2008 Nissan X-Trail review
January 11, 2008 by Karl Peskett
2008 Nissan X-Trail review
CarAdvice rating: 
(4.5)
Model Tested: X-Trail ST-L
Recommended Retail Price: (Manual models) $31,990 – ST, $35,990 – ST-L, $38,990 – Ti
Options Fitted: None
- by Karl Peskett
Several years ago, at school, there was a young guy named Bradley. Now Bradley was about 6-feet tall, was fairly lanky, and was as white as photocopy paper. Yet somehow he managed to be blacker than Fiddy Cent. You see, his cap was always backwards, his musical repertoire comprised every rap song ever written, and his jeans were baggier than a mouse wearing a tuxedo.
Bradley’s problem was image. He just couldn’t accept what he was, and several years later, he was no hip-hop music producer. No, he was just another white guy again, and was back to normal. Which is why it annoyed me at the time, that he couldn’t just be himself. Why did he have to try to impress everyone?
The same goes with the Australian car market. What is it with people buying four-wheel-drives when they’re clearly not going to ever go off-road? I have several friends who have bought soft-roaders and refuse to even take them down to the beach. “I might scratch it” was one of the responses, and what scared me even more was that they were dead serious.
I approached Nissan’s new X-Trail with the same viewpoint I always have. If you’re not going to take it off road, then there’s little reason to buy one. Put it this way – I own a 2001 Holden Astra hatch. The pram we use for my son fits in with no problems. A Commodore has trouble fitting it in the boot though. I’ve yet to come across a soft-roader under $40K which would swallow it as easily. Until now.
I know its been said before, but Nissan Oz made a mistake not giving us a diesel option. Considering (unlike Mazda) they have both a manual and automatic transmission for the 2.0 diesel engine available in Europe.
They also would be the first Japanese car maker to supply a diesel engine in a soft-roader and that would get them noticed IMO.
This is the twin to the Dualis which scored 5 star ncap rating. The x-trail scored 4 stars.
Would be good to have a comparo.
Hi Lcat.
A Dualis review will be coming in March.
Thanks Karl.
I would guess the Dualis is Nissan’s answer for those that need the X-trail type practicality without the off road ability.
I own a S2 and before that a S1 ST. XTrail, only got good things to say about it.
The fit finish and quality are top class.Have not had 1 issue with it.
Would have liked more airbags, traction control [spins the front wheels in 2wd in the wet], MUCH stronger A/C performance [its pretty much useless, no brake dust up front, more MPG.Well thats about it really.
To the reviewer, before you harp on about audi quailty, yes it good when new, but after a few years it turns to c/rap, they just dont age all that well.Lets not forget to mention about gearbox issues too!
Wont be buying a 3rd, want to maybe get the Mazda CX7, would LOVE if u guys here @ C/A would test one :-) MAY HAVE MENTIONED THAT B4 :-)
Cheers
F-0
I’m in the market for a small to medium soft roader/SUV and am having big trouble finding a decent diesel option from japan! whats going on ? why can’t i find a decent diesel in this category from japan??? So far i have the jeep patriot limited diesel on my short list but am concerned about the build quality and the sticky clutch but other than that it looks great.
Having said that i won’t be forced into buying a petrol one from japan just for the build quality, sometimes we have to buy with our hearts and not our heads after all we only live once. And to the japs i say this, No diesel-no sale!!!
Hey Carl. Great name, pity about the spelling :D
What about the Suzuki Grand Vitara? A diesel is coming soon.
Hey Karl, dido about your name and yes i would consider a grand vitara diesel lets hope it’s a good torquey motor… but u must agree that the japs are sitting on some very good diesels that they sell to europe and don’t sell to us.
Slip the 2.5L diesel from the Navara with 403nm of torque and less fuel consumption and this X-Trail would sell it’s self!
Carl, the Hyundai Santa Fe has a Diesel option and in my opinion is equal to anything from Japan at the moment. Build quality is exceptional and has class leading fuel economy.
The Suzuki is an option if you desire the dual transfer case but otherwise the Korean option is the way to go. Forget the Patriot, not worth the risk.
Hey fella’s, we have had an 01 model since it had 20,000 on the clock it has just ticked over the 208,000 and it hasnt missed a beat. Admittedly I service the thing every 5000-10000 Kms (brother is a mechanic, cheap services) and I am hoping it will cater for our expanding family. Currently have 1 teenager and pre teen sons and expecting another in 3 months. See if we can squeeze in all the stuff that goes with babies.
Failing that, any suggestions anyone???
sounds like you need a bus!
Thanks SteveV.
