Nissan X-Trail (2014 – 2022) Review

Nissan X-Trail (2014 – 2022) At A Glance

3/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The Nissan X-Trail is a practical SUV that can be had with four-wheel drive and seven seats, but cheap feel of the cabin lets it down.

+Practical interior. Efficient diesel engine. Decent CVT automatic transmission. Comfortable ride.

-Some interior details seem cheap. Comfortable ride at expense of enjoyable handling. Rearmost row of seven-seat models is tight.

Insurance Groups are between 17–35
On average it achieves 81% of the official MPG figure

Think of the Nissan X-Trail as a Nissan Qashqai that’s more capable off road and you’re on the right track. It feels more rugged than the Qashqai and you have the option of four-wheel drive with some versions, plus a decent diesel engine. Seven seats give it the same practicality as a Land Rover Discovery Sport, but a Hyundai Santa Fe or the good-value Skoda Kodiaq are better all-round bets. Read on for our full Nissan X-Trail review.

If you want a Nissan Qashqai, but you find the interior a bit too small for your growing family, the Nissan X-Trail could be the car that you’re looking for.

It’s just as comfortable and easy-to-drive as its smaller sibling, but with much more back row space, a bigger boot and the option of seven seats. 

If size is what you’re after, then you’ll find plenty of it in this used SUV. There’s more than enough space for adults in the middle row and you can get a third row of seats.

These are really for occasional use and will fit only smaller kids, but they give the Nissan X-Trail added practicality – just remember to try the Skoda Kodiaq, too. 

If you go for a five-seat Nissan X-Trail, you get a spacious 550-litre boot, which has a two-part adjustable load floor for extra flexibility. This is further enhanced by the fact the middle row of seats are mounted on runners, so you can pick between more legroom or load space.

Alternatively, you can fold the seats entirely to maximise carrying space.

The engine range includes a 163PS petrol, which is a good fit for the Nissan X-Trail and provides ample performance, plus a 130PS 1.6-litre dCi diesel.

It might sound too small for such a large car, but it’s more than capable thanks to peak torque of 320Nm. If you do need more go, there’s a 2.0-litre dCi with 177PS and 380Nm of torque.

Two-wheel drive is standard, but for those who live in areas with a tougher climate there is an all-wheel-drive option. There’s also a CVT transmission, which is smooth and quiet for the most part, only droning when accelerating hard. 

With seven seats and a reasonable 2000kg braked towing weight, the Nissan X-Trail is capable of all sorts of family tasks, including caravan holidays.

Some might think it’s too similar to the Nissan Qashqai to spend the extra money on, while rivals including the Skoda Kodiaq are plusher and more upmarket, but it’s certainly worth a look if you demand a comfortable, easy-to-drive car with plenty of space. 

If you’re looking for the newer version, you need our latest Nissan X-Trail review.

Ask Honest John

My car occasionally won't start - is it time for a new battery?

"My 2016 Nissan X-Trail occasionally won't start The battery shows 11.8v and the dash lights up but the car only clicks when the ignition key is turned, but it starts strongly with jump leads. Any thoughts please?"
Your battery should read close to 12.5v at the terminals with the engine off. If the alternator is working okay then the reading at the battery (with the engine running) should be around 14v to 14.5v. If that is not the case then the battery needs changing.
Answered by Alan Ross

Can you recommend a petrol hybrid under £40,000 for towing?

"I currently drive a 2016 1.6-litre diesel Nissan X-Trail doing about 10,000 miles a year in total, of which 75 per cent is short urban journeys, the remainder being towing a 1,400kg caravan. As the car is six years old with 60,000 miles I am looking to purchase a car that will be more economical around town and not suffer from DPF issues particularly as petrol is now 20p/litre cheaper than diesel. I have looked at the Toyota RAV4, however they are expensive so am considering a Kia Sportage or Hyundai Tucson petrol hybrid. I am willing to purchase new if the overall deal is better but need to keep below the £40,000 cost to avoid expensive road tax."
We'd also recommend the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson hybrids, but to keep the cost below £40,000 and for your towing needs you will need the full hybrid rather than the plug-in hybrid models. These will be perfect for your type of driving. The Ford Kuga FEV hybrid also has the correct towing capacity for your caravan, whereas others such as the Honda CR-V hybrid have a maximum towing weight of just 750kg.
Answered by Lawrence Allan

Which second hand SUV should I buy?

"I'm looking at a second hand SUV. My choices are Peugeot 3008, Skoda Karoq, Mazda CX-5 or a Nissan X-Trail. Ideally I'd like a petrol for now. Is there a stand out car out of those four and any choice of engine or trim I should look for?"
It really depends on what you're looking for. The Peugeot 3008 is stylish to look at inside and out, the Skoda is a great all rounder, the Mazda is great to drive, and the X-Trail is very roomy inside (as it comes from a size about all the other cars you mention). Generally speaking, they're all practical and don't cost a fortune to run for their size. In terms of which specific trim to go for, the mid-range model tends to offer the best value but the best way to decide is to download all the brochures and compare what you get like-fo-like. Standout features I would recommend are a reversing camera, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and heated seats. You'll find links to our reviews for all the cars, below. https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/skoda/karoq-2017/ https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/peugeot/3008-2017/ https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mazda/cx-5-2017/ https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/nissan/x-trail-2014/
Answered by Russell Campbell

I want to replace my SUV with a smaller crossover. What do you advise?

"I have a 2017 Nissan X-Trail with 35k miles. I love it but I'm finding it just too big. However, I want to retain the high driving position, heated seats and power tailgate. I'd only be able to add a couple grand to whatever I get for the X-Trail in part-exchange. Any suggestions? I'm appreciative of any advice offered. Thank you."
We'd recommend a Skoda Karoq. It's a great crossover SUV that represents excellent value for money. A powered tailgate is standard on high-spec SportLine and Edition models, but is offered as an option on the rest of the range. Alternatively, look at a Peugeot 3008. It comes with an electric tailgate on the top-spec GT Premium, but it's available as an option on the Allure Premium and GT.
Answered by Andrew Brady
More Questions

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