It practically sells itself

 He: Car companies everywhere are reverse-engineering all-wheel-drive capability out of their compact soft-roaders to create a new entry point for budget-driven shoppers who want space and high-riding visibility but not real off-road capability. Nissan's X-Trail, arguably the most off-road-focused of the lot, has joined the stripped-back party.

She: It seems every Tom, Dick and Harry has an eye on a compact soft-roader nowadays and Nissan has them in its sights by creating a lighter, less powerful but more fuel-efficient model. Do you think it strikes a good balance, Steve?

He: I didn't feel short-changed at all. Sure, it lacks the instant response of its more powerful petrol sibling and misses out on that sweet surge of mid-range pulling power of diesel-powered variants, but as long as you don't mind shifting cogs you can pretty easily keep the power up to this stripped-back version.

She: This isn't the rugged number you would tackle the Flinders Ranges with and, in spite of the light clutch, the slightly clunky manual gearbox makes it less than ideal for urban life.

But the X-Trail shines on a day trip out of town, loping along the highway. I saw combined fuel economy of 9.0 litres per 100 kilometres. You?

He: I got 8.2L/100km in a mix of highway and enthusiastic country driving, which is a pretty decent return. I spent a bit of time on dirt roads, too, and couldn't detect any real trade-off in grip from the front-drive mechanicals.

It felt almost as well-planted as its all-wheel-drive siblings and probably a bit more agile because it's a lighter car.

She: The ride is quite smooth, it soaks up bumps well - albeit with a bit of bounce - while the steering is a little too light for my liking. Significantly, the X-Trail scored four stars for safety in independent crash tests. That's disappointing when you consider most budget soft-roaders get the maximum five-star rating.

He: Being a base model, there's not an overabundance of standard gear. There are airconditioning vents for rear-seat occupants - a real rarity at this price point - but legroom is poor. The two outer seats, however, are surprisingly well bolstered and can even recline.

The boot area is all about practicality, with a big, hard-wearing storage space and clever under-floor storage compartments including a pull-out tray. It's brilliantly simple and simply brilliant. What did you think of the front seats, Deb?

She: They're super-comfy and plush, with so much side bolstering I snagged the seatbelt tongue against the B-pillar every time I tried to get it past the seat to buckle up. That's probably also due to my seat position, which is further forward than yours. All-round vision has got to be near best in class.

He: The rub about the X-Trail has always been that its best asset - outstanding practicality - has always had to trade-off against its boxy styling and utilitarian interior. That hasn't changed but the value equation just got a whole lot stronger without a major compromise in driveability. That could - and should - convince plenty of buyers to add this to their shopping list.

She: Yep, the versatile, family-friendly X-Trail is well worth a look. Drive it back-to-back with the even more affordable, better-looking but less-practical Kia Sportage.