NISAN X TRAIL REVIEW

List price from £22,995 Lease price from £212 The verdict 8

NISAN X TRAIL REVIEW. The Nissan X-Trail is a 4x4 which is easy to live with, and can seat up to seven.The Nissan X-Trail used to be rather a utilitarian 4x4: boxy and practical, but a little crude to drive and uninviting inside.However, with this latest generation, Nissan has tried to change all that by making the X-Trail look more stylish, and feel softer and easier to drive; more like a bigger, higher-riding version of the qashqai, Qashqai hatchback, in other words.Unlike its predecessors, and indeed, many of its rivals, the new model offers the option of two fold-out seats in the boot. As a result, it effectively replaces the old Qashqai+2 in Nissan’s range.

Space

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

Don’t imagine that those two extra seats turn the X-Trail into a rival for a proper people carrier, because its third row is very cramped, even for small children. You also have to clamber over the folded middle row of seats to gain 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 seriously reduces the amount of leg room available for middle-row passengers.

The seven-seat X-Trail is probably useful only if you occasionally need to transport more than five people, then – and only as long as two of them are small.

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 remove completely to carry larger loads.

You can also slot the floor panels in vertically, to stop smaller loads 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 offer 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, though, and the situation changes, the X-Trail offering 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 whole, the car is very spacious. There’s plenty of leg, head and elbow room, whether you’re a front or rear seat passenger.

Comfort

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

The X-Trail has big, soft seats that feel very welcoming to sit in, while offering plenty of support.

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

Sadly, when the roads get a little rougher, X-Trails fitted with 19in alloy wheels can start to feel unsettled, jolting through the biggest ruts and potholes. We haven’t tried 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.

Dashboard layout

Delightfully easy to use

The X-Trail’s dashboard is wonderfully intuitive. The dials are clear and easy to understand, the various buttons and knobs are all logically set out, and there’s rarely 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 respond and operating it quickly becomes second 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 handles you pull on to close the doors. The silver plastic on the steering wheel feels rather cheap, too.

Easy to drive

Easier to drive than its size would suggest

The X-Trail is probably one of the easiest cars in its class to control. The steering wheel twirls lightly in your hands, 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, meanwhile, feature cameras that give you an overhead view of the car to make manouvering in tight spaces a cinch.

The 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 spots between 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.

Fun to drive

Stable and secure, but not very exciting

Try and have some fun 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 ride 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 exciting 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 plenty of traction, too.

Reliability

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

Nissan has a reputation for building reliable cars, so it’s no surprise that the company ranks in the top half of Warranty Direct’s Reliability Index, which allocates a score based on warranty claims.

And while this version of the X-Trail is still too new to have been featured specifically, the previous version performed well.

All of which leads us to believe that the X-Trail will be a reliable car. It’s just a shame Nissan doesn’t offer a more reassuring warranty; you get three years or 60,000 miles of cover, whereas hyundai/" target="_blank">Hyundai, kia/" target="_blank">Kia, toyota">Toyota and Vauxhall all offer at least five years or 100,000 miles.

Fuel economy

Uses impressively little fuel, especially in automatic form

Fitted with a manual gearbox, the X-Trail offers some of the best fuel consumption figures in its class, even though it can’t quite match up to manual versions of the mazda cx-5 Mazda CX-5 diesel.

If you want an automatic, though, 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 offer 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

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 quite expensive.

That said, with the possible exception of the Mazda CX-5 and VWTiguan, 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

Plenty of worthwhile safety kit

The 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 stars 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.

More 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

Not badly equipped, but some competitors offer more

The entry-level X-Trail, the Visia, comes with a reasonable specification, including cruise control, electric 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 really useful extras, including automatic headlights, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, dual-zone climate control, and front & rear parking sensors.

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

The top model is the Tekna, which is very expensive, though 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.

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