2008 Nissan X-Trail review
January 11, 2008 by Karl Peskett
The other reason I’d pick the manual is for going off-road. In sand, the CVT takes too long to wind up, whereas your power is instant in the manual. And in such conditions, the X-Trail does quite well. We didn’t really get a chance to push the limits of the All Mode on-demand four-wheel-drive system, but in the little time we had it off-road, it did very well.
Ground clearance could be a little better, and the departure angle is also a bit limited, but for normal scrub, bush tracks and beach work, this is a fine performer. Another huge plus is standard fitment of hill start and hill descent control across the range.
So not only is the X-Trail looking practical, but it’s also excellent value for money. The base model (ST) is $31,990, and has all the features the ST-L has, except for 6-stack CD player, and leather handbrake and wheel. What you are getting, is a roomy, practical, smooth, well built car, which will bush bash if you want to.
It’s not often I would choose a soft-roader for simply doing the family run. But if you buy an X-Trail for just that one, practical role, I won’t hassle you. I’ll applaud you. The bonus is, you can actually use it for more than that.
It’s funny how perceptions can cloud your judgement. The end result is, I approached the X-Trail with negativity, and left with positivity. In my book, that means Nissan has done its job, and done its job very, very well.
2008 Nissan X-Trail specifications
Engine: 2.5-litre four cylinder
Power: 125kW
Torque:226Nm
Top speed: N/A
Safety: Dual front, side and curtain air bags, – ABS, ESP, TC, EBD, EBA, seatbelt pretensioners
0-100km/h: Approx 10 secs
NCAP rating: N/A
Turning circle: 10.6m
Fuel tank: 65 litres
Fuel consumption : 9.5-litres/100km
Fuel type: 91RON unleaded
Hi David
I know how you feel. I similarly bought an XTrail in 2005 as it was the cheapest Japanese 4×4 in its class. The plastic dashboard and doorpanels were, well, plasticky. It scratches easily and it was used to ferry kids, not animals with sharp claws. Although the engine was reliable, the suspension is starting to creak. No, it has gone anywhere no covered by tarmac.
I’m now in the market for another mid size 4×4 and I’m looking hard at the new X-Trail but my past experience keep making look elsewhere. I think the Tiguan is sharp in terms of its build quality and performance but pity the boot is a tad too small. Else, the Santa Fe 2.2 crdi looks inviting. The search continues…
How does the xtrail compare with jeep patriot? Fuel consumption of the patriot and compass looks efficient! And the patriot has the classic ‘boxy’ jeep look as well. Any one with more experience with the patriot?
I don’t know where CA got the rear seat picture on page 4 from but it’s not an X Trail – maybe a Tiguan. It’s a fairly hideous combination of colours and patterns too.
The new Grand Vitara shits all over the x-trail!!!
CRAIG^^
The X Trail is not years but a good generation in front of the Suzuki.
The Suzuki sells in tiny numbers, the X Trail is a huge seller, superior resale, qaulity, name, reputation etc
Its not c/rap but its MUCH better and more modern than small players Suzuki
Cheers
FO
Great review, but of little help as Nissan Head Office in Australia just confirmed that I have to wait at least 2 months for a Twilight X-trail as the company has a formal ‘production slow-down’ in operation. I don’t want white, I don’t want a dark colour, I just want a Twilight and can’t get one anywhere! Looks like a subi after all.
My X-Trail has done 66,000 kms, mainly on road but with some bush tracks, and the clutch has started slipping. The local Nissan dealer, where the car has been serviced since new, says there is no adjustment in the hydraulic clutch and a replacement will cost $1300 for parts alone. It seems very low milage for clutch failure but the Nissan dealer just shrugged and said it was “normal”.
I just got T31 petrol,CVT for 3 weeks and very happy with it. Just got back from Albany (done 1100 KMs in two days) and she runs like a dream, very very quiet not a single squeak or rattle even on some poor road surfaces. Excellent on petrol also,yesterday, before went back to perth, filled her up and the trip computer read 760 Km to empty. A lot of people don’t like its look, but I think she look much better than the RAV4,CR-V and Forrester.
