New Nissan X-Trail goes on sale in SA

It’s hard to believe that the Nissan X-Trail has been in existence for 23 years. Yes, the year 2000 was when the first generation Nissan X-Trail came into the market, a vehicle you might remember for its square looks, assuming you were born by then. Over two decades later and the 5th generation X-Trail has been born. We flew to Cape Town to attend its local launch.

Aesthetically, a lot has changed. Not only from the original vehicle but from the outgoing model. The best word to describe this new X-Trail's design is ‘futuristic’. Like many other car manufacturers, Nissan has opted for an innovative and slightly radical design language for its latest crop of vehicles, and the new X-Trail is no exception. Whether it will appeal to you or not is a subjective matter, we’ll let you make the call.

What sets the X-Trail apart from its competitors in the segment, like the Toyota Rav4 and Renault Koleos is that its available in a 7-seater format. That hasn’t changed in the new model, with the 7-seat setup only found in the top-of-the-range 4WD Acenta Plus model. Everything else is new furniture in this Nissan X-Trail, and the Japanese have opted for high-grade pieces. Similar to the new generation Qashqai, which was launched at the end of 2022, the X-Trail is fitted with leather and soft-touch panels throughout its cabin, resulting in an overall premium feel. A sizeable 12.3-inch touchscreen is on board, adding to the high-end feel with its high-resolution graphics. The X-Trail also has a 10.8-inch head-up display, which is larger than standard for better visibility, and its instrument cluster has been converted to a TFT display - is customisable to give you the information you need.

Nissan is big on its NIM safety package, which includes a lot of safety features like Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Keeping ability, Front Collision Warning, Blind Spot Intervention and Cross Traffic Alert - to name a few. These features are available across the entire X-Trail range as standard.

While the X-Trail has received many upgrades and tweaks, it still utilises its 2.5l petrol engine from the previous model. Minor tweaks have been made to this power-plant resulting in an increase of 9kW and 11Nm, which isn’t much if we're being honest. In total, it produces 135kW and 244Nm either through the front wheels or a 4WD system in the Acenta Plus 4WD. On the road, the new X-Trail offers a pleasant and comfy ride which complements everything else that has been done to it. You’ll be able to enjoy it as a daily driver and over longer distances.

For what you’re getting, the new X-Trail is priced attractively. It starts at R649 900 for the Vasia, and tops out at R759 900 for the Acenta Plus 4WD. With all the upgrades and standard features it comes with, you should be paying more, but we suspect that the lack of a new engine is where Nissan made all the savings for you.

Nissan X-Trail 2.5 Vasia R649 900

Nissan X-Trail 2.5 Acenta R709 900

Nissan X-Trail 2.5 Acenta Plus 4WD R759 900

Gugu Masuku - In Proud association with CHANGECARS