Used Nissan X-Trail 2014-2022 review

While the marketing types who came up with the name Nissan X-Trail were clearly trying to emphasise this seven-seat SUV’s four-wheel-drive capabilities, the reality of the matter is that the toughest terrain most X-Trails will ever face is the ‘rock crawl’ up the kerb in the local high street.

That’s because it’s a road-biased large SUV, aimed at families who would like a bit of extra space and the additional versatility this type of car can provide. To that end, you can get the X-Trail with either five or seven seats.

Engines: Most examples you'll find for sale will have the 128bhp 1.6-litre diesel engine, which has enough power to breeze you along at a leisurely pace and hang on to the coattails of motorway traffic. The more powerful 175bhp 2.0-litre diesel has better low-end pulling power but wasn't as popular because it was expensive when new. The 161bhp 1.6 petrol is the least recommendable engine for it lacks the low-down grunt of the diesels, forcing you to rev it harder.

A much sweeter 158bhp 1.3 petrol arrived in 2019 that pulls well once on the move, and a lone 148bhp 1.7 replaced the two previous diesel options in 2020. This last diesel option was dropped from the range in 2022, leaving just the 1.3 petrol-engined car on sale.

Trims and equipment: Visia-spec cars come with all the basics such as air conditioning, 17in alloy wheels and cruise control. Acenta trim ups the luxury levels to include dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors and a panoramic glass roof. N-tec adds sat-nav with a 6.5in infotainment screen, and a 360 deg camera system, larger 18in alloy wheels, an electric tailgate and some roof rails. Top-of-the-range Tekna gets leather upholstery with heated seats front and rear, plus an upgraded sound system and brighter LED headlights.

Updates in late 2017 saw the N-tec model renamed N-Connecta and the infotainment screen size was increased to 7ins. Acenta premium replaced Acenta in 2019, adding the all-important infotainment screen and 360 deg camera system to this popular trim level. From 2022 just one well-equipped N-Design trim was offered.

Ride and handling: Soft suspension means the X-Trail leans heavily in corners, and while light steering makes it relaxing to drive around town, you do need lots of lock, even for shallow corners.

To be honest, the X-Trail feels somewhat behind the times; akin to driving an old-school SUV rather than the modern breed, which feel more car-like to drive. The Kodiaq is certainly a nimbler beast, as is the 5008. Even the Land Rover Discovery Sport grips harder and rolls less through corners, and the firm ride means you feel the bumps as they pass beneath you, while you're shaken from side to side at lower speeds. The ride does settle a little the faster you go, though, and is better on the motorway.

A reasonably slick six-speed manual comes as standard on most models, although a noisy CVT auto option was available. The newer 1.3 petrol only comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto that can be a touch hesitant from a standstill.

Interior and practicality: The X-Trail's interior materials have a quality feel to them due to the use of soft touch plastics throughout. It be a little gloomy inside, though, thanks to the rather sombre colour choices. Things can be brightened up a little with a panoramic glass roof, but we have to advise caution here, as it robs a bit of head room, even for those in the middle row.

If you're looking at a seven-seat X-Trail, the rearmost seats can be made to fold completely flat, which is very helpful if you need to load longer items into the back of the car. It’s worth noting that if you choose this configuration, the third row seats are a little on the small side and will require you to slide the middle row forward if you need to fit people with legs of any significance into them.

With the seats down, rivals such as the Kia Sorento have bigger boots with the second row still in place, which means the Nissan X-Trail might not be ideal if you want to carry five people and their luggage at the same time.

If you're interested in finding a used X-Trail, or any of the other large SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Prices for the earliest Nissan X-Trails start from around £6000, most probably for something with over 100,000 miles on it. Increase your budget to between £8000 to £10,000 to get a low mileage example.

Petrol-engined X-Trails arrived a year after launch and therefore aren't as prevalent on the used market. They also tend to be bought by those who do a limited number of miles, so the available ones generally have a low mileage, which keeps their prices high. If you want a petrol X-Trail, you will need at least £10,000.

