What Car? Used Car of the Year 2006 - Best 4x4 2006

Nissan X-Trail
Model: 2.2 dCi SVE
Year: '05/05
Cost:£16,845

The Nissan is simply a great family 4x4. There is plenty of space for five people and luggage, and the interior is full of handy little touches and unless you need to carry seven, it makes you question the need for an MPV.

The boot can take 350 litres of luggage, which grows to a vast 1841 litres with the rear seats folded away. A plastic boot-liner means you can load mucky clutter and pets without worry.

Many off-roaders are so compromised by their 4x4 hardware that they struggle on road, but not the X-Trail. It rides serenely over bumps and offers a fine drive on Tarmac, which is where it matters.

That's not to say that it can't venture off-road on occasion. It's front-wheel drive most of the time, but automatically switches to four-wheel drive when traction is needed, say when towing a boat up a slipway.

The 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine is admirably quiet and has enough muscle for brisk overtaking, yet still averages around 40mpg.

Being a Nissan, reliability is a given; the X-Trail is a tough car that should give many years of trouble-free motoring.

Runner-up
Kia Sorento
Model: 2.5 CRD auto XS
Year: '04/04
Cost: £16,650

Also consider
Honda CR-V 2.0 SE, '04/04, £11,295
Nissan Terrano 2.7 TDi SE, '01/Y, £8850
Volvo XC90 D5 SE auto, '03/53, £23,795
Range Rover TDV6 Vogue, '03/03, £30,445

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