Australian first drive 2023 Nissan X-Trail

You’ve all heard the line from The Untouchables about bringing a knife to a gunfight. It’s a metaphor that works well on so many levels, especially in the often cut-throat automotive world. And, in effect, that’s what Nissan has been doing with its X-Trail for the last few years.

In a segment that is indeed a heavily contested gunfight, the ageing Nissan X-Trail, solid though it was, represented at best a knife, at worst a blunt one. Now, though, that has all changed with this new model, updated, redesigned, tech-laden and promising to be an engaging drive. At the very least, the fight for your money in the medium SUV segment will be a fair one in the Nissan showroom.

It’s hard to believe, but one of the SUV pioneers is now in its fourth generation. And, thanks to a shared platform with the likes of the Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan can set about maximising the quality of already proven underpinnings. X-Trail is a vital SUV for the brand in this country too. It’s been the third-highest-selling medium SUV in Australia since 2008, and according to Nissan that segment is expected to grow around 14 per cent as we run up to 2026.

For Nissan specifically, X-Trail is the second-highest-selling model in the fleet behind the Navara. Nissan knows that its customers expect quality, reliability, modern design, and intuitive all-round safety, as well as a family hub that delivers a flexible interior, driver assistance technology and premium driving dynamics. Not necessarily in that order either…

The aforementioned Outlander is now a bonafide stablemate in terms of the platform beneath, but there’s also RAV4, Tucson, Sportage, CR-V and CX-5, not to mention the newer players in this Aussie-favourite segment. To say it’s hotly contested is an understatement. Family buyers target medium SUVs, too, we’ve written it and said it many times before, and whether it makes sense or not, this segment is the one that Australian family buyers focus most closely on.

As such, any medium SUV needs to deliver on the flexibility and usability that family buyers want and expect. It’s not an easy brief to nail, even for a vehicle that’s been around as long as the Nissan X-Trail. Let’s take a closer look at what it’s got to offer.

Our pricing and specification guide breaks down the range in more detail, but let’s take a quick look here at where the X-Trail is positioned. Two years after it initially launched in the United States, the 2023 Nissan X-Trail is on sale locally now starting from $36,750 plus on-road costs. Four model grades are available, all with the same 2.5-litre petrol engine, but there’s no longer a manual X-Trail available. Instead, all X-Trails get a CVT, but there is two- or all-wheel drive.

Model grades include the entry-level ST, then ST-L, Ti and lastly Ti-L. The top two grades will be available only as five-seat models and with AWD. Importantly for the more adventurous family buyers, X-Trail tows a useful 2000kg, up 500kg from the old model. There will, of course, be an e-Power hybrid variant joining the range post the launch of the regular petrol range we’re testing here.

Standard features on the entry-level model include 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 7.0-inch driver’s display, keyless entry and start, cloth seats, a plastic/rubber steering wheel, and rear parking sensors. Also standard is an airbag between the front seats – a key feature among cars that have scored five stars under the latest ANCAP crash-safety testing criteria, including the new X-Trail’s rivals from Hyundai, Kia and Haval.

Stepping up to the more expensive variants brings an excellent head-up display, dual 12.3-inch screens, quilted nappa leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, a 10-speaker audio system, and the ProPILOT assisted highway driving system. The prices run right up to $52,990 plus on-road costs for the Ti-L five-seat AWD. Time will tell, but our guess is the middle of the range ST-L – in either five or seven-seat guise – will be the most popular variant.

Hugely important for family buyers especially, interior flexibility and space are strong points for the new X-Trail. Some numbers worth noting here are the increases in width and height, +20mm and +15mm respectively, as well as more leg room in the second row, and wider-opening back door apertures.

The way the rear doors open out to 85 degrees is something you’ll notice immediately. It will make getting the kids into and out of their baby seats a whole lot easier than it would otherwise be.

In the three-row model, you get 465L to the second row seats, while five-seat models claim 585L to the backs of the second row, Nissan Australia is yet to supply info on space with the third row up or with the second row folded, but based of international info, we’ve included a , but based on overseas specifications, . In other words, there’s more than enough storage space for families, even those of you who might only have one car. Under the rear floor, there’s a space-saver spare tyre.

