Road Test: Nissan X-Trail

Review by Feann Torr - 6/June/2008

As it's rivals develop wildly different designs, evolving their compact 4WDs into new genres and even sub-genres, Nissan has taken a less dramatic route.

The second generation X-Trail adheres to the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" ethos, retaining the same same rugged look and feel as its predecessor.

"X-TRAIL found a clear niche in the compact SUV market and now, more then ever, offers passenger-car like ride and handling in urban environments without abandoning the durability, practicality and looks of a traditional off-roader," said Nissan Australia's general manager of marketing, Ross Booth.

Nissan conducted in-depth market research that showed that people associated the boxy shape with adventure activities. 

So while there are many wholesale changes to the car - new platform, new chassis, new interior - the overall shape remains relatively similar with only minor changes to styling details.

But as the times change, so do people's expectations of a compact SUV. 

So does the new X-Trail stack up? Let's find out:

The X-Trail's sturdy off-road abilities were a big selling point for the original car, which was marketed as an 'extreme' vehicle with an adventurous, go-get-em attitude. 

While it wasn't too bad in the concrete jungle either, the updated Nissan compact 4WD has worked on its road manners: it's smoother to drive in almost all respects and has more flexibility too.

Based on a new platform and using reconfigured independent suspension front (MacPherson strut) and rear (multi-link), the second generation X-Trail has a pleasant ride and handles well in urban areas and on busy arterials.

Changes to the vehicle's body (it's bigger in almost every dimension) and especially the suspension and steering make it more car-like to drive, a shift that seems to have taken effect in the majority of late-model compact 4WDs.

The steering is light and responsive; the handling has also been improved thanks to a new electric power steering system. It has better roadholding and thanks to the suspension changes it corners a little more confidently too, which comes in handy when you take it up to the alps and have to navigatetight hairpins and snaking roads.

Like all good SUVs, it has large wing mirrors that provide good rearward vision, though reverse parking can be a pain. Its increased height hides obstacles below the rear window line and like most entry-level compact 4WDs reversing sensors are not included.

A turning circle of 10.6 metres ensures it's pretty nimble for a vehicle of its size however (4.63m), and it moves well when you plant the foot. 

The 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine is similar in design to the previous air pump but thanks to some internal revisions it outputs more power. 

While peak power of 125kW and 226Nm of torque is par for the course in the compact 4WD genre, the car feels quite goey thanks to the silky 6-speed manual, a flatter torque curve and not-too-heavy1525kg kerb weight . The engine also features continuous valve timing control to increase top end power and reduce fuel usage at lower revs which is always handy.

If you plan on towing though, you may want to check out the diesel X-Trail.

On the road the front wheels will often chirp during first gear take-offs as the engine power overrides grip, but that's only under full throttle acceleration in 2WD mode. For the most part the X-Trail has good levels of grip and it's nifty 'dial-up' All-Mode 4WD system has three settings that provide it differing levels of roadholding and grip:

2WD: The most fuel efficient mode.
Auto: Diverts power between axles when needed.
Lock: Locks the centre diff - constant 50:50 torque split.

The X-Trail automatically reverts to the 'Auto' mode when you start the engine, and the 2WD mode is best for highway cruising and commuting as it uses the least fuel. In 6th gear travelling at 100km/h, the engine ticks over at 2500rpm which isn't too bad, and the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel work well.

Nissan claims an overall fuel consumption figure of 9.5L/100km, though we actually recorded a figure closer to 9.2 litres per 100km/h over about 550km of testing.

The second All-Mode setting is 'Auto', the default mode. This is useful on wet roads, on snow, gravel, and unsealed roads. The third setting, 'Lock', will only work at speeds of 40km/h or less and is a pretty hardy mode allowing the X-Trail to tackle sandy beaches and muddy forest tracks.

It's no Nissan Patrol, but the X-Trail does display a more tenacious attitude off-road than most of its rivals. An approach angle of 26° isn't too bad either, but departure angle of 22° means you'll need to careful when descending steep(ish) slopes.

When you engage 'Lock' mode, the 4WD system can also initiate a hill descent control system that keeps to speeds of around 8km/h via the ABS system. There's also a mightily useful hill start assist system (that works on- and off-road) and simply stops the vehicle rolling backwards after you release the brakes.