The only negative things I could find are there’s no audio control on steering wheel (even mine is a Ti model) and it’s quite hard to reach the audio control on the central dash while driving. The headlights could have been better,and the seats are little high. I also don’t like the digital petrol and temp gauges, I prefer the needle ones.
Hi all, just like to share my opinion on the new X-Trail ST petrol.
Admittedly it was a hire car; was on holiday in Melbourne for a week with wife and daughter. I reckon the previous model is generally a good car (my inlaws have one). It’s zippy, comfortable and practical although interior quality is a let down. So I was keen when picking up the keys.
I wanted to like this car, but I just couldn’t; I hated it.
Throttle response from standstill is so sudden. Brake feel is horrendous, I have never driven anything with a brake that is like an on/off switch. It takes full concentration just to drive the car smoothly. A manual turbo diesel 80 series Land Cruiser is easier to manage methinks.
Handling doesn’t inspire confidence; the car never feels planted on the road. Body roll was so bad, a corner taken at 20 kph would throw the pram and all our stuff in the boot sideways. What made matters worse, boot was all plastic. Steering had no feel whatsoever, the wheel just wanted to go dead straight everytime. I shudder to think what it would feel like driving along winding roads like the Black Spur. Comfort on straight roads is pretty good albeit crashy at times.
Cruise control buttons on the steering wheel are awkward, nothing like the easy-to-use traditional toggle switch. Having an on/off and set display on the dash helps a little.
From the moment I moved the lever from neutral to reverse, CVT takes about 3-4 seconds to fully engage reverse, I got honked at everytime I parallel parked on a busy street. Not that my parallel parking skills suck, mind you, the transmission just took too looooooooong.
Trip computer was showing 11 km/l in mixed city / freeway driving, I expected better given the use of CVT. Kept the 4×4 switch glued to 2WD.
Now it’s not all bad with the car: Cabin comfort is up compared to the previous model. There’s heaps of legroom and headroom as well as luggage space. I managed to fit 3 large suitcases and a pram on the back. There are also lots of storage space on the dash. I liked the glovebox with its nifty with dividers. Removable ashtray is a nice touch, but I kept grabbing it everytime I tried to reach for the handbrake!
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so I will not comment on looks, I think the driving experience is more important.
Overall, a major disappointment from Nissan. Or possibly the car’s had a hard life as a hire car, I’m not sure.
I’ve driven and owned a variety of cars from a Jazz to a Land Cruiser, and others in between, manual and auto, turbo and N/A, petrol and diesel. Owned a 98 Forester, which I loved to bits. Lost out only on interior space, but otherwise a much more enjoyable experience than the X-trail.
Just bought a Suzuki Grand Vitara 5 Door 2.4 after testing both cars.
Price-GV 10% cheaper (GV auto vs XT ST CVT)
Warranty- GV 5yrs XTrail 3 yrs.
Handling- GV edges X-Trail.
Looks-this is personal. I’m put off by the current XTrail.
Transmision-GV 4 sp auto vs CVT of XTrail. Although CVT is more advance, I’m indifferent to both.
Ride- the GV is slightly unsettled over bumpy roads.
Space- the GV loses out to the X-Trail. Boot size of X-Trail is almost 50% deeper than the GV (rear seats folded up)but the GV boot space has slightly better height.
Interior trim-both comparable.
Suzuki may be selling the GV in small numbers but it’s more than a match for the X-Trail, all things considered.
if i want to calculate the inside the volume capacity of the Nissan X-Trail how can i know it?
The petrol X-trail is a better bet than the new diesel version. I own a diesel X-Trail and it has an oil leak which continuously contaminates the EGR valve and air filter, affecting performance. Nissan has been trying to fix the problem for 8 months, but no permanent solution on the horizon.
The Diesel X-trail is a lemon.
My T31 X-Trail Ti has just been flat bed trucked back to Nissan with a CVT failure. 48,000 kms on the clock, hardly ever off road, and driven carefully. Seems to me that this is problem for Nissan according to the X-Trail discussions on the web.