Weinstein, 2012, p. 21).

Hard to cancel- Leasing involves signing a rental agreement thus one cannot just walk away
from it easily since it involves stiff penalties and this makes it impossible to terminate the
agreement.
Lots of fees involved- The leasing of vehicles involves a lot of fees such that acquisition fees
amounting to $400 and at the end of the lease, you pay disposition fee amounting to $200.
Extra fees are also included such as the wear and tear fees.
No customizations-The vehicle needs to be returned in the same normal condition and
configurations it was before taking it. Therefore, no modifications of engine, painting or
accessories such as spoilers (Keeton, 2011, p. 42).
The total financial costs in the period of leasing are always higher than a loan since the principal
is never paid off. Thus leasing company is required to have a strong financial base and a decent
credit level (Miller, 2009, p. 67).
Insurance cover
An obligatory car insurance scheme was primary introduced in the United Kingdom with road
traffic Act 1930. This guaranteed that all the people owning vehicles and chauffeurs had to be
covered for their legal responsibility, death or injury caused to the third party when their
vehicle was being used in a public road (Merkin, Compendium of Insurance Law, 2013, p. 87).
The insurance of the vehicle will be necessary for provision of monetary backing in
contradiction of bodily damage or bodily damage triggered by traffic accidents and against
liability. The insurance may as well offer protection against theft of the vehicles and also

damages incurred maybe as a result of colliding with immovable objects, natural disasters, and
weather. The legal regulations on vehicle insurance rely on specific regions (Lowe, 2010, p.
234). Centered on many jurisdictions, it is always mandatory to have an insurance cover for a
vehicle before start using it on public roads. As the manager to Highlanders Courier Limited, I
propose the following insurance cover mentioned above so that the company to involve them
in the course of preparing a budge since they are necessary (Mikulski, 2007, p. 543). They
include;
Liability Insurance
This type of insurance cover will cover you in the event you are involved in an accident. The
liability insurance covers all the costs of repairing the damages which came as a result of the
accident and all medical expenses in case there were injuries that were realized. The company
is being asked to take this insurance cover so that at in case of the accident, the loss will be
catered for by insurance company making them go back to their financial position they were
before the loss occurred (Jess, 2011, p. 78).
Collision Coverage
In case the vehicle is involved in an accident, and the car was insured against collusion then this
insurance coverage will pay for the repair of the vehicle. In a situation where the cost of
repairing the car exceeds the cost that particular vehicle then the value of the car will be paid
by the insurance company. The older car is not worth holding this type of insurance cover and
on the other hand, in case you own a new or expensive vehicle, then this type of insurance
cover will get you back to the position you were before the accident. This insurance cover is

needed in any company so that to prevent the expenses they may have gone through in case
their vehicle is involved in an accident (Hugos, 2010, p. 54).
Comprehensive Coverage
In certain situations, there are certain things happening to the car which are not relating to a
covered accident, for example, damage caused as a result of weather, the car is stolen. The
insurance cover such as the collision coverage and liability coverage covers accidents but not
these ones. In a situation like this, a comprehensive insurance cheap to cover these type of
accidents caused by weather or may the car is stolen. Thus, it is necessary for the company to
include this type of insurance coverage during the budget making. This coverage can be made
more inexpensive by installing anti-theft and tracking devices on cars. This type of insurance
should also cover the damage caused to the third party (Handfield, 2011, p. 127).
Personal injury protection
The accident associated cost can increase rapidly and in order to cater for them, personal injury
protection is needed. This insurance will cover all the medical bills involved plus paying all the
passengers no matter who is at fault for an accident (Gulati, 2009, p. 328).
Procurement of the vehicle
When procuring this particular vehicle, the process of procuring an item must be put into
consideration. Procurement process must consider insurance, fuel, chassis, tires, as well as
support services such as vehicle hire, recovery, maintenance provision and breakdown. Before
procuring this particular vehicle, the evaluation will be conducted keenly to ensure that the
company procures the correct vehicle, parts, and services. The evaluation process will involve

the users whose views and knowledge will contribute strongly to more effective procurement
(Giustina, 2012, p. 564).
The evaluation should involve the users and the drivers in order to make sure they are fit for
purpose. This will involve testing demonstrator vehicles or be visiting the suppliers to see mock-
ups of vehicles interiors. In carrying out cost-benefit analysis, then users’ views are needed
which may form part of the business case for new vehicles. The evaluation of vehicles can offer
an essential feedback and the wider views of users may be obtained from user groups (Fritz,
2013, p. 432).
Benchmarking is also needed in order to acquire useful information concerning the kinds of
vehicles being used or certain manufacturers. Other people views can also be gotten from the
internet to get more information concerning the vehicle. The user needs to be involved in the
evaluation and in case this is neglected and the vehicle is selected in isolation then, the vehicle
may be over-specified and cost more to operate. Otherwise, the vehicles may be underspecified
and not adequate for service laid out correctly or requirement and need expensive
modifications. Users will be more accepting of the new vehicle if they have been consulted and
involved in the procurement process (Fenton, 2013, p. 67).
Procuring of this particular vehicle requires a team effort between the procurement staff and
the fleet manager and all the staff views who will be using this particular vehicle should be
collected and articulated carefully. There is also need of involving finance staff with certain
accountancy skills (Downings, 2009, p. 189).

All the options need to be considered when financing the fleet including purchase, hire and
leasing and the financing should not be based on historical arrangements. The true overall cost
of the vehicle plus its operation life should be considered when calculating whole-life costings.
These costs include maintenance, tires, and fuel but they vary depending on the type of
supplier involved (Brannen, 2013, p. 213).
It is also necessary to consider the residual value of the vehicle to be at the end of its life. And
the process of tendering should be in line with contract standing orders and EU regulations.
Procuring of Nissan X-trail using central contracts can save money and time and the efficiencies
of procurement may also be obtained by volume negotiated agreements (Cho, 2017, p. 425).
Conclusion
I therefore recommend Nissan X-trail to be the best vehicle to be procured by Highlanders
Courier Limited since it entails all the features needed for a better operation.
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