Nissan X-Trail review

SUV means "sports utility vehicle", and while many would argue a lot of modern SUVs have forgotten that, the Nissan X-Trail certainly hasn’t, combining sports with utility for a lifestyle featuring beaches, surfboards, trekking equipment and mountain bikes.

Adding to its appeal, the X-Trail can be had with up to seven seats, making it an attractive alternative to an MPV, and it comes with the choice of a mild-hybrid engine or the full-hybrid e-Power version. 

The e-Power gets clever tech to make it drive like an electric car and is available with two or four-wheel drive, giving it extra traction and leading it to two years of success in our Tow Car Awards. Slightly confusingly, Nissan calls four-wheel drive e-4orce and there's a setting on the X-Trail called e-Pedal (which we'll come on to later in this review).

Sounds promising, doesn’t it? Even so, the Nissan X-Trail has an army of versatile rival SUVs and seven-seaters to contend with. Read on to find out how we rate it against the Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-60, Kia Sorento, Peugeot 5008 and others...

You can have your Nissan X-Trail in two different flavours, the first of which is a mild hybrid. That version, badged the VC-Turbo, gets its power from a 161bhp 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a small electric motor to boost efficiency.

There’s enough grunt for normal driving, but it needs working quite hard if you’re in a hurry and – in part because of a hesitant automatic gearbox – it generally feels a bit laboured and jittery in its power delivery.

That’s where the 201bhp e-Power comes in, because it gets electric car-like acceleration off the line. Its 1.5-turbocharged petrol engine doesn’t interact with the front wheels directly: the engine charges a battery which then powers an electric motor on the front axle. If you want extra pace, there’s the four-wheel-drive e-4orce variant, which has two electric motors and sprints from 0-62mph in 7.0 seconds.

If you like a car that’s softly sprung, you’ll like the X-Trail. It’s far more supple than the Mazda CX-60 with slightly less fidget felt through your seat on a motorway than in the Hyundai Santa Fe.

The X-Trail proves an effective shield from imperfections, only thudding through the worst potholes. It’s well controlled too. Despite the soft suspension, it never feels as floaty as the Citroën C5 Aircross and doesn't exhibit the same side-to-side sway over undulations.

If comfort is important to you, we suspect that sticking to the smaller 18in alloy wheels, which come as standard on all but the two Tekna trims, will help to make the X-Trail even more comfortable. Alternatively, you might want to take a look at the better-riding 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 better than in the Santa Fe, but the light, slow steering makes it a bit more tricky to place on the road.

If you decide to go for a spirited drive, 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.

If handling is important to you, we’d definitely turn your attention elsewhere. Specifically, we’d point you towards the CX-60 or Kodiaq.

Driving the X-Trail e-Power is a calm experience while you’re cruising or tootling around and not asking too much of the engine. Indeed, with its electrified set-up in its element, it’s one of the quietest big SUVs out there. That is, until you put your foot down.

The single gear set-up means the engine fires up to charge the battery at a constant high-rev rate, so it does drone a fair bit in the background until you ease off the pace. Mind you, it’s still smoother and quieter than the VC-Turbo, which makes more engine noise and even sends some vibrations up through the pedals and steering column if you’re accelerating hard.

Better news is that there’s little wind or road noise in whichever version you go for. And in the e-Power model the brakes are easy to modulate whether or not you have the e-Pedal mode switched on. The e-Pedal setting maximises regenerative braking and means the car slows to a crawl when you lift off the accelerator pedal so you rarely need to touch the brakes. The X-Trail could be smoother and more reassuring under harder braking conditions though.

"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 and Tekna+ trims 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 on the move than having to search through multiple menus on the touchscreen infotainment system.

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

Rear visibility could be better, because of the large rear pillars partially blocking the view over your shoulder. Luckily, front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera and blind-spot mirroring all come as standard, helping to negate the issue.