Nissan has aimed for a premium feel with the trim and materials used, and the ergonomics and comfort are both excellent. Visibility from the front two seats is solid, and the driver can easily get comfortable with a broad view of the road ahead.

Forward visibility is aided by the thinner pillars, which make as little impact on the view as possible. Even the driver’s seat on the base model gets six-way manual adjustment plus a powered lumbar support.

There’s also plenty of storage, with the floating centre console ensuring there’s more than one way to hide or safely store your items. The cupholders are at the top of that console, as well as the 15-watt wireless charging pad, which both juices up your smartphone, but also stops it from sliding around while you’re driving. According to Nissan, it actively charges your phone, unlike some, which seem to merely maintain the charge that is in it.

Up front, you get an elbow rest that doubles as a console lid, with a twin opening system to access the bin itself. It’s a big one, with more than enough room for wallets, keys, and other items you might want hidden from prying eyes. From the base model up, new X-Trail’s cabin feels premium and well executed, with the high-spec Ti getting features like a leather trim, a panoramic sunroof, and three-zone climate control while the flagship Ti-L adds quilted nappa leather, Bose audio, heated rear seats and more.

The one-touch seat access system is a clever addition, and it’s available from ST-L up, along with a 40/20/40-split-fold seat, which adds to the sense of usability inside the cabin, not to mention its ability to carry luggage and other items. Nissan reckons its modular luggage board system (on five-seat models from ST-L up) can be configured in up to 16 different ways to secure items vertically, horizontally or along the side storage compartments.

Infotainment is another area that has moved forward significantly since the outgoing X-Trail was released, and it’s fair to say that what we expect now is very different from what we expected even five years ago, let alone 10. Up at the top of the range, X-Trail features twin 12.3-inch screens, as well as a 10.8-inch head-up display (HUD). The HUD is excellent, one of the most visible and clear we’ve tested, even in bright light.

Base-model ST gets a 7.0-inch TFT driver’s display, and an 8.0-inch central touchscreen, so every X-Trail feels well equipped to the price point. We were impressed with the Ti-L’s 10-speaker Bose audio system at launch too. We’ll test that part of the X-Trail’s infotainment as we cycle through the various grades on test.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard across the range, but Ti and Ti-L variants step that up with wireless Apple CarPlay. At launch, we tested both wired and wireless CarPlay and both worked well. As did the use of satellite navigation via both the phone and the native system. Most of the time, I’d prefer a cabled connection, but if the wireless works, you can’t argue with its practicality.

In the centre console you get both front and rear USB-A and USB-C ports to keep the whole family charged up and entertained on long road trips, something the X-Trail will undoubtedly be doing. Back to the HUD, we loved the way it appears in widescreen orientation, and the fact that it illustrates key navigation commands, driver assistance and road information, rather than simply the speed.

Nissan is keen to emphasise the reality that its buyers expect safety in this segment, and as such, it’s little surprise the new X-Trail gets a full, five-star ANCAP safety rating after having been tested locally. That test covers build dates from August 2022 onward, and on-sale dates of November 2022 onwards, and applies to all variants across the range.

The X-Trail’s safety rating carries a 2021 time stamp and is based on testing of the smaller Nissan Qashqai. ANCAP says it “was provided with technical information. and additional tests were conducted [pictured] to show that the Qashqai rating is also applicable to the X-Trail.”

Strong across the four ANCAP pillars of testing, the new X-Trail scored 91 per cent for adult occupant protection, 90 per cent for child occupant protection, 74 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 97 per cent for safety assist. ANCAP states that the “rating for the Nissan X-Trail is based on testing of its partner model, the Nissan Qashqai”.

With such high scoring across the board, you’d expect the X-Trail to be well equipped, and it is. Dual frontal, side chest-protecting, and side head-protecting airbags are all standard. As is a centre airbag, which provides added protection to the two front-seat passengers in the event of a heavy side impact.