Not that bad yet. :)
Thanks SteveV, for reminding me about the Hyundai i was in the bad old days mind set for korean quality, I’ve also considered the Captiva but again for the same reasons as the patriot i’m not sure about the build quality that Daewoo is offering nowadays
Carl I think the Hyundai will be far far ahead of the Jeep in terms of build quality. This is the company Toyota bosses have admitted to feeling the most threatened by. The Holdwoo is in another (much much lower) league.
The room behind the rear seats are very impresive it looks as long or longer for room than the back of a current BF Falcon 0r VZ Commodore Wagon. I’m glad they moved the actual dash (speed ometer).
Does anybody agree, that the interior dash pics. are the exactly the same as the Nissan Patrol Single Cab Review (recently). What, do they share the same interior, or is that a mistake for the patrol?
Yes Phillip i’ve read some good things about the hyudai’s i30 hatch back specially the diesel but with a growing familly it’s just a little bit too small but i’m going to put the santa fe on my test drive list and i want to see the new Mazda 6 wagon before i make a decision.
Phillip, I’d second your opinion with your assessment of the korean makes V the jeep. Initial assessments of the Kia Sorrento (diesel) have been reasonable however, but still a bit behind Hyundai.
Not including a diesel option for the X-trail is a serious error on the part of Nissan. I feel their outstanding sales record will start to wain as time goes by. The current shape is already dated and will do so further very quickly. A diesel option would have kept the X-trail in the game a bit longer.
Hey Karl/Carl Don’t wait for the Suzuki diesel, its not rated well here (UK). Its an old noisy Renault engine, with lousy performance, noisy, uneconomical, and really noisy with added noise. Apparently the 2.0 petrol is just as economical. If you want a review try http://www.whatdiesel.co.uk there are test in there, possibly one for the vitara.
Owned a Series 1 Xtrail Ti, loved the car. Got rid of it mid year for a Mitsubishi Outlander V6. Looked at the new Xtrail in November, a couple of things I noticed:
- the boot is too deep, they should have increased cabin space, especially leg room in the rear or had a sliding rear seat (like the Outlander)
- needs ALR (auto-locking retractor) seatbelts in the rear for baby car seats
- modernised the design at least slightly
- given it more power or the diesel
- I think the Dualis will compete against it
Still will sell over a 1000 per month though.
CGS
The backseat of Dualis is disappointing. It is too small. It is a bit overpriced I think.
The biggest problem with X-Trail is that it looks crook and dated. I wonder whether this had something to do with its lower than usual sales numbers in December, or whether lack of supply or Dualis taking sales away from it contributed?
Dualis is made in UK, i dont care what anybody says, the quality will be less than a Japanese built one.
The Dualis WILL have a price cut, its nowhere price wise BUT far to high, just as i predicted for the Marano and Maxima, both have had large price drops, Dualis will follow
Cheers
F-0
Forgot to mention, if you can afford $34k for a ST X Trail, you would be starking mad not to pay $5k more and buy the BEST SUV on the market at the price, the mighty Mazda CX7.
Here at C/A they will be testing one soon! :-) Mentioned that before i believe! :-)
Cheers
F-0
^ workmate just bought cx7 – looks good in black.
Traded his wrx for it. Likes it apart from A pillar blind spots (annoying more than dangerous) & is a bit dissapointed with the fuel economy. But it is definitely a looker!
Typical… just like toyota no diesel version for OZ. Both are available overseas with Turbo diesel power. The rav has 2 models in europe… on with around 130kW and 400 Nm!!!!
Yet we get served up 2.4 / 2.5 petrol 4’s (ok not every one wants a diesel) and V6 (3.5 Rav and 3.0 Mits Outlander)
Wake up Nissan ,Toyota and Mitsubishi. Are you blind to rising oil costs US $100 per barrel and $1.50 per litre ULP.
Wouldn’t a fuel efficient Diesel with no performance loss compared to the 4 cyl petrols be a top idea! have some vision for the future, what will the resale value of a v6 be when ulp is $2.50 per litre. We need economy not 160-200kw.
Shame about their lack of vision other wise it probably not a bad thing.
Frugal One…
A CX-7 with 16+ L/100km city cycle doenst make a lot of sense either.
If Mazda gave us in OZ a diesel option in the CX-7 it would be a cake walk in that category for them, but a lot of Australians are still ignorant about the benefits of modern diesels and these companies play on that ignorance to stick us with the pertol cars that europeans reject!!
I would be willing to wait and buy the new Mazda 6 diesel wagon if it’s as good as it sounds over a petrol CX-7
DAMN!!
that thing is hideous!
It needs either a V6 or a good Diesel.
Carl if there was a diesel option for the CX-7, Mazda Oz would without a doubt bring it to Australia. But even in Europe there isn’t a diesel option for the CX-7 as its main market (along with the CX-9) is the US, where there isn’t a demand for diesel.
