Nissan X-Trail Ti-L 2007 new car review
The old X-Trail was pretty much perfect for its intended audience, so this one puts a bit more icing on the cake.
It’s a suitably rugged name to imply the outdoors. Whether you read it X-Trail or Cross-Trail doesn’t matter; the fact is that it is competent on most on and off-road trails (except those where the mud is up to your knees because the ground clearance is only 200mm).
- Very comfortable
- Good versatility of load space/storage — makes you want to go on holiday
- Feels like it’s screwed together well
- Despite anti-roll bar, soft suspension - would benefit from magnetically adjustable suspension.
This new top-of-the-line X-Trail superficially doesn’t seem much different to the old one. Because it’s not — it was really just a case of Nissan listening to the suggestions of its customers. It still needs a bit of a hand on the looks department, but the old X-Trail was pretty much perfect for its intended audience, so this one puts a bit more icing on the cake.
Inside and out
Exceptionally roomy on the inside, while maintaining sensible exterior dimensions, Nissan’s designers have done a good job of maximising interior space, from the unusual location of the front heated/cooled cup holders (above the air vents to heat/cool drinks), through to the innovative drawer system underneath the boot that allows you to store thievable items out of sight.
If you need extra space in the back, the drawers can be removed, and cargo hooks and tie-down points in the boot allow you to secure large loads. With the rear seats up, 603 litres of holiday paraphernalia can be loaded in the back. And, if you’re spared the trials and tribulations of children asking you whether you’re there yet, you can fold the rear seats flat and fit an even more impressive 1773 litres. The washable luggage board and 12-volt power outlet in the boot are convenient for holiday motoring.
In the front there’s a new dashboard storage box, the glovebox is of a reasonable size, and there are other cubby holes and trays for the bits and bobs that always end up on trips. The front suspension is mounted on a sub-frame that has compliant rubber mounts to isolate road noise and vibrations from the chassis. A front anti-roll bar, attached directly to the strut assembly, reduces body roll when cornering.
While the X-Trail isn’t quite as comfortable as Nissan’s Murano, this suspension setup makes driving it at road speed like sitting in a comfy chair in a small earthquake — pleasant with a hint that the ground might be moving beneath you. This chair is power-adjustable on the driver’s side and when fully up (aided by the X-Trail’s height) has the visibility of a grassy knoll at a presidential parade, which will appeal to shorter drivers.
On the road
The Nissan uses a 2.5-litre DOHC engine putting out 125kW and 226Nm, mated to a CVT auto gearbox. It’s also available in 6-speed manual, though remarkably the CVT is fractionally more fuel-efficient.
There’s ample towing capacity for a medium-large caravan or a fairly large boat (2000kg on a braked trailer). Of course, pulling your accommodation behind you won’t let you get anywhere near the 9.3l/100km quoted, but that figure is acceptable for general motoring in a car this size.
Sharp changes of direction are not its forte, but it does have an intelligent 4WD system that monitors which wheel needs more power. This is coupled to the traction control, electronic stability program, ABS, brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution.
Other helpful electronics include the Hill Descent Control (it keeps the car at a steady 8kph downhill using the ABS) and Hill Start Assist, which holds the brake on until you press the accelerator when starting on an incline. Add that to the six airbags and you get a 4-star ANCAP crash rating and 2-star pedestrian protection rating.
Take a look around the outside and you’ll see a thick rear quarter pillar. This would be a significant blind spot were the mirrors not so large. It gives the X-Trail’s rear a slightly unbalanced look compared to the front — Nissan may have got the overall driving formula right, but function wins over form in this case. The front corners of the car are more visible when manoeuvring, but reversing with that thick rear pillar is a different story.
Overall
In the medium SUV market, the X-Trail really holds its own. The innovative features and interior planning make the X-Trail versatile, and the ride comfort and driving position make the X-Trail a pleasant machine for long journeys.
Note: This was reviewed as a new vehicle.
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Kyle Cassidy 
NZ Autocar Magazine 