What is Nissan Acenta trim?

Do you find the task of analysing a brand’s trim levels all too confusing? You’re not the only one – we long for simpler times when more letters stuck to the boot lid meant more toys on the inside. To make the whole process a little more simple, we’ve turned our attention to Nissan and its Acenta trim, to break down where it sits in the range and whether it’s worth it. Throughout Nissan’s lineup (aside from the sporting 370Z and GT-R), Acenta is positioned as a step up from the entry-level Visia trim. We’ve taken a look at both the Qashqai and the all-electric Leaf to see what goodies it adds.

The Qashqai is one of the best crossovers on the market. So good, in fact, that we named it our 2015 Car of the Year. To make the most out of it, we’d recommend spending an extra £1,575 over the entry level Visia to bag the Acenta trim, which adds the following equipment:

• 17″ alloy wheels (in place of 16″ plastic wheel trims)
• Leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearknob
• Automatic headlights and windscreen wipers
• Lumbar support for the front seats
• Dual-zone climate control (in place of manual air conditioning)
• Six-speaker audio system
• USB connectivity for portable audio players

Thinking about going a step further up the Qashqai range? Above Acenta sits Acenta+, which adds rear privacy glass, keyless entry with a starter button, panoramic glass roof, and an infotainment system with satellite navigation, DAB radio and smartphone app integration. This adds a further £1,650 to the Acenta’s price.

In the case of the Nissan Leaf, the jump from Visia to Acenta costs £2,100. However, features like the energy efficient climate control system (in lieu of manual air con) and a stronger setting for the regenerative braking could help improve its range and save you money. It also includes:

• Alloy wheels (in place of wheel trims)
• Colour-coded, electrically adjustable door mirrors
• Rear privacy glass
• A remotely opening charging port opener, plus the function to control the cabin temperature and monitor charging progress via a smartphone or PC
• Cruise control
• A more advanced energy consumption display
• Automatic headlights and windscreen wipers
• An upgraded infotainment system, which adds two speakers, satellite navigation and a reversing camera

In the case of both the Qashqai and the Leaf, many of the additional features the Acenta includes will improve residual values, so what seems like a significant additional investment up front will become much better value in the long run. Equally, it’s hard to quantify the intangible value of having lots of exciting technology in your car. A higher spec model will feel more special and, thus, will make you feel better about it – making it a better buy.

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