Mazda actually seem like one in few Japanese car companies interested in investing in diesel engines in Australia.
Myke, i agree with you that Mazda is trying harder than all the other japs to bring us diesels and they should be commended for it. Infact i’m nearly sure that i will end up buying the new Mazda 6 wagon in diesel form because it promises to be a classy wagon and theres a lack of choice in that price bracket, but what i really want is a CX-7 diesel.
All i want is that when a car company comes up with such a good looking car like Mazda has with the CX-7 it deserves a good torquey diesel option along side the usual petrol options.
Cos this X-Trail isn’t exactly what you’d call a looker.
Diesel why the hype?
The only unfortunately thing about diesel is that its price per litre is always dearer than RULP and every time petrol goes up so does the diesel. So the extra km’s you get out of a diesel are nearly lost buy the cost per litre, so its almost not worth the bother.
We are the highest taxed country in the world and which ever direction the masses of our people turn to regarding fuel choice, the government are just gunna keep robbing us blind. Look how the gas price shot up 12 months ago, when alot of people panicked with petrol price and got gas conversions done….. I noticed the gas price rising faster than usual.
So if the masses turn to diesel cars then the price of diesel will sky rocket. Diesel being a bi-product of petrol they should be paying us to use it for them. I have been told that the price of diesel in Africa is 5 cents/litre……go figure that!!!!
Looks like im just gunna have to keep working on my self powered generator…..
I think we should stop concentrating on the better fuel economy as the extra you pay for a diesel model actually makes it less economical (unless you keep it for a lot of years or do about 40,000 kms per year!).
Instead we should be concentrating on the far superior torque which equates to better overtaking and towing ability.
I guess it is great to not have to refuel as often but if one of the Japanese manufacturers took the plunge and actually shipped one here then I would like to see it at a price that would make the economic advantage an actual selling point.
Hyundai have done it right with the i30 with a $1,000 premium. Easily clawed back afer 3 years of motoring.
I’m a ford Falcon driver for many years. Looked into the Territory compared it to the Xtrail keeping in mind 6 cyl to a 4 cyl. The accessories and the 6 air bags far out way the territory’s only 2 air bags. Comfort and safty in the x trail is much better for my family than the
territory.
How ever Towing is my concern? I need to tow about 1200 Kgs any thoughts on the matter?.
Also spoke to a x trail 07 owner informed that it sucked fuel overly for the first 20,000 k’s then settled down. Has any one else experienced this?
At this point the x trail is winning our purchasing asperations.
Hoping to keep it for at least 10 years am I dreaming?
Is it possiable?.
I have been umming and arrring about the x-trail since it was released, like most others I wish it would come in the diesel variant that seems so popular in the UK, but I also have some concerns about its off-road ability – namely at the beach with no low range.
Does anyone have some experience with driving this thing off road? I would like to know how it performs.
Thanks
I am one of the diesel supporters for the nissan xtrail but relented as I needed to upgrade from my 2003 xtrail.
I believe the earlier ones like mine had 132kw, a little more than some of the later model Euro emission ones.
I tow a 1350kg+ boat with the old xtrail and refused to buy the new one until I could tow my boat with a demonstrator.
Towing the boat with the new model fitted with the cvt auto transmission far out excelerated the old 132kw 2003 model.The cvt seem to keep the revs in the middle of the torque band and does not bog the motor down as much.
The old one only had 70,000 klms on the clock and was in top condititon.
I have just about run in the new one and will soon tow the boat up the highway and see how it goes. I will keep you posted.
If you are worried about towing, put pressure on your dealer to give you the use of a demonstrator with a tow bar.
I own the model that came before this. Yes, the quality of the interior isnt that good and yes, its not as good as this one off road but judt look at the new one. ITS UGLY, the one before is so much mor better looking. Part of the reason you buy a soft-roader is if it has good looks. The new one is one of the UGLIEST soft-roader Ive seen. What were they thinking when they put the back up lights on the bottom, the back bumper is just wrinkled and so is the front. UGLY UGLY UGLY UGLY UGLY
Has anyone got feedback on performance in terms of offroad ability (beach) and towing (campertrailer)?
your wishes have come true, looks like a turbo diesel is on the way!
http://www.nissan.com.au/xtrail/turbodiesel.asp
im George yerou and i love the nissan x trail
I have a 1900kg boat to pull. I am very glad that Nissan have decided to bring the Diesel version of teh X-trail to Oz, 360nm is not bad for a 2ltr. I don’t like driving autos so want to get the manual, does anybody have any feedback on pulling heavy loads with the X-trail? Also, is 1st gear on these things ok for reteiving boats from a steepish boat ramp? Pity they don’t put a low range on the X-trail.
