Nissan X-Trail long-term test: report 1

The Car Nissan X-Trail Tekna+ e-4ORCE Run by Jonty Renk, senior videographer

Why it’s here To prove that you can still buy an SUV that is both sporty and utilitarian

Needs to Offer a versatile and practical space for camera gear and triathlon equipment, be more frugal than a petrol-engined SUV and carry up to seven people comfortably.

Mileage 1208 List price £48,095 Target Price £43,317 Price as tested £50,240 Official economy 42.8mpg Test economy 39.5mpg  Options fitted Two-tone champagne silver with black metallic roof (£1145), seven seats (£1000)

11 October 2024 – Putting the U in SUV

Back in 2007, at a friend’s 10th birthday party, his dad drove us all to the SnowDome in Milton Keynes in his brand-new Nissan X-Trail. Six kids and one dad were packed into the car, with me in the third row.

Given that this was the time I'd ever sat in a third-row seat, the experience left me with a soft spot for the X-Trail that's lasted to this day. I remember looking forwards, seeing the front row somewhere in the distance, and thinking; "How could a car be this big?" Well, 17 years later I now lead a lifestyle that really is suited to such big cars.

You see, not only am I a senior videographer for the What Car? YouTube channel, which requires me to transport all my filming gear and often many people, but in my spare time I often use my car to carry a bike or act as a changing room when I'm competing in triathlons. When it came to choosing my latest company car, then, the new Nissan X-Trail was an obvious choice – but which version would suit me best?

Well, I ultimately opted for a high-end Tekna+ trim, which comes fully loaded with roof rails, heated leather seats, a heated steering wheel, a Bose sound system and – perhaps most importantly of all – privacy glass to conceal my camera gear (not to mention my decency when getting into a wet suit or some running shorts).

Having decided on my trim, I was left with two engine options: a mild-hybrid set-up or Nissan’s so-called e-Power option.

The latter is essentially a full hybrid but it's a particularly interesting blend of the petrol and electric SUV worlds, because the car's 1.5-litre petrol engine never directly powers the car, and is instead used to keep the battery topped up.

On the face of it, the official fuel consumption is better than the mild-hybrid alternative's, and while the e-Power costs more as a cash buy, it’s in a lower BIK tax bracket. So that’s what I went for.

Next, I had to decide between two or four-wheel drive – an easy choice, because I definitely wanted seven seats, and (oddly) these are only available with four-wheel drive. Besides, when parking up in muddy fields for various triathlon events I’ll probably be grateful for the extra traction.

The extra two seats add £1,000 to X-Trail's total cost, but I wanted them not only to relive the third row experience of my younger years, but because I can genuinely foresee using them for trips with the extended family and for ferrying around the wider What Car? team on big video shoots.

All that remained was a handful of options to examine. The interior colour scheme was a choice between black and tan (I stuck with black), I kept the standard 19in wheels rather than spending £430 on bigger ones, and I have unapologetically chosen two-tone Champagne Silver paintwork with a black metallic roof for £1145, despite already being told by folks at the office that I look like a showoff.

Having already done a few miles in my X-Trail, I'm confident that this isn't going to be a case of never meet your heroes. The seats are incredibly comfortable while being almost infinitely adjustable. This leads to great all-round visibility, making driving around town and on the motorway a calming and relaxing experience, despite the car's rather large footprint.

Even with all seven seats popped up, I am surprised by how much I can fit in the boot, and with the third row folded into the floor and the second row slid forward I have acres of room for all my triathlon kit – including my bicycle.

Up front, the software integrated into the infotainment screen and driver's displays is very intuitive and easy to learn, while physical buttons are a refreshing change from everything being controlled by touch or voice, as is the case in some rival models.

I am excited to get to know my new car even more as a city cruiser, motorway muncher and mobile office. In a competitive market that features the higher priced Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, I think my X-Trail has huge appeal – and not just from a value or nostalgia point of view.

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