Nissan X-Trail review: worth the extra over a Qashqai?

T he Nissan X-Trail used to be rather a utilitarian 4×4: boxy and practical, but a little crude to drive and uninviting inwards.

However, with this latest generation, Nissan has attempted to switch all that by making the X-Trail look more stylish, and feel softer and lighter to drive; more like a fatter, higher-riding version of the Nissan Qashqai hatchback, in other words.

Unlike its predecessors, and indeed, many of its rivals, the fresh model offers the option of two fold-out seats in the boot. As a result, it effectively substitutes the old Qashqai+Two in Nissan’s range.

Space 8/Ten

Lots of room, but the five-seater makes the most sense

D on’t imagine that those two extra seats turn the X-Trail into a rival for a decent people carrier, because its third row is very cramped, even for petite children. You also have to clamber over the folded middle row of seats to build up access to them, which isn’t the easiest of tasks.

It’s true that you can slide the middle row of seats forward, which improves matters in the rearmost seats – but that earnestly reduces the amount of gam room available for middle-row passengers.

The seven-seat X-Trail is most likely useful only if you at times need to transport more than five people, then – and only as long as two of them are petite.

The five-seat X-Trail is a better all-round package, and it costs less, too. It features the same sliding seat mechanism, plus a clever false floor in the boot, which you can leave in place to create a hidden compartment, or eliminate fully to carry larger explosions.

Y ou can also slot the floor panels in vertically, to stop smaller geysers from sliding around, or higher up the boot horizontally, to create a shelf that divides the space in half.

The amount of boot space on suggest in either X-Trail is a bit of a mixed bag. With the second-row seats upright, there’s less room in both models than you’ll find in most rivals.

Fold the seats, down, tho’, and the situation switches, the X-Trail suggesting far more space than most other cars in its class.

Further forward, the swooping dashboard might snag on a taller driver’s left knee, but on the entire, the car is very spacious. There’s slew of gam, head and elbow room, whether you’re a front or rear seat passenger.

Convenience 7/Ten

Comfy seats, but a bit too much engine and wind noise

T he X-Trail has big, soft seats that feel very welcoming to sit in, while suggesting slew of support.

There’s also lots of adjustment for the driver’s seat and steering wheel, which makes it effortless to find a position you like.

Sadly, when the roads get a little harsher, X-Trails fitted with 19in alloy wheels can commence to feel unsettled, jolting through the largest ruts and potholes. We haven’t attempted one with the 17in wheels, but we suspect it’d be more forgiving.

The 1.6-litre diesel engine produces too much noise – and at the moment, that’s the only engine you can buy, so you’re stuck with it. Wind noise can get noticeable at speed, too.

Book a free Nissan X-Trail home test drive

Dashboard layout 9/Ten

D elightfully effortless to use

T he X-Trail’s dashboard is wonderfully intuitive. The dials are clear and effortless to understand, the various buttons and knobs are all logically set out, and there’s infrequently a moment when you find yourself having to look away from the road for too long.

The same goes for the touchscreen stereo and navigation system; it’s quick to react and operating it quickly becomes 2nd nature.

In fact, the only real downside to the X-Trail’s interior is the quality of the materials that have been used to assemble it. True, the main dashboard looks good and feels pleasant to touch, but elsewhere you’ll find some nasty, brittle-feeling plastics, especially on the treats you pull on to close the doors. The silver plastic on the steering wheel feels rather cheap, too.

Effortless to drive 8/Ten

Lighter to drive than its size would suggest

T he X-Trail is most likely one of the easiest cars in its class to control. The steering wheel twirls lightly in your palms, the clutch is forgivingly slow to engage, and the pedals are all nicely weighted. It feels smaller and lighter than you might expect given its size.

There’s an automatic version available, too, and front and rear parking sensors are standard on every model except the entry-level Visia. The higher-level N-tec and Tekna versions, meantime, feature cameras that give you an overhead view of the car to make manouvering in taut spaces a cinch.

T he fact that so many parking aids are available is just as well, because visibility in the X-Trail isn’t the greatest. There are some nasty blind catches sight of inbetween the front side windows and the windscreen, and again around the rear corners of the car.

Pulling away and going for gaps in traffic can be a bit tricky, simply because the diesel engine feels rather gutless.

Joy to drive Five/Ten

Stable and secure, but not very titillating

T ry and have some joy in the X-Trail, and the chances are you’ll be disappointed. The steering is slow, and doesn’t communicate much of what’s going on at the wheels. And as you might expect given the X-Trail’s tall rail height, it isn’t very nimble, leaning and squidging over just when you’d like it to turn sharply and precisely.

