The all-new Nissan X-Trail gets a bold SUV-style look, high-tech engines and fuel-saving electrification across the range. The family-friendly vehicle still seats up to seven people, and Nissan has bought all the interior technology bang up-to-date. The new X-Trail goes on sale in October 2022, with prices starting from £32,030.
Previous iterations of the Nissan X-Trail have proven very popular around the world. More than six million have been sold since the car was first launched in 2001, and the outgoing model was the world’s best-selling family SUV in 2017. It’s a credible competitor to seven-seaters such as the Peugeot 5008, SEAT Tarraco and Skoda Kodiaq.
Nissan is going all-in with electrified engine tech. Even the entry 1.5-litre turbo petrol, which uses clever variable compression ratio (VCR) technology, is a mild hybrid, which is paired with a CVT automatic gearbox. Average fuel economy is almost 40mpg, despite a useful 163PS power output.
However, easily the best-selling engine will be the e-Power. This brings hybrid-style efficiency with the addition of an electric motor and self-charging battery. Nissan says the engine is there purely to charge the battery and it doesn’t actually have a gearbox. Instead, the electric motor drives the wheels, just like in a purely electric car.
It will provide a smooth, sophisticated feel and allow the engine to shut down frequently, particularly around town. Official fuel economy of up to 48.6mpg – a match for a diesel engine – proves its efficiency, and it also serves up a zippy 204PS for 0-62mph in 8.0 seconds.
The third option is the e-Power e-4orce 4WD. This adds an extra electric motor to drive the rear wheels. Total power climbs slightly, to 213PS, and torque grows significantly, from 330Nm to more than 500Nm. The result is seriously fast response and acceleration, evidenced by a 0-62mph time of 7.0seconds. You’ll wow people away from the traffic lights, while the extra traction of four-wheel drive won’t impact efficiency too much: the e4orce averages up to 44.7mpg.
The engine line-up is now all-petrol. If you want a diesel-engined Nissan X-Trail, you’ll need to look at used examples of the previous model. Meanwhile, if you’d prefer an all-electric Nissan SUV, the firm offers the futuristic Ariya.
The latest Nissan X-Trail gains a distinctive new look. Its more assertive appearance references the rugged original X-Trail, and it is more upright and boxy than the five-seat Qashqai crossover.
There are big improvements to the interior, which is more premium in design and feel. Overhauled infotainment tech brings a big central touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as standard. A large-format driver display is available, as is a colourful head-up display. Nissan says there is 35 inches of screen space – but it’s also ensured the car is easy and logical to use (pleasingly, heater buttons have remained).
Practicality has been improved, with real USP being rear doors that open to almost 90 degrees. They make clipping child seats into ISOFIX mountings far easier. The middle seat slides and reclines – and for £1,000 more, you can add a third row of seats, which are large enough for people up to 5ft 2in tall. With the third-row seats folded flat, there is a total of 585 litres of boot space – 20 litres more than before.
The Nissan X-Trail 1.5 VCR turbo Visia starts from £32,030. The trim line-up also includes Acenta Premium, N-Connecta, Tekna and Tekna+. Moving up to the e-Power engine costs £2,435 more, while adding e-4orce 4WD is a further £2,200.
