Chris Riley tests the 2023 Nissan X-Trail Ti-L with pricing, specs, ride and handling, safety, verdict and everything the over-50 driver needs to know.
Summary: The price has gone up, but the Nissan X-Trail still offers a beguiling combination of features, ride and performance. The not-too-big, not-too-small size is another plus for buyers, but there’s plenty of competition in the class.
2023 Nissan X-Trail Ti-L mid-size petrol SUV
Pricing: $53,490 (plus on road costs)
Warranty: Five-years/unlimited km
Safety: 5-star ANCAP (tested 2021)
Build location: Japan
Engine: 2.5-litre 4-cylinder naturally aspirated DOHC petrol
Power: 135kW at 6000rpm
Torque: 244Nm at 3600rpm
Transmission: 7-speed constantly variable, all-wheel drive
Body: 4680mm (long); 1840mm (wide); 1725mm (high)
Weight: 1672kg
Towing capacity: 2000kg
Wheels: 19-inch alloy
Tyres: 235/55 R19
Ground clearance: 210mm
Turning circle: 11.1m
Fuel tank capacity: 55 litres
Official consumption: 7.8L/100km (91 RON petrol)
Consumption on test: 8.9L/100 (400km)
seniordriver consumption on test: not tested
[review]
In the process of researching this story I came across a review by one of my esteemed colleagues.
Not once did he mention the fact Nissan X-Trail and Mitsubishi Outlander are one and the same car, sharing a platform and drivetrains.
That makes Outlander, the X-Trail’s most direct competitor, or so I would have thought.
Of course, they don’t look the same and there are plenty of other differences, but you wouldn’t buy one without checking out the other first.
Then again, the latest X-Trail is probably the pick of the mid-sized SUVs at the moment – and that’s a pretty big call.
What’s it cost?
Prices range from $37,250 for the five-seat, front wheel drive ST up to $53,490 for the top of the range Ti-L 4WD.
While they call it a 4WD, it’s really all-wheel drive, in the sense that it doesn’t have a transfer case or low range gearing like a Patrol.
A seven-seat version of the ST is also available for $40,290 (another $3040, but it also includes all-wheel drive). The all-wheel drive seven-seat ST-L is $46,790 ($3100 more than the 2WD five-seat ST-L)
Special attention has been paid to ergonomics and tactile feel of the switchgear and buttons used in the cabin to lend them a high-quality feel.
Research has shown a preference for easy-to-use core functions, so X-Trail features simple, intuitive heating/air-conditioning controls, as well as buttons that govern the central screen functions, such as audio and navigation.
A two-tier centre console provides plenty of space to stash items, with a charge pad in more expensive models for mobile devices.
Standard equipment for the entry model includes cloth trim and air conditioning, with second row air vents.
The driver’s seat has six-way manual adjustment with power lumbar operation.
It rides on 17-inch alloys, with LED head and tail lights, along with auto high beam and dusk-sensing activation plus auto fold, heated exterior mirrors, push-button start, an electric parking brake and rear parking sensors.
By the time you reach the Ti-L (subject of our test), there’s larger 19-inch wheels, tan or black quilted Nappa leather, three-zone climate air, a heated steering wheel, intelligent rear view mirror, matrix 12-element adaptive headlights and a power tailgate with hands-free opening.
The entry ST comes with an 8.0-inch infotainment unit that has six speakers and features AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus four USB ports – two for the front and two for the back.
The touchscreen in Ti-L is 12.3-inches wide, with voice control, built-in navigation, wireless CarPlay, but still wired Android Auto plus 10-speaker Bose audio – to name a few features.
X-Trail scores a full five stars for safety.
Dual front, side and curtain airbags are standard, along with a centre airbag which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes.
Autonomous emergency braking (Car-to-Car, Vulnerable Road User, Junction Assist and Backover) as well as a lane support system with lane keep assist (LKA), lane departure warning (LDW) and emergency lane keeping (ELK) and an advanced speed assistance system (SAS) are also standard.
X-Trail is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty along with roadside assistance for the same period.
What’s it go like?
The styling is evolutionary rather than revolutionary and it is clearly recognisable as an X-Trail, but looks more sophisticated.
Inside, it is a very different story where the car has undergone a complete makeover and looks nothing like the previous model.
Piano black has made way for a classy, dark, textured wood-grained effect, while all four doors get wide pockets that can accommodate 500ml drink bottles.
It feels bigger inside too, although slightly shorter than before (4680mm) with the same 2705mm wheelbase.
At the same time, it’s 20mm wider and stands 15mm taller, and somehow, they’ve managed to find more rear legroom, with rear doors that open wider for easier access.
Fourth generation X-Trail offers a revised 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 135kW of power and 244Nm of torque – 9kW and 18Nm more than before.
This will be joined shortly by e-Power hybrid versions, based on a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine, but with more power and torque, available with ST-L, Ti and Ti-L grades (These have now arrived, with the 1.5 ST-L e-Power priced from $49,990, the 1.5 Ti from $54,690 and the Ti-L from $57,690).
Available in two- and all-wheel drive configuration, all models are fitted with an Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) along with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters and shift-by-wire technology.
The seats are generous, supportive with a Euro feel reminiscent of a Peugeot.
Front and rear doors, front mudguards and the bonnet are all made of aluminium and the tailgate has been rendered in a composite material – to reduce weight and lift performance.
Key aerodynamic features include “3D” tyre deflectors in the lower front fascia and an active grille to control air flow to the engine compartment.
