Nissan X-Trail (2013-2022) Review

There's plenty of choice in the SUV market, and in truth the X-Trail isn't the best in its class. However, it is good value, offers a ton of space and with a new version announced in 2022, you might be able to bag yourself a great deal on this version.

The petrol Nissan X-Trail has enough power to get you along but it can become quite vocal if you try to hurry along, so unless you absolutely cannot live with a diesel we'd suggest going for the 1.7-litre dCi unit instead. It's actually quicker than the petrol as well as more fuel efficient. The standard six-speed manual gearbox is low effort and much better than the CVT automatic, which we'd steer well clear of. Likewise the four-wheel-drive version is unnecessary unless you have big plans to go off-road.

Of the available trims, we'd suggest going for the mid-range N-Connecta trim which adds some useful kit without breaking the bank.

If you're considering a Nissan X-Trail then space is clearly important, so definitely give the Kia Sorento some thought. It's huge inside and offers a high quality cabin with lots of equipment. It's not as cheap as it used to be unfortunately.

Arguably the best SUV in terms of value for money is the Skoda Kodiaq, which not only offers loads of space but is also packed with practical touches. The cabin is also a great place to spend time, and it's good value too.

The cabin in the Nissan X-Trail is light, spacious and reasonably well finished. The dashboard is covered in plush, soft-touch plastic while harder plastics are used elsewhere, but they generally feel hardwearing and durable. The instruments are clear and the minor controls are all easy to operate without consulting the manual - but some of the switches feel on the cheap side, especially next to a Skoda Kodiaq.

The 7-inch touchscreen system in the Nissan X-Trail feels quite outdated now, and on earlier cars you needed to chose at least the higher spec N-Connecta trim to get this. Unsurprisingly it's not lighting-fast to respond to inputs either, so you may find yourself using it less as a result.

You do get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, and unlike many newer offerings there are physical buttons around the edge of the screen to skip quickly between functions. This is somewhat offset by the relatively small screen and dated graphics though.

The Nissan X-Trail's boot is spacious at 550 litres, but that can be expanded even further if you tumble the rear seats forward. For those with larger families there is a seven seat configuration on offer, but the rearmost row of seats is too small for anything other than occasional, short trips - even for children. That's down to the tiny amount of foot and knee room on offer. 

That's another area where the Skoda Kodiaq beats the Nissan X-Trail. It's extra row of seats is surprisingly useful and, while it's also only really meant for occasional use, the kids sat back there should at least last a few more miles before they start to whine and ask "are we there yet?".

The engine range kicks off with a 163PS DIG-T petrol engine. This is up to the task of propelling the X-Trail, though it can get loud when accelerating hard. And, while it does the job around town and on the motorway, you'll have to pick a diesel if you live in a rural area and need all-wheel drive, or if you need an automatic transmission.

During its life the Nissan X-Trail has been offered with a number of diesel engines, including a 1.6-litre, a 1.7-litre, a 2.0-litre and in the latest cars no diesel offering at all. Of the three, we'd suggest the 1.7-litre is the best blend of performance, economy and value - the 1.6-litre is just about adequate and the 2.0-litre is only really necessary if you plan on hauling big loads.

The standard transmission is a smooth-shifting six-speed manual, but a CVT automatic is offered and it's designed to behave more like a traditional seven-speed auto, with steps programmed in rather than the usual infinitely variable gear ratios. This improves refinement under full throttle acceleration - though it still drones a little when pressing on hard. 

Unlike the previous model, the latest X-Trail is offered with two-wheel drive as standard. A 4x4 version is optional and it drives more or less exactly the same as the front-drive car, but with an automatic all-wheel drive system for slippery conditions, or the option to lock the differential. It’s useful for snowy areas or loose surfaces, but most drivers will find the front-wheel drive car more than adequate.

Whichever engine you go for there's not much in the way of noise getting through to the cabin, although the petrol engine does become more vocal if you start to extend it.

Less impressive is the amount of other noise generated on the move. Wind noise becomes noticeable even at modest speeds, and road noise also becomes quite irritating especially at motorway speeds. The Nissan X-Trail lags behind cars like the Skoda Kodiaq in this respect.

EuroNCAP tested the Nissan Qashqai way back in 2014 and awarded it the full five stars, but as the organisation consistently raises the required standards, a more modern rival with the same five star rating would likely offer a higher level of protection.

Usefully, for a family car, there is a comprehensive range of safety gadgetry on offer. Auto emergency brakes, lane departure warning, auto high beam, traffic sign recognition, automated parking assistance, a 360-degree birds-eye parking camera, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert are among the technologies available - but they're not standard so be careful when configuring your dream X-Trail.