Nissan X-Trail Review: Good, But Not Good Enough!

The Nissan X-Trail is a mid-size seven-seater luxury SUV. It has returned to the Indian market after being discontinued in 2014 due to poor sales. The fourth generation model has been on sale in global markets since 2020. 

The X-Trail is manufactured in Japan and is brought to India as a fully imported car. It competes with SUVs such as the Skoda Kodiaq and the Jeep Meridian. Other SUV alternatives for a similar price include the Toyota Fortuner, and MG Gloster. 

What’s the new X-Trail like? 

Exterior

The X-Trail is sure to pique curiosity on the road. While there are no elements that make you go ‘wow’, the minimal lines and clean aesthetic is bound to age gracefully. At nearly 4.7-metres in length, the SUV has a strong presence. This is highlighted by Nissan’s signature design details including the large V-shaped grille, and the split headlamp setup. 

Nissan is offering the X-Trail with a brilliant-looking set of 20-inch alloy wheels, wrapped in 255/45 section rubber. Over to the rear, a neat set of LED tail lamps round things off.

There are sadly limited colours to choose from — just the silver, white and black. Also, the use of halogen bulbs for the indicators, just seems cheap for a vehicle in this category. 

Interior

Getting in and out of the X-Trail is an easy affair. Despite being an SUV, you do not have to climb inside the cabin, which is great for the elderly in the family. All doors open up to a substantial 85°, making it easier to access. 

Once inside, the solid build and good quality of the X-Trail shines through immediately. The soft leather on the dashboard, the contrast leather on the crashpad and the plastics for the switches and knobs feel like the right mix of built-well and built-to-last. 

For the Indian market, Nissan has chosen a safe chocolate brown-black color combination. What’s weird is the choice of fabric upholstery for the seats and the fabric inserts on the door pads. This simply feels like cost cutting, and takes away from an otherwise pleasant cabin experience. 

In terms of space, the second row does not disappoint one bit. There’s ample kneeroom, width and headroom for your family. Since the seat can be reclined and moved front and back, you can tailor the space as per the occupants or luggage in the car. The floor of the vehicle is slightly high, however, which means underthigh support is less than ideal. Second row occupants get their own AC vents and chargers, but will miss sunblinds on a bright and sunny day. 

Getting into the third row is quite a task. The X-Trail does not get one touch tumble functionality for the second row. Further, the space between the second and third row is quite narrow, making getting in and out all the more difficult. We’d recommend the third row be left for use by kids or pets. An adult will struggle here, even for short journeys. The height of the seatback is quite short, and will offer support only up to the mid-back. Also, do note that the third row does not have AC vents. 

In-cabin practicality is par for the course with well-sized bottle holders in the doors, cupholders, phone tray and a deep storage area under the front armrest. The glovebox is tiny and can just about accommodate the paperwork for the vehicle. Second and third row occupants also get plenty of storage space for their phones and bottles. 

Boot Space

With all seats in place, you will be able to pack in a cabin-sized trolley bag or two with a squeeze. You can fold away the third row entirely or in a 50:50 split to open up more luggage space. This is more than enough to accommodate 5-6 cabin-sized trolley bags and then some more. 

If you need more space, the second row features a 40:20:40 split, letting you alter the seating and storage as per your requirements. We like that Nissan has provided a dedicated space under the boot floor to store the parcel shelf when not in use. 

Features

Nissan is offering the X-Trail in a single, fully loaded variant. The features on offer cover just the basics of what you would expect in a vehicle that costs as much. Highlights include: 

Other notable features of the X-Trail are a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, wireless charging, automatic headlamps and wipers and cruise control.

There are quite a few features missing which are expected in a vehicle in this segment. Features such as leatherette seats, powered front seats, seat ventilation, and a powered tailgate feel like unnecessary omissions. 

Performance

For the Indian market, Nissan is offering the 1.5-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. This engine makes 163PS of power and 300Nm of torque. The only transmission option is a CVT automatic. 

Right off the bat, the numbers don't warrant excitement. Get behind the wheel and it’s quickly apparent that the X-Trail is best suited for those wanting a relaxed drive. Do not expect the fun factor of a Tiguan or Kodiaq here. 

A positive is that the X-Trail does not feel particularly underpowered at any point. For drives within the city, the smooth CVT and the silent engine make for a great combination. Response is satisfactory and you have enough power to navigate traffic. On the highway, the X-Trail has no issues building some seriously high speeds. Even for overtakes, the response from both the engine and gearbox is quick enough to let you overtake on whims.

The CVT also attempts to mimic a conventional automatic when you’re driving hard. It “upshifts” at the redline in an attempt to make the drive feel more engaging. 

What really stands out in the driving experience, is the noise vibration and harshness levels. It’s controlled superbly, ensuring you don’t hear too much of the engine even when it’s at really high rpms. 

Ride and Handling

For an SUV riding on large 20-inch wheels, you’d expect the ride to be slightly bumpy and harsh. We’re happy that’s not the case. You’d feel a little of the edges of potholes and expansion joints, and maybe experience a slight side-to-side movement over non-existent roads. But, other than that, there’s some serious comfort that the X-Trail manages to deliver. Like the drivetrain, the suspension too works in silence, making the experience that much more fatigue-free. On smooth highways, the stability is spot on too. 

We see the X-Trail turning into a nice roadtrip companion with its relaxed driving and confident highway mannerisms. Do note that the X-Trail is a front wheel drive vehicle, so be careful of venturing where the roads disappear. 

Safety

Safety features on the new X-Trail include seven airbags (including one between the front seats), ABS with EBD, traction control, and a tyre pressure monitoring system. Oddly enough, ADAS is missing here. While it’s debatable whether features such as adaptive cruise control can be used in Indian conditions, there’s no denying the added safety of features such as blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert and auto emergency braking. The missing ADAS tech pinches all the more given that you will see a blank triangle in the mirrors (where the blind spot warning light would’ve been) every time you drive the vehicle. 

Verdict

There genuinely is a space for a car like the X-Trail. Something large, comfy, backed up by Japanese reliability and peace of mind. It’s not exhilarating to drive, but for everyday runs and relaxed road trips - it’s got the right mix of power and comfort. 

For the X-Trail to take off in a market like ours, it needs to do one of two things. First, offer more in terms of features — misses such as leather seats and ADAS aren’t excusable in this category anymore. Second, they could charge significantly less than what the competition is asking for. Nissan India is currently hinting at a price tag of around Rs 50 lakh, which means both of those things are currently out of question. 

That makes the Nissan X-Trail hard to recommend, even though it’s functionally sorted and very easy to like.