Nissan X-trial 2.0 Diesel

Sometimes a car hits the spot and delivers just what customers want

Published on Dec 09, 2009 08:00:00 AM

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The X-Trail’s robust look is carried over to the inside of the car as well. There’s a hard-wearing quality to the plastics and the surfaces you come in contact with all feel like they will not age or begin to rattle in any great hurry. Also, many of the interiors’ moving parts have that damped, rubberised feel that lends them an air of longevity. Sure, there are some ordinary bits like some of the switches ahead of the gear lever and the quality of the central console-mounted box, but these are more the exception. Compared to the earlier car that had the centrally located instrument cluster, the design of this dash is more traditional. A clear and legible instrument pod, Nissan’s beautifully crafted steering wheel with a dimpled leather grip and faux aluminium inserts, a massive glovebox and clever
cooled bottleholders behind the vents.

You get a proliferation of pockets behind the passenger seat, a massive sunroof on this version and rear seats that fold flat to create a huge 1773-litre loading bay. You can also take out the entire plastic and rubber loading floor and hose the entire thing down, making it easy to keep clean. And there is even a very practical drawer in the boot that helps prevent loose objects from sliding around at the rear.

Passenger comfort is also very good. The seats have just the right amount of give in them, generous amounts of thigh support and since both front seats are powered, convenience levels are very high too. There’s a good amount of legroom at the rear as well, and the seats are similarly supportive and comfortable, with a rear air-con vent cooling the back seats quicker. While the rear of the X-Trail is more comfortable than the Chevy Captiva, tall passengers will find headroom a bit tight at the rear. And lateral support isn’t great either, so the seats don’t hold you easily during spirited cornering. Also, the front door pockets are shallow as well and there are none at the rear. What will keep you
humming along though is a six-CD changer and audio system that displays impressive clarity and punch, even at high volumes.