Nissan X-Trail review
The Nissan X-Trail is a spacious, practical, and comfortable family SUV that offers the option of seven seats and a fuss-free driving experience.
Author: Charlie Harvey
31st Dec 2025 – 8 mins read
The Nissan X-Trail started life back in 2001 as a boxy, rugged-looking SUV with a distinct, go-anywhere personality. Over the years, it has evolved significantly. The third-generation model, launched in 2013, moved away from its chunky roots to become something much closer to its incredibly popular smaller sibling, the Qashqai. Essentially, it became a bigger, more practical version of Nissan's best-selling crossover. This latest version is a smart and sensible family car that provides everything most drivers need. It’s easy to drive, comfortable, and hugely spacious, with the option of a third row of seats making it a versatile seven-seater. It might have lost some of the unique identity of the original, and the interior is more functional than fancy, but if you’re looking for a large, reliable, and practical SUV that can handle everything family life throws at it, the X-Trail is a very solid choice.
Pros
- A smart, sensible package that’s perfect for family life
- Very easy and comfortable to drive
- Hugely spacious, with a seven-seat option available
Cons
- Has lost its unique identity and looks like a larger Qashqai
- The interior and exterior design are a little uninspired
- The smaller 1.6-litre engines can feel underpowered
Interior
Dashboard & tech
If you’ve ever sat in a Nissan Qashqai, the interior of the X-Trail will feel very familiar. The design is almost identical, which means it’s a sensible, logical, and easy-to-use layout, but it lacks a bit of design flair. There’s no standout feature or imaginative touch, but everything is exactly where you’d expect it to be.
The materials feel a little on the cheap side compared to some rivals, but the cabin feels well put together and durable enough to handle the rigours of family life. Later models come with an updated infotainment system, but overall, it’s an interior that prioritises function over fashion.
Comfort
Comfort and space are where the X-Trail really excels. It’s a pleasant and relaxing place to be, with a soft suspension setup that does a good job of smoothing out most bumps in the road. This focus on comfort does mean it’s not the most exciting car to drive, with a tendency to lean in corners, but for a family SUV, it’s a very relaxing companion.
The seats are comfortable, and there’s plenty of adjustment for the driver to find a good position. It's a car that’s well-suited to long journeys, where its comfortable ride and spacious cabin can really be appreciated.
Quality
The build quality of the X-Trail feels solid, but it doesn't quite have the premium feel of rivals like the Skoda Kodiaq or Kia Sorento. While the main touchpoints are fine, you will find some cheaper, harder plastics dotted around the cabin.
Some owners have reported issues with rattling interiors, particularly around the sunroof, which suggests that the overall fit and finish isn't quite as good as it could be. However, Nissan generally has a good reputation for reliability, so mechanically it should prove to be a dependable car.
Practicality & boot space
Interior space
The X-Trail is a very practical car, offering plenty of space for the whole family. The main reason you’d choose one over the smaller Qashqai is for the extra room, and it delivers. There’s lots of head and legroom for passengers in the front and back.
One of the X-Trail’s biggest selling points is the option of a third row of seats, turning it into a seven-seater. As with most cars of this size, the two rearmost seats are best suited for children, but they’re incredibly useful to have for occasional trips or for when your kids want to bring their friends along.
Boot space
The boot in the X-Trail is huge. In the standard five-seat configuration, it offers a massive 550 litres of space, which is more than enough for family holidays, trips to the tip, or carrying bulky items. Fold all the rear seats down, and you get a van-like 2,000 litres of space, making it one of the most practical cars in its class. Even in seven-seat mode, there’s still a usable amount of space for a few shopping bags.
Driving
Driving experience
The X-Trail is a car that’s designed to be easy and comfortable to drive, and it does that job very well. The steering is light, making it easy to manoeuvre around town, and the soft suspension delivers a comfortable ride. It’s not a car that you’ll enjoy throwing around corners, as the focus on comfort means there’s a lot of body roll, but it always feels safe and predictable.
For a large car, it's surprisingly unstressed on the move. It feels stable on the motorway and is a capable long-distance cruiser. It’s a car that gets the job done without any fuss or excitement.
Performance
There’s a choice of petrol and diesel engines available. The entry-level 1.6-litre engines, both petrol and diesel, can feel a bit underpowered in a car of this size, especially when it’s fully loaded with people and luggage. You have to work them quite hard to make progress.
The 2.0-litre diesel engine is a much better choice. It offers a lot more pulling power, which makes the X-Trail feel much more relaxed and capable. Later models also feature a punchy 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 1.7-litre diesel, which are both good all-rounders. Four-wheel-drive is available on some models, giving extra traction in slippery conditions.
Running costs
Fuel economy & CO2 emissions
The running costs of the X-Trail are one of its biggest selling points. The 1.6-litre diesel engine is particularly economical, capable of achieving over 45mpg in real-world driving conditions, which is very impressive for such a large car.
Even the larger 2.0-litre diesel and the petrol engines offer reasonable fuel economy for a car of this type. This makes the X-Trail an affordable car to run for a family that needs a lot of space.
Value for money
The Nissan X-Trail is priced very competitively against its main rivals like the Skoda Kodiaq and Honda CR-V. It offers a lot of space and practicality for the money. However, like many large family cars, it can depreciate quite heavily from new. This is great news for used car buyers, as it means you can pick up a well-equipped, low-mileage example for a very attractive price.
Reliability & Warranty
Nissan has a solid reputation for reliability, although some owners of this generation of X-Trail have reported issues with interior rattles, which points to some build quality inconsistencies. Mechanically, however, it should prove to be a dependable car. From new, all Nissans come with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty.
Safety
Safety features
The Nissan X-Trail is a very safe family car. It was awarded the maximum five-star rating when it was crash-tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP. All models come with a good level of standard safety equipment, including six airbags, cruise control, and hill-start assist.
Higher-spec models add the ‘Smart Vision Pack’, which includes more advanced features like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and traffic sign recognition, providing even greater peace of mind.
Trims & Engines
Trim levels
The X-Trail is available in a range of trim levels, all of which are well-equipped.
Visia: The entry-level model comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, cruise control, and a Bluetooth-equipped sound system.
Acenta: Adds features like a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, and automatic lights and wipers. This is our pick of the range.
N-Connecta / N-Vision: These trims add more technology, including a touchscreen satellite navigation and entertainment system, a 360-degree camera system, and 19-inch alloy wheels.
Tekna: The top-of-the-range model is packed with luxury features, including leather upholstery, heated seats, Bi-LED headlights, and a host of advanced safety features.
Engines
There’s a choice of efficient petrol and diesel engines.
1.6 DIG-T Petrol: A 160bhp turbocharged petrol engine. It’s smooth and quiet but can feel a little underpowered.1.3 DIG-T Petrol: A more modern and punchy 158bhp petrol engine available on later models.1.6 dCi Diesel: This 128bhp diesel is the most economical engine in the range, making it a great choice for high-mileage drivers.1.7 dCi / 2.0 dCi Diesel: More powerful diesel engines that offer better performance, especially if you plan on towing or regularly carrying a full car of passengers.