Nissan X-Trail review

CGI (or Computer Generated Imagery) is an awesome tool. It can make superheroes fly and monsters tower above skyscrapers, and it can be very convincing. Similarly, some SUVs are styled to give you an impression of immense capability but… that’s it. It’s just an impression. With the Nissan X-Trail, it promises zero Hollywood trickery.

Nissan X-Trail video review

It’s available with five or seven seats, two or four-wheel drive. What’s more, its hybrid system (named e-Power) promises punchy performance and frugal fuel economy. So, the X-Trail looks like a great all-rounder on paper, but how does it fare against its rivals? We’re talking SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, as well as the Mazda CX-60 and Peugeot 5008. Read on to find out…

What’s new?

- June 2026: The X-Trail receives a subtle facelift, ushering in small styling tweaks and an enhanced cruise control system

- November 2022: new X-Trail earns five-star Euro NCAP safety rating

- September 2022: fourth-generation Nissan X-Trail revealed, offering five or seven-seat configurations, and Nissan’s e-Power tech, in which the petrol engine charges the battery, while an electric motor drives the wheels

Nowadays, the X-Trail is only available as a hybrid (HEV), but there’s still a choice of front or four-wheel drive – you’ll need the latter to get seven seats. 

Every X-Trail feels more than quick enough; it’s a bit nippier than the equivalent Hyundai Santa Fe. Plus, because the X-Trail’s wheels are always driven via the electric motor, its power delivery is responsive and smooth.

The X-Trail has a pretty firm suspension, so the ride never feels floaty or sloshy. It feels well tied down which will come as good news for people prone to car sickness. 

The downside, as you might’ve guessed, is a lack of cushioning. It deals with bumps quite abruptly and, over bigger ones, the ride can feel quite crashy. By some margin, the X-Trail doesn’t ride as smoothly as the Skoda Kodiaq.

As with most big SUVs and seven-seaters, the X-Trail wasn’t designed for driving thrills, and that shows on a twisty road. Body control is slightly tighter than in a Hyundai Santa Fe but the light, slow steering makes it a bit more tricky to place on the road.

During spirited driving, it's not hard to find the limits of grip, and it doesn't take much use of the accelerator pedal to make the front end push wide. As you might expect, going for the four-wheel drive versions helps to increase the amount of grip on offer, but it still doesn’t make the X-Trail engaging.

If handling is important to you, you're likely to prefer a Mazda CX-60 or Skoda Kodiaq.

Wind and road noise are kept to a reasonable minimum, and the X-Trail’s e-Power system is smooth and quiet. You only really hear the engine when you put your foot down or if the battery has gotten desperately low on charge – and even then, it’s far from obtrusive. 

As well as getting charge from the engine, the battery can be fed by  regenerative braking. Unlike in some hybrid cars, the brake pedal is easy to judge, plus there’s an ‘e-pedal’ (one-pedal) drive mode that’ll bring the X-Trail to a complete stop if you let off the accelerator pedal. 

"I think it's interesting how the electric-ish X-Trail e-Power takes a fresh slant on hybrid power, making it feel more like a stepping stone to electric motoring than more conventional hybrids." – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

All trim levels for the Nissan X-Trail have a height-adjustable driver’s seat with electrically-adjustable lumbar support, as well as reach and rake adjustment for the steering wheel. Going for Tekna trim adds electronically adjustable front seats with a memory function.

The dashboard is clear and logically laid out, with controls placed within easy reach. The buttons and switches are all large and easy to operate while you’re driving, as well as positive and precise in their actions.

While many cars have done away with physical controls for their air-con systems, we like that the X-Trail comes with proper buttons and rotary controllers. They’re far more user-friendly when you're driving than having to search through menus on the infotainment touchscreen.

The X-Trail’s high driving position and broad windscreen provide good forward visibility, so you’ll never have trouble seeing out at junctions.

Large rear pillars partially block the view over your shoulder so rear visibility could be better. Luckily, even the entry-level X-Trail comes with front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera and blind-spot mirroring as standard. Stepping up to N-Connecta trim adds a surround-view monitor.

To aid visibility when you’re driving at night, bright LED headlights with main-beam assist are standard across the range. Tekna trim comes with Adaptive Driving Beam, which allows you to keep full beam on without dazzling other drivers.

Unlike the climate control, which is adjusted using proper switches, the infotainment is controlled through the touchscreen, which measures 8.2in in entry-level Acenta Premium trim and 12.3in with other versions. So far we’ve tried the bigger screen, and while the graphics could be sharper, it's easy enough to read and it responds quickly to your prods.

Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring are standard with every X-Trail, allowing you to use sat-nav apps from your phone through the touchscreen. That’s handy because you have to upgrade to the mid-level N-Connecta trim to get built-in sat-nav.

You can add a head-up display by going for Tekna trim, while Tekna+ adds an upgraded Bose sound system with 10 speakers. Strangely, the top N-Trek trim misses out on both those features.

The X-Trail feels quite solidly put together. The dashboard makes good use of textured, soft-touch plastics and the switches are reasonably well damped. While you can find some less desirable and scratchy plastics, they’re hidden low down and you’ll have to search for them.

Materials further back in the car are more durable than they are plush, but even if you make a concerted effort to find anything sub-par, you’ll be out of luck.

