Nissan X-Trail SUV (2017 - 2022) review

The X-Trail provides a lot of car for the money. In standard five-seater form it’s larger than most similarly priced rivals; pay for the optional pair of rear seats and it’s one of the cheapest seven-seat SUVs you can buy. Residual values won’t be a match for the class best, but fuel and company car tax costs are lower than average thanks to a range of efficient engines. Bear in mind that verions with four-wheel drive use more fuel and emit more CO2, though, and that unlike some rivals there’s no hybrid model in the range.

Nissan’s reliability record is generally very good, and as a brand it consistently scores well in reliability and owner satisfaction surveys. The majority of owner reviews of the current X-Trail on Auto Trader are very positive, which bodes well for long-term ownership. Warranty cover is three years or 60,000 miles. While that’s the industry norm, the Hyundai Santa Fe has a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and the Kia Sorento is covered for five years or 100,000 miles.

A replacement isn’t too far off, but the X-Trail is available with a range of up-to-the-minute safety features. Every version comes with six airbags, Isofix mountings (for outer second-row seats) and all the electronic driver aids you’d expect. All but the cheapest versions come with a ‘Smart Vision Pack’ that includes a traffic sign recognition system, automatic emergency braking and a lane departure warning feature. Higher-spec cars have a more advanced emergency braking system with pedestrian recognition, as well as a blind-spot warning system, while those at the top of the range feature intelligent cruise control and lane-keeping system that uses the brakes to help prevent you veering out of your lane unintentionally on the motorway. With all of its available safety features specified, the X-Trail is a very safe place for your family.

Big SUVs (especially seven-seaters) ought to provide plenty of space and comfort for your family, and in most respects the X-Trail delivers handsomely. You get a raised seating position that provides easy access and a great view out, while the seats in the front two rows are supportive and a wide range of seat and steering wheel adjustment makes it easy for any driver to get comfortable. The X-Trail comes with five seats as standard. In this guise it’s impressively practical, with lots of headroom and legroom for everyone on board and a huge boot behind. The rear seat reclines and slides, too, so you can prioritise either passenger space or boot space. You pay extra for the seven-seat model, gaining a pair of rear seats that you can fold up from the boot floor when needed. This is really handy if you’ve got outings with friends or family or need to give your kids’ friends an impromptu lift home, but headroom and legroom in these seats is limited, so they’re best suited to shorter journeys only. While the X-Trail’s cabin feels solid and classy, it doesn’t like quite as up to date as that of newer rivals. The controls are clear and easy to use, though, while the touchscreen that features on most models is intuitive, if not as large or responsive as the class best. Nissan has clearly built the X-Trail for comfort, with soft suspension that gives a smooth ride on most roads. The downside is that it leans quite a when you go around corners. This, along with rather heavy steering, means that the X-Trail isn’t as much fun to drive as some SUVs, but it feels sturdy and solid behind the wheel.

The X-Trail matches most of its rivals for equipment. The only weak point is the entry-level trim, which comes with DAB radio, cruise control, manual air conditioning and alloy wheels but misses out on some desirable features. Upgrade to the next trim level and you get a lot more for your money, including additional safety features, support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic roof, automatic headlights and wipers, dual-zone climate control and much more besides. It’s a comparatively small price jump to the next trim, which adds features such as a touch-screen infotainment system and a 360-degree camera that helps when parking. The top-spec models are lavishly equipped, with features such as keyless entry, a Bose sound system, LED headlights and electric driver’s seat adjustment.

Choosing which engine you want in your X-Trail is simple, because there’s just one petrol and one diesel option. That said, while the diesel is offered with manual or automatic gearboxes and front- or four-wheel drive, the petrol comes only with front-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox. Outright performance doesn’t vary dramatically whichever version you choose, although the automatic diesel version is a bit slower than the others. The choice of engines ought to satisfy most buyers, although some rivals do offer versions with significantly more power.