Skip advert
Advertisement

Nissan X-Trail 2.0 dCi Tekna

Can a classy makeover take Nissan's compact off-roader to the top of the pile? We put it head-to-head against stylish Korean rival the Kia Sorento to find out.

Japanese giant Nissan knows a thing or two about off-roaders. As with the smaller Qashqai, the original X-Trail proved to be something of a hit for the firm – it was the third-best-selling 4x4 in Europe. The second generation arrived in 2007, but has now been revised, and the latest model promises to be the best yet.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Designers have left the compact SUV’s looks well alone, so the exterior changes are minimal. The most obvious revisions are to the grille, lights and bumpers. The tail-lamps now feature LEDs, the wheelarches have been widened and our Tekna model gets larger, 18-inch alloys. Compared to the bland Sorento, the Nissan stands out as the more distinctive design.

Despite its wider new look, it’s narrower than the Kia. Study the specs, and you’ll find it gives away 95mm to the Sorento – which makes it perfect for squeezing down lanes and tracks. On the outside, the Nissan has an elongated look, and from the driver’s seat you really notice how much closer you’re sitting to your passenger than you do in the Sorento.

There’s nothing wrong with the driving position, though. It’s much more car-like than its rival, and the huge range of steering wheel adjustment makes it easy to get comfortable. You benefit from lots of kit, too: Tekna trim includes heated leather seats, sat-nav, a colour reversing camera and cruise control all as standard. Much of the switchgear feels old-fashioned when compared to its Korean rival, though.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Rear passengers will also note that there’s less room – you’ll struggle to fit three broad-shouldered adults comfortably across the back. And unlike the Kia, there’s no seven-seat option. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Open the boot, however, and there’s not much between our duo when it comes to space. In fact, the Nissan provides more ultimate load capacity with its seats folded, and there’s even a clever false floor, which is ideal for stowing muddy outdoor gear.

On paper, the X-Trail has strong performance credentials, but in reality it struggles to keep pace with the lively Sorento. While its 171bhp 2.0-litre diesel is relatively hushed and has a real appetite for the red line, if you let the revs drop too low, the engine bogs down, and you find yourself reaching for a lower ratio to get meaningful acceleration. Dropping down a gear helps, although the notchy shift action makes swapping cogs a chore rather than a pleasure. 

The over-sensitive throttle doesn’t help, either, and in traffic makes for jerky progress. However, the Nissan’s biggest black mark was gained in our braking tests. In normal use, the anchors work perfectly well, but they took an age to bring the 4x4 to a halt in our emergency high- speed stop – it required 10 metres longer to come to halt than the Kia from 70mph, at 62.6 metres. There’s also far too much dive under hard braking, which doesn’t inspire confidence as the rear end moves around nervously behind you.

The X-Trail has always been a strong contender in this market, and it’s as economical, well equipped and practical as ever. The question is, will its dynamic weaknesses be shown up by the bigger Sorento?

Details

Chart position: 2
WHY: The updated X-Trail promises to be the best yet, with revised engines and improved equipment. It still looks distinctive, and a clever 4WD system ensures it’s more than capable off road.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New cars that plummet in value can make brilliant used buys
Opinion - Vauxhall Corsa-e

New cars that plummet in value can make brilliant used buys

Editor Paul Barker takes a closer look at our 2024 Used Car Awards
Opinion
20 Nov 2024
A £10k electric car with a 100-mile range would surely be a sales success
Opinion - cheap EV

A £10k electric car with a 100-mile range would surely be a sales success

Mike Rutherford thinks there would be demand for an electric car with a modest 100-mile range if it only cost £10k
Opinion
17 Nov 2024
Best used cars to buy 2024
Best used cars 2024

Best used cars to buy 2024

From city cars to large SUVs, here’s our annual pick of the star performers that’ll save you thousands when you buy them used instead of new
Best cars & vans
20 Nov 2024