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

Unlike the climate control, which is adjusted using proper switches, the infotainment is controlled through the touchscreen, which measures 8.2in with 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 responds quickly to your prods.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring are standard with every X-Trail (wired with entry-level Acenta Premium and wireless on the rest), allowing you to use Google Maps and other apps 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 and an upgraded Bose sound system with 10 speakers by splashing out on Tekna+ trim. Strangely, the top-spec N-Trek trim costs more but misses out on both those.

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. In fact, 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 you won’t find any exposed metalwork or sharp edges, even if you make a concerted effort to look for them.

"Three-zone climate control lets you adjust the second-row temperature from the front seats; that's especially handy when you're 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 still plenty of room, and even six-footers won’t find they’re struggling 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 cars difficult to get in and out of.

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.

If you do go for the seven-seater option (not available with the two-wheel-drive e-Power version), the seats in the third row are really best suited to children. Adults can squeeze in for short trips, but only if you slide the second row of seats forwards to create a bit more leg room. The standard third-row seats of the Kia Sorento are far more accommodating.

As standard, the second row of seats in the X-Trail is split 60/40 unless you opt for the Tekna and Tekna+ trim levels, which get the more versatile 40/20/40 split like the Skoda Kodiaq. The X-Trail’s seats fold flat, meaning there’s no awkward step in the floor.

If you want a little extra boot space but don’t want to fold down the middle-row seats, you can slide the seats forwards – although that reduces leg room. 

On versions of the X-Trail with optional third-row seats, they're easy to lift into place and drop flat into the boot floor.

The X-Trail has a 585-litre boot, or 575 litres if you go for the e-Power version. For comparison, the Santa Fe Hybrid has 725 litres and the Sorento – which can swallow 11 carry-on suitcases – has an impressive 813 litres.

Even so, the X-Trail will easily swallow eight carry-on cases, 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).

"Cramming myself into the X-Trail's rearmost seats proved rather challenging. If you're planning to carry taller adults in the third row regularly, the 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, with the Skoda Kodiaq costing around the same and the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento costing quite a lot more. It is predicted to depreciate slightly faster than those rivals though, so make sure you get the best price by checking our Nissan deals page.

When it comes to fuel economy, the most efficient version (the e-Power 2WD) will officially manage up to 48.7mpg – that’s a match for the Santa Fe Hybrid. The VC-Turbo mild hybrid isn’t as efficient, managing around 10mpg less. 

Company car drivers will also 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.

You get plenty of standard equipment no matter which X-Trail trim you go for, so we’d suggest sticking to entry-level Acenta Premium. That version comes with 18in alloys, dual-zone climate control and a wireless phone-charger, on top of touchscreen infotainment and parking aids. 

Next up, you have N-Connecta, which gets a 12.3in digital display, privacy glass and an upgraded infotainment system. Then there’s Tekna and Tekna+, a pair of fancy trims that add luxurious features, such as a powered tailgate, larger 19in or 20in alloy wheels, a head-up display and, on Tekna+, an upgraded stereo system. 

The most expensive trim, N-Trek, misses out on some of the equipment Tekna+ gets, but aims to serve those seeking adventure. To that end, it gets water-resistant seat upholstery, rubber floor matts, a reversible boot floor, different styling and bespoke 18in alloys. It also adds tri-zone air conditioning and heated seats front and rear. However, like the two Tekna trims it’s too expensive to recommend.

As a brand, Nissan came 19th out of 32 brands in our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey. That places it below Hyundai, Kia and Skoda but above Peugeot.

Nissan offers 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 extended warranty deals on some rivals.

Hyundai offers a standard five-year warranty on the Santa Fe, while Kia trumps that with a class-leading seven years on its Sorento.

Euro NCAP has yet to test the latest X-Trail for safety but the Nissan Qashqai – with which the X-Trail shares its platform and safety equipment – scored the full five stars in 2021. That bodes well.

Every X-Trail comes with plenty of safety kit, including all important 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.

"You can often bag an X-Trail at a healthy discount through our New Car Deals service, and even the four-wheel-drive e-4orce is cheaper than an entry-level Santa Fe." – Darren Moss, Deputy Digital Editor

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