What is the towing capacity of the Nissan X-Trail?

The 2024 Nissan X-Trail is one of Australia’s better known mid-size SUV wagons, but how much can it tow and is it any good at it?

JUMP AHEAD

• What you need to know about the Nissan X-Trail
• How much can the Nissan X-Trail tow?
• How does it compare with its rivals?

Everything you need to know about 2024 Nissan X-Trail

As one of Australia’s most popular mid-size SUVs, the X-Trail is a go-to wagon for everyday family activities as well as the weekend get-away vehicle.

For lighter trailerboats or caravans and camper-trailers, the X-Trail is a promising option.

The Nissan X-Trail arrived last year in the form of an all-new fourth-generation model, platform shared with the Mitsubishi Outlander. Offered in four trim lines, in 2WD and AWD, in petrol or hybrid and in five- or seven-seat configurations, the X-Trail we’re focussing on here is the popular five-seat petrol Ti spec.

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While the hybrid X-Trail would appear to be the towing pick – with its higher outputs and lower fuel use – its 400kg lower (1600kg versus 2000kg) towing capacity over the petrol knocks it out of contention.

The standard safety equipment list for Nissan X-Trail Ti includes seven airbags (dual front, side, curtain, and front-centre), Autonomous emergency braking (vehicle, pedestrian, cyclist, junction, reverse), Adaptive cruise control, High Beam Assist, LED headlights, 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors, Blind-spot alert, Lane-keep assist, Traffic sign recognition, Lane departure warning, Rear cross-traffic alert and Rear Automatic Braking.

The X-Trail Ti comfort features include keyless entry and start, leather seats (heated and powered at front), sunroof, a 12.3-inch digital dash a 10.8-inch head-up display, 12.3-inch infotainment screen, Apple CarPlay (wireless) and Android Auto (wired) and a wireless phone charger.

The Ti is a five-seater only; for seven seats you need to choose from either (lower spec) ST or ST-L. For all X-Trail towing-specific features, see below.

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Get up to speed on the X-Trail

The stories below will give you a guide on everything to do with the 2024 Nissan X-Trail. All fresh stories will be found on our Nissan X-Trail Sport page.

2024 Nissan X-Trail coverage

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How much can the 2024 Nissan X-Trail tow?

All Nissan X-Trail models have a 2000kg (braked) and 750kg (unbraked) towing capacity, with 200kg towball download maximum.

The X-Trail Ti petrol’s kerb mass is 1668kg, and GVM is 2135kg. This mean you have a 267kg available payload once 200kg towball mass is subtracted. GCM is not noted in Nissan data, as is often the case with passenger vehicles.

Out of the box the X-Trail’s only towing features are trailer-sway control and, while not directly for towing, it does help hitching up, a rear-view camera. Trailer sway control is an active safety feature is in many (but not all) new vehicles, and it works by automatically applying individual wheels brakes when sensors pick up that the vehicle is yawing excessively because of trailer sway.

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While a genuine Nissan tow kit is optional, not much else (such as an electric trailer brake controller) is offered by Nissan for towing.

The towball on the Nissan accessory towbar is very close to the rear bumper, making it possible to damage the rear bumper with the trailer coupling if you’re not careful when hitching up.

Towing performance is acceptable, although a bit blunted with a heavy trailer behind, while towing ride is quite good. Fuel consumption will depend what size and weight trailer you are towing, but if it’s a big, bluff 1900kg caravan then expect a fuel figure of around 15L/100km.

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How does this match up with competitors?

The fact is, the mid-size SUV market is not where manufacturers tend to spend much effort setting up their vehicles to tow heavy loads.

Many have much less than 10 per cent towball loading, for example, a vital statistic if towing the typical caravan or camper-trailer. While the X-Trail is one of few with a solid towing capacity (and with 10 per cent towball download), it isn’t the only one with some good towing specs. The X-Trail has some solid competition.

There are not many that can equal the X-Trail’s 2000kg maximum towing capacity and 200kg towball download. The Volkswagen Tiguan beasts X-Trail with its 2500kg best in class towing capacity, but allows only 200kg maximum towball download.

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The Hyundai Tucson comes close with 1900kg maximum capacity, bit only accommodates 150kg of than on the towball. Even the platform-shared Mitsubishi Outlander only offers 1600/160kg towing maximums.

It's hard to pick a winner here; while the Tucson offers diesel torque and efficiency, it is beaten by the 162kW petrol Tiguan in outright capacity – although you’d have to make sure to keep towball weight below the 200kg threshold.

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