Nissan X-Trail – let’s get dirty

THE perfect family car needs to come in many guises – with the scope to cater for everything from school runs to motorway journeys, city congestion to the great outdoors.

They don’t all cover the same ground, leaving some of the boxes unticked, whether that be with regard to space, economy, comfort or dynamics.

One that stands out from the crowd like a beacon, however, is the Nissan X-Trail, a model that has notched up eight million sales since its arrival in 2001.

Now into its fourth generation and the largest model in the Japanese brand’s line-up, the X-Trail offers its buyers a blend of quality, flexibility and freedom – and is also the only Nissan available with seven seats.

With five trim grades available and prices starting at £35,175, there’s a model to suit most family requirements but Nissan took the biggest step towards literally reflecting the X-Trail name when it introduced the new N-Trek variant.

Aimed at buyers who want to head out and embrace adventure, the theme behind the model grade’s design was Let’s Get Dirty.

And with that motto in mind, N-Trek models like our tested version come with water-resistant, wipe-clean upholstery – so whether they have been squelching through mud, mountain biking or just walking in the countryside, there’s no need to worry about dirtying the seats.

There are also rubber floor mats and a reversible boot-liner along with protective lower bumpers at the front and rear with a gunmetal finish and integrated LED foglamps, while 18-inch diamond-cut gloss black alloy wheels combine with shiny black wing mirrors and dark roof rails.

Opt for the two-tone Champagne Silver paint with a metallic black roof to match the mirrors, a £520 option which along with seven seats (£1,000) takes the tested model’s price to £47,220, and the car looks every inch the rugged adventurer.

While the X-Trail line-up is available with a mild hybrid engine, N-Trek trim comes exclusively with Nissan’s e-POWER or e-4ORCE powertrains, which use a turbocharged 1.5-litre engine to generate electricity and charge the car’s battery.

On the e-POWER two-wheel-drive variant, the battery powers a single motor connected to the front wheels, while the e-4ORCE all-wheel drive powertrain employs a motor at each axle.

A benefit of the e-4ORCE system is that it can adjust power 10,000 times per second according to the amount of grip, maximising traction on slippery surfaces.

The upshot is a smooth drive, not too dissimilar to a pure electric vehicle, with instant torque, useful acceleration, five driving modes and all without the need to recharge.

For a large vehicle that can carry tons of luggage, sports kits, DIY materials or push-chairs, the official Combined fuel figure of 44.8 miles per gallon is impressive, and though our own return of 42.2mpg couldn’t match that mark it’s nonetheless not to be sniffed at.

And like its top selling sibling the Qashqai, the X-Trail is both smooth and well mannered on everyday road surfaces while 4×4 ensures muddy fields are managed with ease.

Passengers are treated to an airy feeling in what is a spacious SUV for five, including three adults in rear, though space starts to become tighter when all seven seats are in place.

Stick to five and there’s a 585-litre boot that expands considerably with the second row seats folded down.

Each of the X-Trail trim levels has its own appeal but the N-Trek grade really makes this model a car for all seasons – and Nissan’s range of accessories is also compatible, including towbars, roof bars, bike racks and a cargo area organiser.

And tech like ProPILOT Assist with Navi-Link, 35 inches of internal displays and an Around View Monitor with moving object detection are also included.