In response to early criticism about the downsized 1.6-litre diesel engine not being powerful enough, Nissan brought out a larger 2.0-litre diesel in late 2016. An X-Trail with this engine will cost from around £10,000.

The latest 1.7 diesel from late 2019 will set you back at least £15,000, while the 1.3 petrol can be found for £18,000. Models from 2021 will likely set you back upwards of £21,000, while you'll need up to £30,000 for the last 2022 cars.

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MPG

The 1.6 dCi can be had with front-wheel drive to aid running costs, too, and in this form its combined NEDC fuel consumption is 57.6mpg. Getting one with four-wheel drive does drop that figure to 52.3mpg.

The 1.6 petrol isn’t so frugal at 44.1mpg, but these models still compare well with petrol-powered rivals, while the 2.0-litre diesel X-Trails have an official combined figure of 50.4mpg.

The newer 1.3 petrol and 1.7 diesel engines were tested under the more stringent WLTP test and appear to get much worse figures at 38.5mpg and 47.5mpg, respectively. But you are at least much more likely to achieve these in the real world.

CO2 emissions

This only applies to the engines available before 1 April 2017 because the tax system at the time was based on CO2 emissions. Of the three engines available, the 1.6 diesel had the lowest emissions of 129g/km (139g/km with four-wheel drive), while the bigger 2.0 diesel emits 149g/km (158g/km as a four-wheel drive auto). The petrol 1.6 puts out 149g/km.

Road tax (VED)

It's worth noting that if you are looking to buy an X-Trail registered after 1 April 2017, you'll have to pay the flat rate fee – currently £190 for all petrol and diesel cars. Any example registered before this date will in some cases pay less than this depending upon the amount of CO2 the engine produces (see above paragraph).

Servicing costs

Depending upon whether you have a petrol or a diesel X-Trail, you will pay either £229 or £269 for a minor service, or £309 or £369 for a major one at a Nissan dealer. You will get one year's worth of RAC UK and European breakdown cover and roadside assistance as part of that cost.

Reliability

The Nissan X-Trail earns a satisfactory reliability rating from real-world owner feedback, as highlighted in our annual What Car? Reliability Survey.

The majority of owners report a trouble-free experience, though some have encountered minor electrical and infotainment glitches. These issues, while present, do not heavily impact the X-Trail's overall reliability.

Dealer service experiences vary among X-Trail owners. Positive feedback applauds some dealerships for their efficient and helpful approach, especially regarding warranty repairs. However, criticisms point to inconsistent service quality, with noted delays in repairs and a lack of clear communication from certain dealers.

Despite these concerns, the Nissan X-Trail stands as a generally reliable option, with room for improvement in dealer service and minor electrical areas.

Discover more about the used Nissan X-Trail's reliability on our dedicated page.

Engine

When it comes to choosing which engine is best for getting the Nissan X-Trail moving, stick with the 1.6 dCi. While it can feel a bit underpowered with seven on board, it's the most popular unit by far and in manual front-wheel drive form, the most economical. The manual version also tows better than the CVT auto version, in case you wish to lug around a caravan. The 1.7 diesel didn't arrive until later in this car's life and so there are fewer available used.

If you need to go petrol, it’s mostly a case of going for the 1.6 DIG-T or nothing, because the 1.3 DIG-T didn't arrive until 2020. At least the 1.6 is rather more refined than the diesel.

Specification

We reckon you may as well stick with the Acenta, because it's still decently equipped and rides better due to its smaller alloy wheels.

Our favourite Nissan X-Trail: 1.6 dCi Acenta

The Land Rover Discovery Sport is the seven-seat SUV with cachet. From the welly-boot set to the school-run army, the Land Rover badge holds much more weight than that of a Nissan. It backs that up with a smart interior and tidy handling, but prices are much higher than those of the Nissan X-Trail.

If you need a big SUV with space aplenty for passengers and luggage, the look towards the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe. Their larger diesel engines aren’t as frugal as the ones in the X-Trail, but they do cope better with heavy loads, the Kia being the more comfortable of the two.

If you're interested in finding a used X-Trail, or any of the other large SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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