The front of the Nissan X-Trail bears a strong resemblance to the Nissan Qashqai, with only a few minor differences in color and trim. The dashboard is the same as the smaller Nissan SUV, and while some may have expected more for the higher price, there is little to complain about.

Although other cars may have a more avant-garde style, the X-Trail still looks modern. It features soft-touch materials and has been designed with practical usability in mind. The climate control panel uses physical buttons instead of glossy black plastic that easily shows fingerprints.

The biggest change in the X-Trail compared to the Qashqai is the center console. It has a floating design with space beneath it. On top, it offers generous cupholders, a wireless phone charger, a 12V socket, a USB-A port, and a USB-C port. The rear seats also have a USB-A and USB-C port.

However, it’s important to study the brochure because lower trims are slightly stripped down. For example, the Visia trim has fewer USB ports and doesn’t come with an infotainment screen. The digital gauge cluster is only available on N-Connecta and higher trims. Lower grades have analogue gauges with a smaller 7.0-inch screen. The 12.3-inch digital cluster in our test car is not highly customizable but effectively utilizes space and provides clear information.

The X-Trail offers a great experience in the front seats. However, as an SUV with the option for a third row (which comes with an additional price increase), it is primarily a vehicle purchased for its spaciousness. In this aspect, it may be slightly disappointing compared to similar models, depending on what you compare it with.

When compared to rivals like the Toyota RAV4 or Kia Sportage, the X-Trail provides generous rear-seat space, with 100mm more legroom than the Toyota. However, among other seven-seat SUVs, it doesn’t fare as well. Although there is more legroom than in a Kia Sorento when the second row is slid all the way back, there is still not enough legroom for the third row. To make the third-row seats in the X-Trail usable, even for small children, the second row needs to be slid forwards considerably.

Adding to the challenge is the hybrid battery located under the passenger compartment, which raises the floor and compromises the seating position. The X-Trail also doesn’t have the most spacious boot. With the third row folded away, it offers 485 liters of space. This increases to 575 liters in the five-seat hybrid and 585 liters in the five-seat mild hybrid. In comparison, the RAV4 has 580 liters, the Sportage hybrid has 587 liters, and a seven-seat Kodiaq has 765 liters.

Multimedia system

When we tested the Qashqai, we found the infotainment system to be unremarkable but outdated. This is still the case with the cheaper versions of the X-Trail, as the system is carried over. However, N-Connecta versions and above of both the 2023 Qashqai and X-Trail come with a new 12.3-inch system that greatly improves the experience.

The graphics are sharp, and the screen boots up and responds quickly. There’s a permanent bar of shortcuts on the right side of the screen, as well as a physical volume knob and buttons for tuning and switching between day and night modes.

The software is user-friendly, allowing customization of the home screen. The navigation system is decent, and it supports wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. Our test car was equipped with the upgraded Bose stereo, which provided good sound quality, although some occasional crackling was noticed from the speakers.

One peculiar aspect is that the vehicle settings need to be adjusted through the gauge cluster using the steering wheel buttons, rather than through the touchscreen.