Off-road the X-Trail is happy to get scrabble around on low friction surfaces and the 'Lock' mode comes in handy for really steep climbs and muddy tracks. The entry-level Nissan X-Trail models are equipped with 16-inch steel wheels shod withroad-biased 215/65 R16 tyres, but they do alright in the dirt too.

A couple of times I thought better of continuing along my chosen path because I wasn't confident the claimed 200mm ride height would be enough clearance, but on the whole it's rough-and-tumble attitude and eager engine proved to be fairly capable for intermediate off-roading.

As well as the various off-road modes, the Nissan X-Trail's adventurousness continues inside the vehicle. The boot floor is made from a durable plastic surface that's easy to wash if you're loading muddy mountain bikes or giant canines (or Trailcarts). Underneath the boot floor are a couple of removable draws, ideal for storing equipment and items that you don't want rolling around in the boot.

The back seats aren't as roomy as I was expecting, but are hardier than most other compact 4WDs' with plastic back covers that, once folded down, are likewise easy to clean should you be loading longer muddy objects into the X-Trail.

In the drivers seat the car feel very spacious, which could be explained by it's 20mm wider and 10mm taller size. As well as a nice sense of space inside the 1785mm wide Nissan, there interior has a pretty cool look and feel. 

Though there is a 'built-to-a-budget' feeling about some of the materials used in the X-Trail's cockpit, the edgy attitude continues with a bold instrument cluster boasting a 240km/h speedometer and a 8000rpm tachometer. While the engine will hit its bump stops at 6500rpm, it still looks pretty mean.

Large flip-top cup holders either side of the dashboard add something a little different to the cabin and together with the snappy-looking instrument display the overall effect is rather impressive.

There is a squarish and somewhat utilitarian design to the cockpit that stems from the upright centre console, but there are traces of style in there too: the circular digital trip computer looks rather fancy-pants - displaying fuel consumption/remaining figures, outside temperature, time, distance travelled - and the tri-spoke steering wheel is far from ordinary.

Soft-touch rubber dash plastics look and feel good and fit in well with the X-Trail's rugged character. While the centre console, stereo, and heating/cooling controls are a bit plain and cheap looking, it seems to the suit the car's determined mindset.

Walking around the vehicle it's clear that Nissan wanted to retain the boxy overall shape which has much in common with the Japanese car maker's flagship 4WD, the Nissan Patrol.

Together with chunky wheel arches and character lines running along the edges of the bonnet from the headlights to the windscreen, the angular shape gives the X-Trail a strong and confident look. Though it's not wildly different from the previous model, it does have a more contemporary design thanks to positive changes to the front and rear lights, the grille and front fascia.

Nissan has beefed up the second generation X-Trail's safety features by adding six airbags as standard, including side curtain airbags for front and rear passengers, and active headrests for the front passenger and driver to reduce whiplash injuries. 

Keeping the vehicle on the straight and narrow are a range of electronic driving aids, including ABS, EBD, BA, and of course a stability control system (ESP). The electronic stability program can also be switched off, which is handy when you're trying to thrash your way through muddy ravines.

At the end of the road test, I came away from the X-Trail quite satisfied. Though I wasn't expected a rust-bucket, my expectations weren't all that high, but the 6-speed manual and revvy 2.5-litre engine combine well both on and off-road, and for an extra $2,000 the automatic CVT models offer an ever smoother drive and are slightly more economical to boot.

There's heaps of room inside thanks to the X-Trail's expanding waistline and the little touches like the flip-up front cup holders in the dashboard and the durable plastic surface in the boot show that some thought has gone into its design.

There is a sense that some shortcuts were taken here and there in regards to fit and finish and that some of the design choices were cost driven, but overall the X-Trail is a good compact 4WD whose rugged personality will help it stand out.

Overall: 3.5/5

The original Nissan X-Trail was a trend setter when it first hit the scene early in the decade. It had more power, more off-road ability and a daring attitude that set it apart from its rivals and won it many admirers.

The new model builds on the success of its precursor in most respects and still occupies a slightly different niche than it's rivals and as a modern day compact 4WD the Nissan stacks up in what is one of the most hard-fought market segments in Australia.

But in between drinks the X-Trail's competition has adapted to changing market conditions and driver needs; vehicle's like the Honda CR-V, tailored almost exclusively for the road and not the country, are becoming more and more popular. 

Even so, the plucky soft-roader will no doubt garner a strong following as Nissan has kept the X-Trail's extreme attitude intact while improving it's everyday drivability. The result is a well-rounded compact 4WD without any major flaws.