Nissan X-Trail ST-L

When the first Nissan X-Trail appeared on the Australian market over a decade ago, it sold like hotcakes. Somewhat utilitarian and square of style, it had several features that endeared it to the motoring public. Perhaps the best was the special rear cargo area which could be converted from a soft carpeted load bed to its flip side of hard plastic .. great for throwing in muddy footy gear or mountain bikes. It was easily removable and washable.
The first models were snapped up by more than140 thousand buyers.
But as is always the case, car manufacturers can't rest on their laurels and Nissan has updated the X-Trail into a larger, more shapely vehicle, which still retains the spirit of the first.
It's hard to make an SUV stand out among the avalanche of similar vehicles but the X-Trail hits all the right styling cues.
No longer at all boxy, the smooth shape is good to look at from all angles.

 

Entering the cabin, you'll be confronted with a pleasing and clear instrument display and easily operated knobs and buttons.
The X-Trail's heated ,leather trimmed power front seats are of the firm and flat variety, that don't really encourage enthusiastic cornering...you slide about a bit when doing so. But that's not the normal role of the X-Trail and the seats are fine otherwise for everyday driving.
The steering is light, and operates with minimal effort and reasonable driver feedback  
The larger, new and improved X-Trail has more room inside than before.
The much more up market interior has plenty of soft touch surfaces including the top of the dashboard and generously padded door armrests with more than a centimetre of give, unlike some rivals which scrimp in this area. The central console lid is likewise pleasant to rest your arm on.

Visibility is good all round, and the reversing camera also has an " overhead" view similar to that on the BMW X 5 tested elsewhere on this blog, that show the vehicle's surroundings via downward facing cameras below the wing mirrors. A great idea.
Among the nice features on the X-Trail ST-L, keyless entry and start, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity and a powerful digital audio system. The park brake is of the foot operated variety (loved by mostly the American market.) Push once to engage it and again to release.
As in the original X -Trail, the rear cargo floor has removable panels for carrying all sorts of kit.

Finding the bonnet stay was an interesting exercise. I hunted around for it for a minute or two,then finally looked up and realised it was attached to the bonnet itself and swung down to its slot in the engine bay. Usually the rod is attached near the fender and opens upwards to fit into the bonnet. A tad confusing for the uninitiated.
The X-Trail's 2.5 litre four cylinder engine has plenty of grunt,developing 126 kw and  226nm. Floor the throttle and it leaps down the road with surprising speed.
The CVT gearbox is a smooth operator and doesn't " flare" under hard acceleration as some others do. The suspension is on the firm side, but not distressingly so.
Most owners will be quite content with the ride of their X-Trail. 
There are no bi xenon headlights, and illumination on low and high beam is only average.

 

In July 2014 the X-Trail sat in fourth spot in Australian sales, behind the segment leader, Mazda'sCX5, Toyota's RAV 4 and the Subaru Forester.
So....there's a lot to like here and it's "game on" for Nissan.
And at a competitive 36K,for this ST-L, I predict the new X-Trail will be just as popular as the first.
Peter Sellen