"Three-zone climate control lets you adjust the second-row temperature from the front seats. I think that will be especially handy for trying to keep kids comfy in hot weather." – Claire Evans, Consumer Editor

When you compare the Nissan X-Trail to rivals including the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, you’ll find that it has a fraction less head room to offer in the front. Regardless, this is a big SUV so there’s plenty of room, and even six-footers won’t struggle for space.

Sticking to the X-Trail’s target audience of adventurous families, you’ll find a generous amount of storage space in the front, including two cupholders in the centre console, a large open space under the centre console, decent-sized door pockets and a deep storage area in the centre armrest.

The doors open very wide and the seats are set high, making the X-Trail a good option for those who usually find it hard to get in and out of cars.

The middle section of the X-Trail’s second row bench flips down to form an armrest, complete with two fixed cupholders, and the two sections of the rear bench each recline for added comfort. Rear seat access is very good because the doors open to nearly 90 degrees, making it a doddle to put a child seat in the back.

The good news continues when it comes to the space available, with even six-footers sitting in the two outer seats getting enough head and leg room to make a long journey comfortable. Leg room can be extended by sliding the rear seats back.

The mild-hybrid X-Trail and the four-wheel-drive version of the e-Power are available as seven-seaters rather than the standard five. The two rear-most seats will fit adults but only just and they won’t be comfortable, especially on a long journey. The third-row seats in the Kia Sorento and Peugeot 5008 (both of which have seven seats in all versions) are far more accommodating.

The back seats in the X-Trail split 60/40 unless you opt for seven seats, which get the more versatile 40/20/40 split. The seats fold flat so there’s no awkward step in the floor. All versions of the 5008 and Skoda Kodiaq have 40/20/40 split seats.

What’s more, if you want a little extra boot space but don’t want to fold down the back seats, you can slide them forwards (although that reduces rear leg room). The two rear-most seats on seven-seat versions are easy to lift into place and drop flat into the boot floor.

The X-Trail has 575 litres of boot space. For comparison, the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has 725 litres, the Kia Sorento – which can swallow 11 carry-on suitcases – has an impressive 813 litres and the Peugeot 5008 has a vast 916-litre boot but takes one less carry-on case due to some of its space being under the floor.

Even so, the X-Trail will easily swallow eight carry-on cases (or lots of shopping or a couple of buggies), and has no lip at the boot entrance to lift heavy items over.

If you don’t go for the optional third-row seats, you gain storage space under the boot floor. With the sixth and seventh seats in use, the boot is smaller than the Santa Fe's, with space for a few shopping bags (a buggy will be a squeeze).

"I found cramming myself into the X-Trail's rearmost seats rather challenging. If you're planning to carry taller adults in the third row regularly, the Hyundai Santa Fe is a better choice." – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

As a cash purchase, the Nissan X-Trail looks competitively priced against its seven-seater rivals. It costs about the same as the Peugeot 5008 and Skoda Kodiaq, and quite a lot less than the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.

In terms of depreciation, though, the X-Trail is predicted to lose its value slightly more quickly than those rivals, which could lead to higher PCP payments.

If you choose a front-driven X-Trail, the official figure states around 49mpg. This drops to about 44mpg with the four-wheel-drive version. Due to the e-Power system’s reliance on its electric motor(s), it’s much more efficient around town than it is on the motorway. A good way to think about it is this: you’ll get roughly 50mpg in smooth town driving and around 38mpg at motorway speeds. 

Company car drivers will want to go for the two-wheel-drive e-Power because it has the lowest CO2 emissions figures, and therefore the lowest BIK tax payments. That said, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of the Santa Fe and Kodiaq will cost even less and are worth a look. Or you could save even more on BIK tax by getting an electric SUV like the Peugeot e-5008.

Acenta Premium is the entry-level X-Trail trim and we think it’s the one to have. It keeps the price reasonable and gets 19in alloy wheels, a wireless phone charger and a six-speaker sound system. N-Connecta trim adds synthetic leather upholstery, a powered tailgate and rear privacy glass, while the off-road-inspired N-Trek adds beefier styling, as well as black, water-resistent seats, three-zone climate control and heated front and rear seats. 

It’s worth considering N-Connecta and N-Trek if you have the budget, but we think top-spec Tekna trim is pushing the boat out a little too much on price. If you’re interested, it has 20in wheels, a 10-speaker Bose sound system, a head-up display and premium synthetic leather upholstery.

While Nissan came 29th out of 30 brands in the 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey, that was mainly due to the performance of the Juke; the X-Trail was a much stronger performer, finishing 15th out of 76 family SUVs.

In case something does go wrong, the X-Trail is covered by a three-year/60,000-mile warranty that includes roadside assistance and a courtesy car. You can extend the cover to up to six years, but doing so is quite pricey compared with the extended warranty deals available on some rivals.

It's also worth noting that Nissan's standard offering falls well short of the five-year warranty that the Hyundai Santa Fe comes with, let alone the Kia Sorento's seven years of cover.

When it was tested by the experts at Euro NCAP, the latest X-Trail scored the full five stars, getting high marks in almost all areas – especially protecting adults in the front and children in the rear.

Every X-Trail comes with lots of safety kit, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure prevention and traffic-sign recognition with speed-limit adjustment.

"The e-Power system doesn't bring miraculous fuel economy, but its smooth driving manners feel more like a stepping stone to electric motoring." – Darren Moss, Deputy Digital Editor

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