Nissan X-Trail is an adventure-ready SUV
The N-Trek version, tested here, offers robust design features for those who frequently venture off-road.
Setting it aside visually from other X-Trails, the N-Trek has strong gunmetal grey front and rear bumpers, gloss black door mirror casings and roof rails and 18-inch gloss black alloy wheels.
The e4orce system means the vehicle is at home in a variety of conditions The durability of the interior is improved by the fact all seats are equipped with wipe-clean, water-resistant upholstery, while rubber mats have replaced the carpet-style mats seen on regular X-Trails. Standard features also include a reversible boot lining mat made of robust rubber.
These hard-to-ruin surfaces will undoubtedly save a world of pain when, for example, transporting kids back from Sunday football after a match on a muddy pitch, or perhaps returning from trail running or mountain biking exploits.
The vehicle is also compatible with the existing wide range of accessories such as towbars, roof bars, bike racks, and a cargo area organiser.
With the seven-seat configuration, the middle bench can slide in a 60:40 formation to balance space for all occupants, with ample legroom in the middle row.
The boot size of the seven-seater is smaller at 485 litres, compared to the 575 litres offered by the five-seater.
The vehicle is suited to outdoor enthusiasts In its efforts to meet the requirements of outdoor enthusiasts, Nissan offers the N-Trek with top two hybrid outputs in the X-Trail range.
The model features Nissan's e-POWER or e-4ORCE powertrains, which make use of a turbocharged three-cylinder, 1.5-litre engine with variable compression ratio tech to generate electricity and charge the car's battery.
Choices are between the 201bhp two-wheel-drive and the 210bhp all-wheel-drive set-up.
The more potent four-wheel-drive option comes with a trade-off; it decreases efficiency, offering an official figure of 44.8mpg, compared to the two-wheel-drive's 48.7mpg. If you drive around town a lot of lower speeds, the electric driving should bring those fuel economy figures down a bit.
The interior is durable and spacious However, towing capacity expands significantly with the four-wheel-drive option, pulling a maximum braked trailer weight of 1,800kg (five-seater) or 1,650kg (seven-seater), compared to the front-wheel-drive's capacity of only 670kg.
The space and flexibility of the cabin makes this a hugely practical family vehicle, with oceans of space for occupants and their luggage.
The 12.3-inch screen looks good and provides clear graphics, but can take a while to respond to commands.
Behind the wheel, the 0-62mph time of seven seconds feels swift for a vehicle of this size.
The vehicle looks purposeful from all angles The hybrid powertrain fills the lag in petrol power nicely, and transitions smoothly between sources of power with none of the jerkiness you sometimes find with this sort of combination.
The set-up of the X-Trail is weighted in favour of comfort over sportiness. The suspension absorbs road imperfections nicely, but the handling doesn't feel especially sharp when progressing swiftly along a twisty B-road.
Grip levels are excellent in most conditions, with the e-4ORCE all-wheel drive powertrain employing a motor at each axle which can adjust power application rapidly according to the available grip.
All in all, the X-Trail is an excellent all-round package, offering practicality, lots of tech and an adventurous spirit.
Nissan X-Trail e-4orce N-Trek
ENGINE: 1.5-litre hybrid
TRANSMISSION: Four-wheel-drive
ECONOMY: 44.8mpg combined and emissions of 141g/km
ACCELERATION: 0-62mph in 7 seconds
PRICE: £45,700
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