Should you buy a Nissan X-Trail?

The family SUV sector of the market is fiercely competitive, and the Nissan X-Trail has very strong rivals. It holds up well, though – it’s a great SUV with more than enough space for a growing family, comfort and refinement to make a meal out of any motorway trip and a varied engine range. There should be an X-Trail to suit everyone.

If low running costs are a priority, the 1.6-litre dCi diesel engine makes a lot of sense as it boasts the lowest CO2 and highest fuel economy in the range. It’s a smooth engine, ideal for relaxed cruising, and will also be cheaper to buy in the first place than a more powerful model. On the other end of the scale, the 2.0-litre dCi diesel has the most impressive performance of the range, and it’s worth opting for if you want the most flexible all-rounder.

There’s also a powerful DIG-T turbocharged petrol engine, which could prove surprisingly tempting for company car drivers – sure, fuel economy will be lower, but it dodges the 3% diesel surcharge, bringing down BIK company car tax.

Previous X-Trails were more serious mud-pluggers than this latest model, but the loss of these off-road chops is no real loss to most buyers. A four-wheel drive X-Trail will provide the moderate off-road ability that some buyers will want, and two-wheel drive models bring a useful boost in fuel economy.

The same can be said of the interior, with seven-seat X-Trails having the flexibility for larger family trips or five-seat models gaining a bigger boot. Regardless of which you choose, middle-row passengers get plenty of space.

The X-Trail may not be the go-to choice in its sector – it doesn’t enjoy the same success as its smaller Qashqai sibling. But that’s no reason to discount this flexible and comfortable SUV.

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