Used Nissan X-Trail for sale: everything you need to know
The Nissan X-Trail first arrived in 2000 as a rugged off-roader, with a four-wheel drive powertrain and promising more off-road ability than some other rivals. It stayed that way for some time, but Nissan knows as well as anyone else that the real money is in more road-biased SUVs, so that’s how the X-Trail has been since 2013, effectively serving as a seven-seat version of the incredibly popular Qashqai.
It has much more competition today but is still worth a look if you’re searching for a practical family SUV. An economical one too, since all X-Trails are now hybrid, a change Nissan made with the latest model launched in 2021. Some rivals drive better and others look better, but the X-Trail is a solid all-rounder and worth a look if the Qashqai isn’t quite big enough for your family’s needs.
Should you buy a Nissan X-Trail?
In this guide we’re concentrating on the most recent generation of X-Trail, launched in 2021. Like its predecessor, it’s effectively a larger version of the Nissan Qashqai, and has a pair of small fold-out seats in the boot that can accommodate small children, or when they’re folded down, allow for a larger load area than you’ll find in the Qashqai.
It’s a more interesting car to look at than its predecessor too, with a rugged look that should find a few fans, though it’s fair to say some of the other cars in this class are more striking still. The same can be said of the interior design, which isn’t much to look at but is well-built, trimmed in pretty decent (and hard-wearing) materials, and is equipped with a responsive infotainment touchscreen.
All X-Trails offer some variation on the hybrid powertrain theme, from a mild hybrid entry-level model to two models that use the engine as a generator, and power their wheels with electric motors. They don’t need plugging in, and while they’re not the most efficient in their class, the economy figures aren’t bad at all for a seven-seater car running mainly on petrol power.
The X-Trail drives well in general, but if you’re looking for something with more driver appeal, then the Mazda CX-60 is worth a look, and has an interesting engine of its own, a 3.3-litre six-cylinder diesel. The Skoda Kodiaq pairs chunky styling with a practical cabin and a fine drive, and the Hyundai Santa Fe is one of the more visually striking options in this class.
What’s the best used Nissan X-Trail model to buy?
For its mix of fuel efficiency, equipment and affordability, our pick of the current X-Trail range is the front-wheel drive e-Power model in mid-range N-Connecta trim. It’s more efficient than the all-wheel drive version (which most buyers shouldn’t really need), but is better equipped than Visia or Acenta Premium models, and side-steps the much heftier tax rates that Tekna and Tekna+ versions can attract with some engines.
Used Nissan X-Trail fuel economy and performance
- Nissan X-Trail mild hybrid: All X-Trails use a variant of a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. As a mild hybrid it makes a combined 163PS, with a 9.6-second 0-62mph time and combined economy of 39.8mpg.
- Nissan X-Trail e-Power: e-Power models uses the engine as a generator, with a 204PS electric motor powering the front wheels instead. 0-62mph drops to 8.0 seconds, and economy climbs to 48.7mpg.
- Nissan X-Trail e-Power e-4orce AWD: The awkwardly-named e-4orce has a similar layout to the e-Power but with an extra motor at the rear axle, for 213PS combined and all-wheel drive. 0-62mph takes 7.0 seconds, though economy drops a touch to 44.8mpg.
What used Nissan X-Trail trim levels are available?
We’ve concentrated on the trim levels offered on the most recent X-Trail here, so some may have changed since the model debuted in 2021, but should be broadly representative of what you’ll find on dealer forecourts. Like many other Nissan models, Visia opens the range while Tekna and Tekna+ are the best-equipped.
- The Nissan X-Trail Visia comes with LED headlights and a wide range of safety features, plus manual air conditioning, 18-inch alloy wheels, and switchable drive modes.
- The Nissan X-Trail Acenta Premium adds the option of the e-Power engine, and builds on Visia trim with an 8-inch infotainment screen, parking camera, dual-zone aircon, and keyless go.
- The Nissan X-Trail N-Connecta gets a larger 12.3-inch central touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay, as well as privacy glass, and standard roof rails.
- The Nissan X-Trail Tekna comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, three-zone air conditioning, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel and heated windscreen, power adjustable seats, a power tailgate, and a head-up display.
- The Nissan X-Trail Tekna+ is the top-spec X-trail and gets larger 20-inch wheels, leather seats, and a 10-speaker Bose premium audio system.
Used Nissan X-Trail dimensions and boot size
The Nissan X-Trail’s dimensions are:
- Length: 4680mm
- Width: 1840mm (without mirrors)
- Height: 1725mm
- Ground clearance: N/A
The Nissan X-Trail’s boot size is:
- 485 litres (e-Power 7-seater) to 585 litres (hybrid 5-seater) with the rear seats up
- 651 litres (e-Power 7-seater) to 770 litres (hybrid 5-seater) with the rear seats folded down
Used Nissan X-Trail road tax
Any X-Trail registered after April 2017, which covers all current generation models as it was launched in 2021, is subject to a flat rate of VED or ‘road tax’. As all are hybrids, that means a bill of £180 per year. There are a few models that may get hit by a hefty surcharge though, as some X-Trails cost more than £40,000 when new, lifting the tax rate up to £590 per year, at least until the seventh year of registration.
How much is it to insure a Nissan X-Trail?
The X-Trail range starts in group 22 for a Visia in mild hybrid form, to group 31 for a top-end Tekna+ with the e-4orce all-wheel drive setup. We’ve not covered them in detail here, but pre-2021 X-Trail models cover a range from groups 17-35 depending on trim level and engine.