Specially shaped A-pillars and underbody covers manage air flow under the vehicle and a unique “air curtain” directs air from the front to the sides of the vehicle.
In the load area, a clever false floor composed of two panels can be lifted and fixed vertically to separate the load area into two sections.
There’s also under-floor storage for smaller items and room for a space saver spare.
A central console-mounted rotary selector offers five drive modes: Off-Road, Snow, Auto, Eco and Sports.
Fuel consumption is a claimed 7.8L/100km for the Ti-L.
It takes standard unleaded and we were getting 8.9 from the 55-litre tank after close to 400km.
Maximum braked towing capacity is up from 500kg to 2000kg.
The previous X-Trail offered perky, if ultimately uninspiring, performance.
Like its predecessor, the ‘all-new’ model is a bit of a mixed bag in this department.
Although the numbers are slightly larger, the naturally-aspirated engine lacks torque down low where it is needed and has to be pushed hard to get it going.
This brings on the awful zoominess that we’ve come to associate with CVTs, together with higher fuel consumption.
Off the boil and cruising the open road performance is relaxed, smooth and relatively effortless.
In this context, demanding drivers will most likely find the way the car performs more than acceptable – and really, that’s all that matters.
On the plus side, the ride quality is much improved, with little road noise penetrating the cabin. You’ve gotta like that.
Large, bright, impressive digital displays for the driver and infotainment help the car stand out too, with separate controls for most used features.
Of special note, the 10.8-inch head-up display in our Ti-L is one of the few, if not the only, example we have ever encountered that is visible through polarised sunglasses.
Yay, team!
What we like
- Looks smart
- Well equipped
- More refined ride
- Head-up display that’s finally visible
What we don’t like
- Could do with more power
- Costs considerably more than before
- Space saver spare
What over-50 drivers need to know
I still remember driving the first-generation X-Trail.
It was surprisingly good off road and a dream to drive compared to the big, clumsy 4x4s that ruled the roost back in the day.
X-Trail was late to the compact SUV party but it was well worth the wait. I really liked the previous model that I drove not so long ago, but this one is so much better it doesn’t bear comparison.
As a retirement proposition, X-Trail ticks all the boxes, especially the top of the range Ti–L – it’s not too big, not too small, just right.
Good work, Nissan!
seniordriver comments
As Chris points out, the Nissan X-Trail and Mitsubishi Outlander are essentially the same vehicle, so it’s interesting to take a look at the differences. The Mitsubishi doesn’t carry an ANCAP rating, comes with one year of roadside assist (none for the Nissan) and service intervals are 12 months for both, but 10,000km for the Nissan and 15,000 for the Mitsubishi. And Mitsubishi claims an 8-speed CVT, against the Nissan’s 7-speed (not that it makes a blind bit of difference!) The Nissan’s claimed fuel consumption is 7.8L/100km against the Mitsubishi’s claimed 8.1. And there are some minor variations in overall dimensions, including 20-inch wheels on the Outlander which weighs in 88kg heavier.
The Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed Tourer is closest in spec to the Ti-L and costs a neat $1000 more, but it gets seven seats as standard, so if you need the extra seats, the Mitsubishi is actually cheaper. (Well, that was the case. As this was being written, Mitsubishi announced updates to the Outlander, and the price of the Exceed Tourer has risen to $55,190 plus on road costs.)
Buyers in this class are spoiled for choice. We roped in the Ford Escape Vignale, Mazda CX-5, Renault Koleos and Toyota RAV4 as the obvious competition. However, some recent arrivals from China have rather enlivened the segment. The MG HS and GWM Haval H6GT are both well worth considering, and as a wild card, if you don’t need all-wheel drive, we’d suggest taking a look at the recent Indian entrant, the Mahindra XUV700, by far the cheapest in the category (especially when you factor in the standard equipment) at $39,990 for the top-of-the-range AX7L.
The Ford Escape Vignale ($51,590 plus on road costs) has considerably more power and torque thanks to it being turbocharged, even though the engine is 2.0 litres rather than 2.5. The downside is that it demands premium unleaded fuel.
The Mazda CX-5 Akera is from $54,600 (plus on road costs), making it a little more expensive. Ditto the Toyota RAV4 which follows recent Toyota policy by becoming ever more expensive. The Cruiser model starts from $54,410 (plus on road costs). It had the added advantage of being a hybrid so will deliver measurable savings at the fuel pump. Claimed fuel consumption (although as with all hybrids, this cannot be taken at face value) is 4.8L/100km.
The Renault Koleos is proving surprisingly popular. With a price of $49,500 for the top-of-the-line Iconic Edition, it’s easy to understand. Power is a little down on most of the others in this class.
At $41,990 (plus on road costs) the MG HS Essence could be the bargain of the class. Despite a smaller 2.0-litre engine, power at 168kW and torque of 360Nm are impressive. Certainly worth a look.
The Haval H6GT Ultra will also impress for its design and standard equipment. Once again, it has a smaller 2.0-litre engine, but power and torque (150kW/320Nm) shouldn’t leave buyers feeling short-changed. The seven-year warranty is another strong incentive (the Mahindra also comes with a seven-year warranty).
The Mahindra XUV700, as previously mentioned, is FWD only, but if you want a really tough and very competent all-wheel drive, you may wish to consider the slightly larger Scorpio ($45,990 driveaway for the Z8L) but you’ll have to be willing to settle for a diesel engine. Officially it’s classified as a “large” SUV, but we’d class it more in the medium category.