Nissan pulled the covers off the new X Trail
Nissan gave its veteran SUV, the X Trail, another round of updates. For 25 years it has served as a faithful family companion, and this latest refresh tries to prove that even a middle aged adventurer can keep pace with the digital era while still enjoying a proper spell in the mud.
Design, V Motion now throws a punch
Nissan binned the softer touches. The new front end gives the X Trail a more assertive stance, led by a wider, cleaner V Motion grille that looks far more deliberate than before. In Tekna trim, it rides on 20 inch diamond cut alloy wheels.
Gloss black details on the bumpers, wheel arches and mirrors add contrast, joined by new paint finishes such as Sukomo Blue and Coastal Dune. The rear LED lights also got a sharper signature, making the car easier to recognise after dark.
Google moved in
The biggest leap came inside. Nissan dropped its old system and brought Google into the software. Drivers can now use Google Assistant, download apps from the Play Store and view maps without tethering a phone by cable. Natural voice recognition also lets you adjust the seat heating, switch on the windscreen heating or enter a destination simply by speaking.
For technology minded buyers, the updated 3D Around View Monitor will be one of the more interesting additions. Thanks to wide angle cameras, it shows a full 360 degree view around the car. The Invisible Hood View goes a step further, showing the position of the front wheels as if the bonnet had vanished altogether. It is the sort of feature that proves genuinely useful, whether you are trying not to scrape an expensive wheel on a kerb or threading your way between rocks on a narrow forest track.
N Trek, built for water, mud and poor decisions
The N Trek trim deserves special mention. It is aimed at people who do not flinch at climbing into the car in muddy clothes after a mountain bike ride or a day on the slopes. The seats are trimmed in CellCloth, a water resistant material that shrugs off moisture and cleans up easily. Red Magma Red details sharpen the visual identity, along with specific 19 inch wheels. Even the boot gets rubber mats and a reversible floor designed to cope with rougher treatment.
Electric drive, without the plug
At the heart of the X Trail sits Nissan’s distinctive e POWER system. Unlike a conventional hybrid, the wheels are driven only by electric motors, which means instant torque and smooth, linear acceleration. The petrol engine serves purely as a generator to charge the battery.
The car is available in both front wheel drive and four wheel drive form, the latter using Nissan’s e 4ORCE system for extra stability in slippery conditions.
Technical figures
In front wheel drive form, the X Trail produces 150 kW, or 204 hp, with 330 Nm of torque. It reaches 100 km/h in 8.0 seconds, tops out at 169 km/h and can tow up to 1,800 kg.
In four wheel drive specification, output rises to 157 kW, or 213 hp. Torque is rated at 330 Nm plus 195 Nm, the sprint to 100 km/h falls to 7.0 seconds, top speed climbs to 179 km/h and towing capacity remains 1,800 kg.
On sale now in Europe
The updated X Trail is already open for orders across Europe, with prices starting at about €45,300. Buyers can choose from four trim levels, Acenta Premium, N Connecta, N Trek and Tekna.
It is not a revolution, and Nissan knows that perfectly well. But for a car that has spent a quarter of a century hauling families, luggage and the occasional damp dog, this is a refresh with just enough steel in it to keep the old hand relevant.
