NISSAN ST-L 2WD

$ 40,768 DRIVE- AWAY 1 8 POINTS

VALUE

Nissan doesn’t do an all-wheel drive seven-seat X-Trail. The ST-L front-driver matches the Outlander’s seven-inch infotainment screen with satnav and digital radio but lacks smartphone mirroring, full-size spare and auto wipers. Any paint other than red adds $570. Warranty is three years/100,000km and servicing is 12 months/10,000km. With average annual driving, you’ll total $1232 for four trips to the dealership in three years.

DESIGN

The styling is rounded compared with the predecessor but the tapering looks and chunky roof pillars limit rearward vision. The cabin layout is conventional, though still easy to operate. Cargo capacity is 135L with seven seats in use and there’s underfloor storage for wet items. As with the Outlander, the third row is effectively for the smaller family members.

ENGINE

Nissan’s 2.5-litre four-cylinder (126kW/226Nm) turns a CVT — it does the job but sounds a bit harsh under load. A turbo engine from the allied Renault stable would address performance and refinement. The claimed thirst of 8.1L/100km translates into mid-9L in a real-world mix of city and highway driving.

SAFETY

ANCAP tested the X-Trail last year and assessed it at 35.28/37. It misses out on a driver’s knee airbag and, as with the rival, curtain airbags don’t extend to the third row. AEB is standard, as is blind-spot warning. It lacks the Outlander’s lane-departure alert but compensates with a rear cross-traffic alarm.

DRIVING

Slow steering and an 11.2m turning circle make the X-Trail slightly less agile in carparks but it is a better ride over potholes and corrugations. The engine response feels marginally better whether off the line or overtaking. It sets no dynamic benchmarks but it’s a high-riding seven-seat family wagon after all. Braked tow rating for the petrol X-Trail is 1500kg.