Hi,
We bought a new ‘08 X-trail at the beginning of the year. As you can imagine, quite excited as it is our first ever brand new car.
I’ve been quite shocked and very dissapointeed by the Nissan company. We have found out that a frequent fault of the Nissan is a speedo that is out, inaccurate. I am not talking just a kilometre or two (this you could live with)…… I am talking that ours is out by 10%!!!!! And nobody gives a tinkers about rectifying this.
Believe me, it is not much fun to be continually guessing what speed you are actually doing. You either worry about going too fast and the police or stick to the spedometre and get continually abused by other drivers for drivng too slow. Neither are things you want your children to witness. Some days I wish I could afford to just park it up and not use it!!!!!!
If we had been told prior to pickup of this fault (as we were told so nicely after finding the fault), we would have checked its accuracy prior to handover signature and refused to take that particular car.
Hind sight is 20:20!
I bet their executives would not be happy if they had to live with a car with this fault!
Sharon: There is a web-site where you might be able to get some information on how to try & fix the inaccurate speedo. The site is: http://www.australianxtrail.com.au & then go to their forums section (which you can join & become a member if you like) which deals with your problem. I can recommend this web-site for anyone who is interested in Nissan X-Trails as it contains a lot of useful information. I hope this will help you.
Cheers !
Like Darren I am interested in the towing capabilites of a van around 1400kg,, whats the fuel consumption, but more important how does it handle hilly terrain, does it rev highly with a load on?
Hi Metric:
I am not sure if you were referring to the new turbo diesel X-Trail coming out this month but if towing & fuel consumption are your main concerns than I would recommend the diesel model over the petrol one. The diesel X-Trail has more low down torque which should be good for towing & hilly terrain plus it does not rev as high as the petrol model with better fuel consumption. Price wise, I think the diesels will be around $1000 dearer than equivalent spec petrol versions. Overall, the new T/Diesels are the best buy but it depends on personal preferences & you should have a test drive in both the diesel & petrol models first before you decide to buy.
Cheers !
Bought a new Ti Auto after months of research and agonising. Up to the last day the Forester was in the lead but the smoothness of the CVT sold me. I prefer the new shape of the Forester but the interior looks a bit cheap. Also Forester gives 4 alloys and steel spare.
Just test drove the new Diesel X-trail… the TL. Awesome car, with an awesome engine. Same as Lindsay, like the shape of the Forrester better, but the X-trail with it’s diesel is the better package. If only they were bringing in a few of them….
Cheers,
Chris
I just bought a x-trail 2008 but here in Mexico they dont offer a towbar. i would like to know how or where i can get an email for a nissan dealer to ask price and delivery to the
usa. Thanks for any response at all as i am getting no help from nissan Mexico
Thanks Mate
BEFORE YOU INVEST IN AN XTRAIL, SUGGEST YOU INVEST 2 MINS TO READ THIS:
I am writing this so that maybe one other person will avoid the disappointment and expense of owning an Xtrail that I have experienced. Maybe the newer models are different – but my 2005 model showed that they are not up to it. They are really, really poor off road – try doing anything more than a 30 second sprint through soft sand and you will find out why… first the 4wd warning light turns on, then 4wd disengages and then you are stuck up to the axle. This happened to me every time I went near the sand. Trust me – I wasn’t doing Kakadu!
All that is something you could cope with and probably just live with, as I haven’t been on the beach for more than 1.5 years …. but my Xtrail has also recently required $3000 for a new clutch after just 66,000 km’s. I complained to Nissan – they sent two pretty ordinary letters, saying it was just out of the 3 year warranty period, therefore – bad luck, they basically didn’t give a toss. It was out of the time warranty, but 34% under the distance warranty, which is surely the most relevant indicator of usage anyway? Also, a new clutch after that number of km’s? For a car made in 2005 – maybe you could expect that from a cheap 1980’s car? Ironically, I was loyal enough to get it serviced by a Nissan dealer, even though it cost more to me. Amazingly, they even said to me in terms of the warranty we “give the customer the benefit of any reasonable doubt”. So, they may not of even fixed it anyway! “reasonable doubt” quoted to you by a multi-national car company – that’s hardly reassuring!
Don’t be fooled by the type of marketing that puts crocodiles on top of cliffs in the advertisements like I was – in my experience – maybe I was a one off… but my advise is keep looking.
If all you are doing is sealed road, then your test drive around the block is approriate for you, and what they want you to do. See what they say when you ask to give it a test on the sand….
MAYBE THE NEW MODEL IS DIFFERENT … BUT THE APPLE NEVER FALLS TO FAR FROM THE TREE IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN ….