Nissan X-Trail ST-L has space for a netball team

Revamped mid-size SUV adds an extra row and broadens its family appeal.

Opt for seven seats and the Nissan X-Trail ST-L with all-wheel drive is about $50,000 drive-away.

Downsizing is top of the list for those looking to save cash on their car.

Given the current cost of living crisis, many households are looking to tighten the budget whenever possible.

The Nissan X-Trail falls into the mid-size SUV realm but has the added string to its bow of a seven-seat option.

For those who don’t need all seven seats regularly, it means saving on the initial outlay to buy a larger SUV as well as lower running costs.

All-new last year as part of a three-prong overhaul of the Nissan SUV line-up that also included the Qashqai and Pathfinder, the X-Trail starts from about $41,000 in traffic for the base model front-wheel drive. Add $3000 for the seven seat version which also has all-wheel drive.

Our family tested the ST-L variant which sits one rung above the entry-level specification, and with the seven seats has a drive-away sticker of $50,521.

WHAT DO YOU GET?

This latest generation X-Trail is available with a flash hybrid system which tops the range at about $62K but that’s only available with five seats. Hybrid seven-seaters are only available overseas.

The ST-L which we sampled doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, yet the refined exterior lines, 18-inch alloys, man-made leather seat trim, heated front seats, eight-inch touchscreen and six-speaker stereo combine for a solid value-for-money package.

While it has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, there is no wireless smartphone mirroring or charging pad.

For comparison, stepping up a size does mean a sizeable investment if you want seven seats.

Stay within the Nissan family and you’re looking at least $77,000 for a Pathfinder Ti (eight seats), while a base model Kia Sorento is $54,000, chip in another $2500 and you could be in a Skoda Kodiaq, or similar money for a Toyota Kluger.

Closer X-Trail rivals size-wise include the Volkswagen Allspace that starts at $46,990, the new Honda VTi X7 from $46,800 or the Mitsubishi Outlander LS at $47,880.

Servicing is required annually or every 10,000km (which is short, many rivals are 15,000km), with a prepaid plan $2092 covering five return trips to the dealer. That’s fairly hefty in comparison to Honda CR-V ($995) or Toyota ($1300 for the RAV4 Hybrid with 15,000km intervals).

The cabin of the Nissan X-Trail ST-L looks and feels like European quality.

HOW WAS THE DRIVE?

Confident and honest, the four-cylinder’s performance was predictable and easy. With limited road noise and lovely manners under easy acceleration, it’s a joy for mundane daily travels.

That’s the X-Trail’s bread and butter. Easy highway journeys, stop-start activities for school pick-ups, running around to music lessons and sport … just family life.

Push the performance envelope and it feels out of its depth. Cushy suspension can cause some body roll in the corners, while right foot pressure saw typical continuously variable transmission behaviour with flaring of the engine without much acceleration action.

Not that rail-like cornering and the quarter mile are on the X-Trail’s prerequisites. It’s a family machine, and it does the job beautifully.

Running on standard unleaded, our test saw the X-Trail return average fuel consumption of 8.1L/100km – the exact claim from Nissan.

Shifting between drive modes was fast and simple via a console dial. Most probably wouldn’t worry too much about departing from the default mode, but there is economy and sporting moods available.

During a test last year of the hybrid version we found the safety tech sometimes intrusive, but not on this occasion. The radar cruise control and lane keeping was great in traffic.

Space is excellent in the front two rows, although the third is tight and best for children. It has limited leg and knee room, and when the second row shifts forward using the rail system it quickly loses real estate.

With the seven seats there is 120L less boot space compared to the five-chair version. Nonetheless it still swallowed our weekly grocery shop.

There is the option of seven seats in the Nissan X-Trail ST-L.

WOULD YOU BUY ONE?

Kel: With good looks and a spacious cabin, the X-Trail was an excellent family machine. A solid all-rounder, I missed some of the latest luxuries like a power tailgate and wireless phone charging. If I had the money I’d probably step up into the Ti-L to get some of the fancier gear for about $58k.

Grant: While not setting new standards on the ‘wow’ factor meter, Nissan’s new X-Trail is a monumental improvement on the vehicles which have worn the badge previously. From the cabin materials to the “thunk” of the doors when closed it feels polished and remains a great family chariot. Those wanting a confident mid-size SUV will be rapt, with the added bonus of seven seats which are best used occasionally.

Originally published as Nissan X-Trail ST-L has space for a netball team