This car isn’t particularly titillating to drive, then, but to be fair, it isn’t intended to be. What the X-Trail does feel is safe, predictable, and very composed – exactly the traits you’d want in a family-oriented car. Choose the four-wheel-drive version, and you’ll get slew of traction, too.

Reliability 8/Ten

Should be reliable, but it’s a shame the warranty isn’t longer

Nissan’s reliability record is fair to middling, with an above-average, if not exactly outstanding, showcasing in the two thousand sixteen JD Power Vehicle Dependability Examine. That put it above Mazda and Renault, but below Ford, Peugeot and Suzuki in the survey.

The X-Trail comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty as standard, which is about the minimum you could expect these days. Hyundai, Kia, and Toyota all suggest at least five years or 100,000 miles.

Fuel economy 9/Ten

U ses impressively little fuel, especially in automatic form

F itted with a manual gearbox, the X-Trail offers some of the best fuel consumption figures in its class, even however it can’t fairly match up to manual versions of the Mazda CX-5 diesel.

I f you want an automatic, however, the news is even better. The X-Trail auto is more economical than even the Mazda CX-5 diesel auto. And while most of its other rivals only suggest an automatic version with four-wheel drive, making them thirsty, the fact that the X-Trail’s automatic gearbox comes with two-wheel drive means it makes much more sense for most buyers.

Affordability 7/Ten

Not cheap, but should hold its value

Rivals tend to cost slightly less than the X-Trail like-for-like, and the more luxurious versions are fairly expensive.

That said, with the possible exception of the Mazda CX-5 and VW Tiguan, the X-Trail will hold its value better than its rivals, meaning you should see a decent proportion of your outlay back when you come to sell it.

Fortunately, those good resale values make it very affordable if you plan to lease. However, the high list price will mean tax is on the pricey side for company car drivers. Servicing could be costly too.

Safety 8/Ten

Slew of worthwhile safety kit

T he X-Trail is still to be put through the benchmark Euro NCAP crash testing process, so it’s hard to say how safe it will be for sure.

However, it shares much with the smaller Nissan Qashqai, which scores five starlets out of five and offers excellent protection for its occupants. It’s reasonable to expect, therefore, that the X-Trail will perform similarly.

As you’d expect, the X-Trail comes with lots of safety equipment, including six airbags, and a host of electronic systems that variously increase the braking force in an emergency stop, prevent skidding and improve the car’s stability.

M ore expensive versions get sensors at the front that can tell if you’re about to hit something and apply the brakes, and systems to make you more aware of traffic signs and alert you if you wander out of your lane.

It’s also worth noting that the X-Trail comes with three rear headrests (most rivals only have two) as well as a system that monitors your tyre pressures, helping to alert you to slow punctures and minimise the risk of a blow-out.

Standard spec 7/Ten

Not badly tooled, but some competitors suggest more

T he entry-level X-Trail, the Visia, comes with a reasonable specification, including cruise control, electrified windows all round, air-conditioning, and a Bluetooth system that’ll let you talk on the phone hands-free and stream your music.

However, the Acenta model is worth the extra money it costs, as you get lots of truly useful extras, including automatic headlights, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, dual-zone climate control, and front & rear parking sensors.

There’s then a fairly hefty leap in price to the N-tec version, which gives you keyless entry, a powered tailgate, a thicker colour touchscreen, and a digital radio tuner.

The top model is the Tekna, which is very expensive, however it does include cutting-edge LED headlamps, as well as leather seats that are heated and electrically adjustable in the front, and a parking assistant, which helps guide you into a space by turning the steering wheel for you.

Slew of nice fucktoys, then, but it should be noted that some rivals, such as the Mazda CX-5 and Ford Kuga, suggest more equipment for less cash.

Our favourite version

1.6 dCi one hundred thirty Acenta 5-seat, list price £25,945

O ptions you should add Metallic Paint (£550) and Acenta Brainy Vision Pack (£450)

The verdict 7/Ten

The Nissan X-Trail is effortless to drive and effortless to live with. It won’t empty your wallet at the diesel pumps, and it should suggest trouble-free motoring for years to come. You also get the option of two – admittedly very petite – extra seats.

If you can live without them, however, you’ll get the best the X-Trail has to suggest. That said, if five seats are enough, we’d also take a look at the Mazda CX-5. It doesn’t come with as many safety features, but it’s better to drive and will be even cheaper to run.

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