Technical

The only engine offered is Nissan's 2.5L 4-cylinder that develops 165 hp at 6 000 rpm and 170 lb/ft of torque at 4 000 rpm. This is the same engine that is offered in the Sentra SE-R and SE-R Spec V and in the Altima 2.5. The standard gearbox is a 5-speed manual and there is also an optional 4 speed automatic. Every all-wheel drive model come equipped with a fwd/auto/lock selector. This allows the truck to be driven in pure front-wheel-drive mode, turn it into a part time all-wheel-drive vehicle or to actually lock the differentials and turn it into a proper 4X4.

On the road

The engine has good low-end grunt. Off the line, it is very easy to spin the front tires.  During normal cruising and when pushed, the engine is quite noisy and raspy. The automatic transmission did fine work of transferring the power to the drive wheels though. Shifts are crisp and effective. Steering duty is handled by a variable assist rack and pinion system but it lacks precision and feedback. The turning radius is tight though at 10.6 meters. It does not help that the steering wheel is slightly off axis making the experience more awkward than it should be. Braking is handled by 4 wheel discs; pedal feel is surprisingly solid and brake response is immediate.

The ride is very stiff and choppy over a broken road surface; the truck bounces around and looses its composure. However when loaded, the behaviour improves dramatically.

Off-road capabilities are real, within reason of course. Winter driving should be a breeze when equipped with proper winter tires. Ground clearance is plenty and attack angles are abundant. The Bridgestone tires offer little grip in the wet and on dry surfaces but work adequately on dirt covered and on muddy surfaces. They are also very loud at highway speeds. When the AWD selector is turned in the "auto" position, there is a delay, not unlike the one found in the CR-V, before the rear wheels pick up traction.

Safety

This vehicle has standard dual front air bags, ABS brakes, electronic brake force distribution, active head restraints and seatbelt pre-tensionners. Side air bags are standard in the LE but not offered on the other models. The X-Trail has yet to be crash tested by the IIHS and the NHTSA. The Euro NCAP (the European equivalent to the North American groups) tested the Nissan in a frontal impact and awarded it with 4 out of 5 stars.

Conclusion

Another SUV to choose from I hear. Well, no, not exactly. The X-Trail is car-like in its dimensions and ease of use. I found that I needed a little more time to get used to it than with the CR-V. The CR-V is even less compromising with a more car-like ride. Fuel consumption however was just about 14L per 100 km. This outcome is higher than the results achieved by Natural Resources Canada but they probably better represent real day-to-day driving. The X-Trail is available in Europe with a turbocharged 2.2L I4 that runs on diesel. Should Nissan want to sell more of these trucks, appeal to a broader market or just plain stand out, I would suggest that they get this engine on this side of the Pond sooner rather than later.

Good stuff:
Off-road capabilities
Practicality

Not so good stuff:
Stiff ride when not loaded
Cheap interior plastics