Nissan X-Trail review

Strap in, this can get complicated. You’ve got three engines to choose from: the mild-hybrid 1.5 petrol, the 2WD hybrid or the 4WD hybrid. So far, so plain. The MHEV and the four-wheel-drive car come in five- or seven-seat flavours, but the 2WD hybrid is only available with five seats. You’ve then got five trim levels to select from, although entry-level Visia is only available with the MHEV petrol.

The X-Trail range starts at £32,030 for the five-seater Visia MHEV, rising to £48,510 for the seven-seat Tekna+ 4WD hybrid. As a rule of thumb it costs £1k to go for seven seats over five, around £2,400 to make the jump from MHEV to full hybrid, and another £2,100 for the four-wheel-drive set-up.

What are the trims like?

There are five trims available – Visia, Acenta Premium, N-Connecta, Tekna and Tekna+. All cars get LED headlights, 18in alloys, rear parking sensors, 7in infotainment screen, automatic aircon and heated, folding mirrors as standard – very exciting – as well as a raft of safety tech. Acenta Premium adds an 8in infotainment screen, rear camera, keyless go, dual-zone aircon and wireless smartphone connectivity. 

In N-Connecta trim you get the 12.3in infotainment, 360-degree parking cameras, roof rails and privacy glass. Tekna adds a fancy Bose sound system, 19in alloys, panoramic sunroof, head-up display, heated seats, steering wheel and windscreen, electric seats, powered tailgate and tri-zone aircon. In Tekna+ trim you get fancier seats, more speakers for your fancy Bose sound system and 20in alloys that probably don’t do anything for the ride quality.

What spec should I go for?

Unless you’re regularly sploshing about in desperately muddy conditions, there isn’t a lot that the X-Trail’s 4x4 system is going to do for you that swapping between summer and winter tyres at the appropriate time wouldn’t accomplish equally well. 

In which case we’d go for the 2WD version of the car in mid-range N-Connecta trim. It’s the first of the cars to get the 12.3in infotainment system, but ditches some of the nice (but not necessary) trim highlights further up the range. Unless you wanted seven seats of course, then it has to be the 4WD model. We wouldn’t judge you if you went for the Tekna car.