Detailed Review on Nissan X Trail

The X-Trail nameplate has been one of Nissan’s most successful ventures in the Gulf region. Introduced in the early 2000s, the first-generation model of this compact crossover SUV paved the way for its successors the world over. It wasn’t until the third-gen hit the market that the Nissan X-Trail started climbing the popularity chart in the UAE.

Based on a revised CMF-CD platform, the fourth-generation Nissan X-Trail introduced new technologies and features. In essence, the automaker made it a lot more attractive than its precursors. The other players in this segment include the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi Outlander, Kia Sorento, etc.

Variants & Price

There are four variants of the Nissan X-Trail in the UAE. The base variant is the S, which costs from AED 101,900. This is followed by the SV and SV + OPT that cost AED 126,000 and AED 136,000, respectively. The penultimate and most distinctive-looking variant is the N-Trek, priced at AED 145,900.

If you want all the bells & whistles, you’re looking at the top SL variant – it costs AED 153,000. Note that the prices mentioned here include 5 percent VAT and a 5-year extended warranty. While the X-Trail can be more expensive than a RAV4, it’s still cheaper than the CR-V at the top end.

Exterior

There’s no denying the confident stance of the Nissan X-Trail. While some automakers play it safe, Nissan has chosen a more flamboyant design route with the X-Trail. Its highly expressive front fascia and bold wheels make it stand out easily, especially in the N-Trek form with the 18-inch black alloys. The top-end variant’s 19-inch wheels look good, too.

The front of the X-Trail features pulled-back eyebrow LED DRLs that look quite cool in-person. Underneath these is the rectangular housing containing the headlights and slit-type air intakes. The main grille boasts Nissan’s iconic V-Motion design. This is usually finished in chrome, but sports a glossy black finish in the X-Trail N-Trek.

Meanwhile, the sculpted front bumper gets small foglights, a lower air dam, and a faux skid plate. The chrome trim along the sides, door-mounted ORVMs, contrasting roof, and faux roof rails sprinkle extra masala to the X-Trail’s profile. The rear is peppered with black elements that include the spoiler, window surrounds, and the bumper guard. There’s also silver and chrome trim here.

Rounding things off at the rear are Boomerang-design taillights, a faux air diffuser, and a chrome-finished ‘X-TRAIL’ branding. The Nissan X-Trail is 4,680 mm long, 1,840 mm wide, 1,730 mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,705 mm. Adding to the overall ‘SUV’ presence of this car is its 212 mm of ground clearance.

Interior

Nissan has taken the X-Trail’s interior to the next level by integrating a lot of new and modern gadgets. There’s a 10.8-inch heads-up display that projects turn-by-turn navigation information, along with the name of the audio track being played. Below that sits a customizable 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, which can also show the live map but in full color.

Canted slightly towards the driver is the X-Trail’s 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. It not only works well, but it’s uncomplicated to use and even gets a few physical buttons/knobs for added convenience. The system supports Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. The available 10-speaker Bose audio system sounds pretty good, while a wireless charging pad ensures your smartphone doesn’t run out of power.

The new X-Trail’s equipment includes a panoramic sunroof, surround-view cameras, dual-zone climate control, paddle shifters, semi-aniline leather upholstery, powered front seats, etc. The N-Trek variant even gets waterproof leather seats, making them quite practical. The X-Trail can seat up to 7 people, though the 5-seater version affords more luggage space. What is undeniably impressive is the overall fit & finish.

There are soft-touch materials strewn across the dashboard, door pads, and center console area. The new X-Trail’s cabin feels well-made and is cleverly designed, especially when it comes to freeing up storage spaces. The new electronic shifter means that there’s space below the center console now – a handy and fairly well-hidden nook. Generally-speaking, this interior feels spacious and comfortable.

Engine and performance

The beating heart of the new Nissan X-Trail is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engine, which features direct injection as well. It develops 181 hp and 244 Nm of torque, driving the front wheels or all fours via a CVT gearbox. The X-Trail can attain a top speed of around 190 kmph, hitting 100 kmph in 10 seconds or so.

Nissan says the best fuel-efficiency the new X-Trail front-wheel drive can achieve is 16.1 kmpl (6.2 L/100 km). Meanwhile, the all-wheel-drive version of the new X-Trail can only manage 15.4 kmpl (6.5 L/100 km). The fully-independent suspension setup means that the Nissan X-Trail drives well, absorbing bad patches with relative ease. The light steering also makes city drives hassle-free.

It's when you put your foot down hard that you notice the X-Trail feeling displeased. The naturally-aspirated four-pot doesn’t seem to appreciate being provoked to combust the fuel-air mixture any more vigorously. This means the engine makes itself audible in the cabin (and not in a pleasant or sporty way). Drive it gently, and the Nissan X-Trail will comply obediently.

Safety

The new X-Trail is available with the Nissan ProPilot driver assistance safety suite. This ropes in features like nav-based adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, and even parking assistance. The X-Trail gets forward-collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, emergency braking, blind-spot warning w/ blind-spot intervention, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, etc. There’s also a driver alert feature, a digital IRVM, and all-around parking sensors.

Conclusion

The New Nissan X-Trail is a competitive package for a modern compact crossover meant for the urban sprawl. Its roomy interior can seat 7 people and has been designed well with several thoughtful touches. While its front look can divide opinions, it sets this car apart. Its comfy ride and easy-going nature will be appealing to many.

However, the Nissan X-Trail isn’t fun to drive or as refined as some of its segment rivals. It’s not particularly economical either. Then there’s price tag of the top-end variant, which is hard to justify. If you want some exclusivity, pick the N-Trek variant. Or, save some money and choose the SV + OPT variant.