Nissan X-Trail long-term test

The Car Nissan X-Trail Tekna+ e-4ORCE Run by Jonty Renk, video production manager

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 7700 List price £48,095 Target Price £43,317 Price as tested £50,240 Official economy 42.8mpg Test economy 39.9mpg Dealer price now £36,454 Private price now £32,404 Running costs (excl. depreciation) £1204.59 (fuel)

18 March 2025 – Local Hero

In my job as a camera operator and video editor, my benchmark for success is based on whether or not people notice my work. What I mean by this is, if I have done my job well, people will only focus on the content of the review that they’re watching on the What Car? YouTube Channel. If I have done a bad job, the comments section would be filled with abuse from viewers dissatisfied that a shot that is out of focus or the audio isn't right – thankfully, those are very rare occasions.

What’s more, I’ve noticed parallels between my work and my Nissan X-Trail: in the last few months of ownership, I've rarely noticed any niggles or set backs that have disturbed a pleasant ownership. And I'd like to explain why using my five fundamentals of a good video project.

Firstly, planning: when organising a video shoot, I need to plan ahead to prevent later mistakes. The Nissan X-Trail – in my car’s range-topping Tekna+ trim – is brilliantly well equipped, making each of my journeys very easy.

The infotainment system is easy to use, thanks to the big icons and proper, physical dials for things such as the climate controls. And if you subscribe to Nissan's Connect App, you can send addresses ahead of time to the X-Trails sat-nav. Plus, for a built-in sat-nav system, it’s very good: I have even come to prefer it to smartphone mirroring apps (such as Waze) because I personally prefer the user interface.

Secondly, vision. The X-Trail is a big car and you feel that inside, but fortunately the driving position is commanding and offers a great vantage point over the road ahead. What’s more, the tall side windows coupled with narrow A-pillars mean that visibility out of the side the X-Trail is brilliant. There’s plenty of light let into the interior, too, which is able to aid any passengers who suffer from travel sickness – and all the way back as far as the third row of seats. 

I've spoken in a previous report about the two-way rear view mirror, but I haven’t yet mentioned the wing mirrors. Not only are they helpfully big, but they have cameras built into them to provide the central screen with a birds eye, 360-degree view of the car's surroundings. However, I do worry that they may be an expensive component to replace if anything were to happen to them.

Thirdly, sound. I said earlier that creating a good soundscape in a video is very important to the viewer's experience, and the same goes for any car. I mentioned in my previous report that the electric motor whine in my X-Trail can be quite irritating, but when it comes to other sounds the X-Trail is very good. For such a big and relatively un-aerodynamic car, it carves through the air with little wind noise – road noise is well contained, too. And that helps me to arrive at each shoot location relaxed and ready to work.

Additionally, interior bongs and beeps are easy to turn off if, for instance, the speed limit recognition has read the wrong sign or or if you’re on a tight, twisty road and the lane-keeping assist is having a hard time reading the road.

Even more impressive than that is how solid the car feels. You might expect there to be some rattles and vibrations throughout the interior, but in my near 8000 mile ownership, there have been none.

Fourthly, pacing. A good dynamic timeline really helps a video move along and because my X-Trail is the hybrid ePower variant, it relies on four electric motors to propel the wheels forward. It really accelerates like a fully electric car (EV). My car can accelerate from 0-62mph in just seven seconds, but it's in the first 30mph that the ePower system really shines. I have won countless traffic light grand prix starts and I'm always able to swiftly enter a roundabout with confidence.

Finally, reception. I have always been keen to see how well my videos have been received by viewers and I do the same with my X-Trail. Looks are obviously subjective, but I like the styling of my X-Trail: it looks suitably outdoorsy. Passengers have also complimented the interior and I have experienced other X-Trail owners on the road flashing and waving at me – great minds think alike, clearly.

I am going to miss my Nissan X-Trail. As a reliable aide to my on-the-go lifestyle, it'll take something special to replace such a dependable car. Stay tuned, because more on that replacement is on its way. 

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here

Read more about our long-term Nissan X-Trail >>

Read about more long-term test cars >>

Buy a new car with What Car?

Like the sound of the Nissan X-Trail?

If so, check out our New Car Deals pages to see how much you could save on a Nissan X-Trail.

We’ve got the biggest selection of discounted new cars available in the UK.