What’s hot?

• Only one engine is available from launch – Nissan’s dCi 130 diesel, which emits just 129g/km CO2 in manual, two-wheel drive form, rising to 135g/km with the CVT transmission. But that’s not the best bit – even the all-wheel drive models emit just 139g/km, a significant 18% less than the previous generation X-Trail.
• Prices start from an altogether reasonable £22,995 for the entry-level Visia trim, with even this base model offering 17-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, tyre pressure monitoring system, a five-inch TFT display, cruise control, Bluetooth, air conditioning, hill start assist and a full-size spare wheel.
  

  

• The new X-Trail looks more stylish than the old model and – in our opinion – wears Nissan’s signature look even better than the popular Qashqai. Gone is the slab-sided and upright look of old, replaced by a more rakish and sleeker design, giving it greater presence in the office car park. And we know how much this kind of thing matters.
• Because the new X-Trail was designed as a seven-seater, the five-seater version is blessed with more space. So if you’re happy to do without the additional two seats (which cost an extra £700), you’ll enjoy a larger boot (550 litres) with a rather clever multi-configurable load area.
• And you shouldn’t think that the seven seat version is the sole reason for choosing the X-Trail over the new Qashqai. There’s significantly more space in the back, with enough room for three adults, who’ll enjoy greater leg-, head- and elbow-room. In fact, the second row passengers can revel in as much as 660mm of legroom.
• The new X-Trail also rides like a traditional SUV, meaning it’s comfortable over long distances, with a smooth and refined ride – especially in the four-wheel drive version.
• The higher trim levels boast a generous level of specification, including bi-LED headlights, leather seats, front and rear parking sensors, emergency braking, lane departure warning and high beam assist.

What’s not?

• Nissan will proudly talk about the X-Trail’s chassis control technologies, including Active Ride Control, Active Engine Brake and Active Trace Control. These things work – up to a point – but get too enthusiastic on a B-road and the X-Trail’s SUV origins will come to the fore.
• The interior – whilst a big improvement over the old X-Trail – can’t quite match the overall quality of the new Qashqai. The ergonomics are good and the layout is clear, but perceived quality is perhaps a notch down on its smaller sibling.
• The two seats in the rear of the seven-seat X-Trail are a welcome addition, but are suitable for occasional use only. Access to the third row of seats is awkward and, once there, the high floor makes travelling for all but the smallest of passengers an uncomfortable affair.
• Whilst the 1.6-litre diesel engine’s efficiency can’t be ignored, it’s not the most refined of units. It tends to sound clattery at idle and coarse when under heavy load. On the plus side, the sound levels do fall to near silence when cruising on a motorway in sixth gear.
• And speaking of the engine, although 320Nm of torque is plenty for an SUV running a diesel engine of this size, the towing capacity of the Nissan X-Trail has taken a hit, falling from 2200kg to 2000kg. Be warned, opt for the CVT transmission and the towing capacity drops even further to 1500kg. Less than many ordinary cars in fact.
• The Nissan X-Trail is undeniably better looking than the Qashqai, but does it look too similar to the smaller crossover? This could be a small but significant factor for many company car drivers.