The next stage of Nissan’s electrified product offensive took place recently with the UK premiere of the all-new X-Trail – and now motoring journalists have had a chance to drive the car and deliver their verdicts.
Among the first publications to have its say was The Sunday Times, with writer Will Dron explaining that new X-Trail was ‘‘the fourth generation of Nissan’s rough and tough family SUV, and big brother to the Juke and Qashqai’’.
He noted: ‘‘Its key selling points have been four-wheel drive and the option of seven seats. New X-Trail continues those traditions but also includes a number of new features that growing families should find appealing.’’
Will also said: ‘‘The new X-Trail is very much a hit in terms of its family-focused features and utility. [Its] e-Power drivetrain will also appeal to those who are keen to ditch diesel but aren’t ready to go fully electric; and with e-4orce, the X-Trail becomes a decent off-roader, capable of tackling much more than the average buyer will throw at it.’’
Forbes contributor James Morris praised X-Trail’s ‘‘excellent’’ ride quality, adding: ‘‘Some of the roads I tested the car on in Slovenia were not very well paved, and although you could feel the surface, it wasn’t unpleasant at all.
‘‘Since UK city road surfaces are at least as bad if not worse – particularly in London – this is a commendably useful result for an all-purpose, all-terrain vehicle.’’
On heycar, Andy Brady wrote: ‘‘The new Nissan X-Trail has taken a leaf out of the electric ARIYA’s book. It’s now a trendy family SUV, with an upmarket interior and a genuinely innovative range of engines.’’
Writing in the Shropshire Star, expert reviewer Jack Evans noted: ‘‘All X-Trail models get plenty of equipment as standard, with entry-level Visia grade cars coming with 18-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control and a suite of safety systems.’’
Carwow also drew attention to the X-Trail’s ‘‘good safety equipment,’’ with reviewer Mat Watson commenting that each version of the X-Trail is ‘‘very secure’’.
He added: ‘‘Without costing too much more than a Qashqai, the Nissan X-Trail is a decent family car, and in mid-level N-Connecta trim, it packs excellent equipment without costing the earth.’’
Vicky Parrott at CarGurus also seemed impressed, writing: ‘‘We really like the Nissan X-Trail. It’s a quiet, comfortable and confident drive, teamed with a very well equipped and roomy interior that benefits from the always-popular option of a seven-seat layout. Safety standards, in particular, are hard to fault.
‘‘The Nissan X-Trail is a fine and functional seven-seat crossover that offers exactly what a lot of family buyers are looking for.’’