Latest SUV stays on the trail to success I

T’S world’s best selling SUV - so when a new Nissan X-Trail is launched it is a big deal in what is one of the hardestfought sectors of the global motor industry

Including the USA, where the car is badged Rogue, more than 3.7 million have been sold since the first Nissan X-Trail was launched in 2000. That includes almost half a million cars in Europe, where the big SUV remains hugely popular.

Around 115,000 have been sold in Europe since the all-new thirdgeneration model was launched in 2014 and demand has grown year on year. Sales doubled from 2014 to 2015 and rose again by 40 per cent the next year.

It is also a record-breaker. Including Rogue sales, in 2016 the X-Trail was the world’s most popular SUV, with 766,000 vehicles sold – more than any rival model.

Nissan launched the revised for 2017 X-Trail (offering for the first time a more powerful 2.0-litre diesel engine) at a driving event in Cheshire and North Wales but, sadly, your Motors man was unable to attend.

However, those awfully nice people at Nissan sent a 2-litre for me to try out for a week.

Now on sale from £23,385 on the road, this comprehensive upgrade has seen enhancements which focus on fresh exterior design, greater cabin refinement, more practicality for owners and innovative new technology.

The 2017 version has a new front end and lights layout with ‘boomerang’ signature daytime running lights and external plastic panels now in gloss black plus there are several new colours to choose from. Inside there are a raft of upgrades including a thicker ‘D’ shaped steering wheel, heated seats front and back in five seat versions, higher quality materials and a hands-free power tailgate.

So what is the latest X-Trail like to live with? Well very civilised on road and very competent off.

As well as using the seven seat (a worthwhile £660 option) Nissan for the daily A-roads and motorway commute - where it proved comfortable and quiet - I managed a bit of fun in the rough stuff and with its off road driving aids (including intelligent engine braking, ride and chassis control) plus Nissan’s excellent four wheel drive system the X-Trail showed it has lost none of that go anywhere ability.

Our test version had the range topping Tenka trim, which gives a raft of equipment for the £38,155 on the road price including 360-degree camera system, cruise control, auto lights and wipers, hill start assist, parking sensors all round, power driver’s seat, panoramic opening glass roof, touchscreen DAB radio and sat nav, 19” alloys, rear privacy glass and even a heated steering wheel.

But the biggest change is that 2-litre, 128bhp diesel engine joining the existing 1.6-litre petrol and diesel units in the range. Many drivers would expect a larger engine in such a big SUV and now they have got it, although it only reaches 62 just over a second faster than the 1.6 dCi.

However, the greatest difference is that extra overtaking punch and added flexibility making the 2-litre feel less strained than the 1.6. Another big plus is the bigger engine raises the towing capacity by 150kg, hitting the magic twotonne mark.

Fuel efficiency figures don’t suffer much as Nissan claim our switchable 2/4WD auto still returns a shade over 46mpg overall - which does not seem over optimistic as I returned over 40mpg during a week of normal motoring.

So have Nissan done enough to keep ahead of the chasing SUV pack? I would say yes and expect to see lots of X-Trails on our roads for years to come.

More information at www. nissan.co.uk