Nissan calls its active safety suite ‘Intelligent Mobility’ and that pack is standard across the range. Predictive forward collision warning, intelligent cruise control with traffic sign recognition, lane-departure warning and prevention, rear cross-traffic alert, rear autonomous emergency braking (with pedestrian and cyclist detection), junction assist and driver attention alert are all standard.

There’s also a rear seat alert, which lets the driver know if they’ve left something (or perhaps, someone) in the rear seat. The system records if a rear door is opened during a journey, and activates an alert if the driver walks away without checking in on the rear doors. Step up to the ST-L model and Nissan adds its ProPilot system, which brings semi-autonomy to highway cruising. We’ll test that system extensively post launch.

Nissan offers a capped-price servicing plan for new X-Trail, with a visit to the service centre required every 12 months or 10,000km. Across three years that will cost $1336 and $1364 for the FWD and AWD respectively. And across five years it will cost $2332 or $2360 for the FWD and AWD respectively.

Nissans are covered in Australia by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, with roadside assistance included for the same period.

The new X-Trail will cost from $1066 per annum to comprehensively insure based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

There’s a small difference between the fuel claim numbers depending on the model grade and whether it’s front- or all-wheel drive. A figure of 7.4–7.8L/100km is competitive for any medium SUV that isn’t a hybrid, and on our largely country test drive we saw live figures between 8.8 and 9.9L/100km. That sits neatly against the claim, and we’ll test them more specifically when we get behind the wheel for our week-long tests in the next few months.

There’s obviously a more potent e-Power hybrid variant to come, but for a petrol engine that doesn’t feature a turbo, the new X-Trail gets down to business pretty effortlessly. The 2.5-litre four-cylinder makes a relatively unstressed 135kW right up at 6000rpm and it doesn’t mind revving either. Its 244Nm at 3600rpm is handy for the cut and thrust of city driving.

I wouldn’t say I’ve ‘come around’ to CVTs, but if they can be like the one that Nissan has used in the new X-Trail, the sell is going to be a lot easier. This is an excellent transmission, smooth, quiet, and refined. There’s almost no noise or whine out of it at all, at any speed, and that doesn’t matter whether you’re at city speed or highway touring speed.

The CVT does a good job of getting the best out of the power and torque on offer no matter what the driving expectation. And, you can rev the engine right out without it sounding like a slipping clutch.

On the highway, the X-Trail settles into a relaxed 110km/h cruise easily, with power in reserve for overtaking requirements or getting back up to speed. Given the relatively effortless nature of the engine at that speed, fuel consumption should be pretty frugal on road trips too.

We drove over some pretty choppy rural roads and we found the bump insulation and absorption to be excellent as well. The cabin is generally quiet, insulated and comfortable, and you have to plough through a nasty, sharp-edged pothole to feel any impact through the chassis. Everywhere else, the ride remains comfortable.

What surprised me the most was the way in which the X-Trail handles a twisty road when you find one and have some fun. A medium SUV, aimed at family buyers, that is capable of lugging the family around in comfort, isn’t designed to turn in sharply to a tight corner on a bumpy B-road. And yet it does with some ability. Obviously, you’re not going to go full Nürburgring in it with the family on board, but the tied down, balanced nature of the chassis means the X-Trail is always composed and goes where you ask it to.

The steering and braking were both solid on test, too, with no nasty pedal feel or feedback through the wheel, even when the roads got properly pockmarked. In short, most X-Trails will carry out their daily duties around town, but for those of you who like to load your SUV up and head off on a road trip, the new X-Trail looks capable of handling that quite easily too.

Off the back of our launch drive – which was an extensive one – the X-Trail looks to be a strong proposition in a vital segment for the brand. It delivers safety and quality across the range, at competitive price points, with family flexibility. Further, it’s a fun SUV to drive out on a country road trip, too, which is something plenty of Aussie buyers will want to experience.

We’re eager to line up the new X-Trail against its competitors, head to head. This segment is getting better all the time, and the old favourite RAV4 has a battle on its hands, certainly in an up-to-date, technological sense. We’re looking forward to some more in-depth testing with the new X-Trail, and Aussie buyers now have another quality option in a favourite segment.