2017 Nissan X-Trail Ti 4WD quick review

TELL ME ABOUT THIS CAR

The Nissan X-Trail is the Japanese manufacturer’s most popular model in Australia thanks to its family-friendly practicality and solid record for reliability. It’s one of the few popular medium SUVs to feature genuine go-anywhere four-wheel-drive and a recent update has enhanced its safety credentials with advanced driver assist features such as automatic emergency braking.

Priced at $44,290, the top-spec Ti variant has extra active safety including active cruise control and auto braking with pedestrian detection, and a revised and more elegant interior featuring leather-accented trim, Bose premium audio system, heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats and panoramic sunroof.

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STRENGTHS

• It’s an appealing car to drive on highways and around town with a smooth, comfortable ride.
• The recent facelift was subtle but provided enough changes to stand out from the previous model including new wheel designs, bolder bumper plastics and sleeker LED headlights.
• The refreshed interior is well put together and features double-stitched leather-accented seats, piano black fascia inserts and metallic trim.
• The new flat-bottom steering wheel features a more intuitive button arrangement, and makes driver entry and egress that little bit easier.

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• The rear cargo area holds a hefty 565 litres which expands to 945 with the 60-40 split rear seats folded down. The boot floor lifts up and splits in two to reveal two separate compartments.
• It’s roomy and comfortably seats five adults. There’s heaps of legroom in the back helped by back seats that slide back and forth.
• As well as great legroom the rear passengers benefit from heated seats and their own air vents and raised ‘theatre-style’ seating for excellent front and side vision that’s further enhanced by the panoramic sunroof.
• The reversing camera with all-round view makes parking even easier.

WEAKNESSES

• The interior refresh didn’t address cabin storage space which seems insufficient for such a roomy cabin.
• The 2.5-litre petrol engine provides adequate power but is let down a little by the sometimes erratic CVT auto.
• The CVT’s delayed response to inputs also makes it difficult to to maintain a constant speed while in cruise control.

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• The Ti model as tested here isn’t available with seven seats.
• The infotainment seems dated compared to other systems in terms of the map display and a lack of connectivity options such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
• The 2.5-litre petrol engine is a little thirsty and averaging around 10.5L/100km during our time with us. From September you’ll be able to get the X-TRAIL TD which has most of the Ti’s features but with a new 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine that more powerful and fuel efficient.
• The panoramic sunroof creates additional wind noise.

ANY RIVALS I SHOULD CONSIDER?

The Nissan Pathfinder compares well with high-spec and comparatively priced variants of other popular mid-sized SUVs including the Ford Escape Titanium, Hyundai Tucson Highlander, Jeep Cherokee Longitude, Mazda CX-5 GT, Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed, Subaru Forester XT, Toyota RAV4 Cruiser and Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI.