Car Nissan X Trail Comfort Review

Nissan's first vehicle in India is a sporty, new-age ‘soft-roader’, an SUV designed more for on-road comfort and style than serious off-roading, and it is a good-looking, upmarket vehicle for the well-heeled. Is the X-Trail good enough to be taken seriously, or is it just a status symbol? :


The X-Trail is a rather square, conventional shape, but there are plenty of interesting details, like the wrap-up headlamps and high-set taillights, and the flared wheel-arches.It is about the same size as a Honda CR-V, but with its flat surfaces and upright stance, it looks far larger in the flesh. God is in the details for the X-Trail, which includes well-defined wheel arches, fused roof rails like in the Chevy Forester and a mesh grille. The headlights also have an interesting blue hue.

Based on Nissan's mid-size platform, the X-Trail shares its innards with the stiff Primera saloon chassis. MacPherson struts are used in front and an independent multi-link suspension that does not foul the drive shafts is used at the rear. The X-Trail may not have a low range, but it has an advanced four-wheel-drive system called ‘All Mode’. It has a fair amount of safety equipment, including airbags and Brake Assist.
 
The quirky but practical interiors are a big plus, with a central instrument pod, vast number of cubbyholes and glove boxes, and plenty of standard equipment, including heated seats. There are chilled bottle-holders, a spring-loaded cigarette case-sized box and three glove boxes.
This is an unconventional design, eschewing accepted design trends, a trait Nissan has picked up from its parent company, Renault. There’s nothing wrong with this approach, however, as it looks good, and has great ergonomics and clarity. The quality of all the materials is exceptional and the airy cabin, with its full-length sunroof, is a very special place to be in. Sadly, the power-adjusted seats are not terribly supportive, especially at the back, and can be uncomfortable over long distances. The rear backrests can be inclined, and you sit nice and high, but legroom can be cramped with a tall passenger in front.

The boot is lined with hard plastic, which can be washed easily, and it can be increased by flipping the seats forward. It has a number of cubby-holes and hooks for bags.

 
One of the best bits on the X-Trail is the superb 2.2-litre common-rail diesel motor. It pumps out an impressive 31.4kgm of torque at only 2000rpm, and performs very strongly and quietly. Vibrations are well damped, and refinement at all speeds is highly impressive.
With a useful 136bhp on tap, performance is brisk, and the X-Trail simply swallows the miles, making for an excellent highway car. The six-speed gearbox has well-chosen ratios, but is rather notchy to use.
 

The X-Trail is useful in traffic as well — there is some turbo lag, which means you have to wait a bit before you feel the full punch of the engine, but with so much torque available at very low engine speeds, it scoots very easily past traffic. Despite the X-Trail's bulk, the frugal common-rail diesel returns 11.5kpl in the city and 15.1 on the highway, which is very impressive.

Nissan has opted for long-travel suspension but a monocoque chassis, to reconcile off-road prowess with on-road refinement. With this setup, the X-Trail doesn't have a great ride, tending to pitch about and get unsettled on poor roads. However, the stiff chassis makes it a great handler through corners, and despite the vague steering and lack of ABS, it inspires confidence, even being easy to drive in the city. Visibility is good, which helps in traffic. Body roll is well contained, and the X-Trail holds its line well around corners. The only problem is heavy steering feel at low speeds in the city. The best bit is the X-Trail's off-road talent: though it is primarily a road car, it can easily keep up with better-specced SUVs in the rough.

  
The X-Trail is a hugely impressive SUV, both on the road and off it, with plenty of luxury, a superb engine, a good chassis and lots of street cred. The only real drawbacks are the hefty price tag – Rs 19-23 lakh – far lower than some SUVs but still quite steep, and the almost single-stop dealer network. There’s also the fact that the X-Trail is a complex, high-tech car, and parts are likely to be enormously expensive. If you can swallow that, there are few cars as good.