Text and photos by Chris Van Hoven At one point, it could have been said that the new Nissan X-Trail was always ahead of the curve. Initially released back in 2015, Nissan already sensed the demand for a seven-seater SUV that drove with the kind of refinement that wasn’t present in the prevailing pickup-based seven-seater diesel SUVs at the time. Three years later, almost every Japanese manufacturer now has their own seven-seater SUV entry into the market, and the X-Trail doesn’t quite have the advantage it used to enjoy in that regard. What it does have going for it, however, is a whole lot of tech that the competition still hasn’t implemented in their own offerings. But is it enough to stay relevant in an ever-evolving segment? Striking exterior Updates to the Nissan X-Trail have ensured that it stays competitive in the looks department. Nissan makes use of contrasting colors on different parts of the car to keep the X-Trail looking fresh and modern. Everything from its two-tone 19-inch alloy wheels to the chrome details on the bumpers, side skirts and grille give it a premium look without looking cheesy. Matte black cladding on the wheel arches and foglamp housings enhance its muscular stance. It’s one of the better-looking crossovers out there in my opinion, and it’s evidenced by the approving stares the car still gets three years after its introduction. Comfortable inside The X-Trail rewards its drivers with cushy, supportive leather seats, a tilt/telescopic steering wheel that feels great to hold, and a highly-legible instrument display. The interior styling isn’t overdone at all, and keeping things simple adds to the X-Trail’s positive appeal. The buttons and knobs that manage the air-conditioning and infotainment systems feel durable and are made from high-quality materials, while the rest of the cabin is fitted with soft-touch plastic. The second-row seats are spacious and comfortable for three passengers, while the third row seats are best reserved for the kids. The third-row seats fold down flat in a 50:50 split for added luggage space, and the second row seats fold down in a 40:20:40 split, bestowing the X-Trail with impressive amounts of room for almost anything you’d need to haul. A panoramic sunroof opens the cabin up to a wide view of your surroundings that all passengers always appreciate. One of the more notable aspects of the X-Trail lies in its Nissan Intelligent Mobility package, which uses various cameras to provide a 360-degree bird’s eye view of the car’s surroundings. You can view the camera on your front and rear bumpers to leave the guessing out of parking distances, and the sides to see how far you are from a curb, or to make sure the X-Trail is centered on a space. It’s a brilliant system that I wish was implemented on more vehicles. But as amazing as the system is, it’s completely hampered by the screen you view it on. A low-resolution five-inch screen is hardly acceptable when offerings half the X-Trail’s price come with seven-inch high-resolution touchscreens,and limiting one of the X-Trail’s biggest advantages this way is simply unfortunate. Thankfully, Nissan has a lot more safety tech in the X-Trail that doesn’t rely on the screen too much. Forward Collision Warning with Intelligent Emergency Braking works well even on local roads, sensing a possible collision situation and applying emergency brakes as needed. Rear Cross Traffic Alert warns you of oncoming vehicles on your blind spot as you back out of a parking space. Blind Spot Warning detects vehicles on your blind spot before you switch lanes; and Nissan’s All Mode 4x4 I-System is available at the switch of a knob. Do all these safety features make up for the fact that the X-Trail only has two airbags? For some, probably not, though it does provide you with some peace of mind nevertheless. Relaxed drive Powered by Nissan’s QR25DE 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 171 hp and 233 Nm of torque, the X-Trail provides enough grunt for any urban scenario. There’s a slight delay with accelerator response at low speeds, but it has no problems after the car gets up to speed, easily maintaining a high-speed cruise and overtaking with no drama or fuss. The X-Trail’s steering is adequately nimble and precise, with the car showing a bit of body roll when taking corners at a more exciting pace. The X-Trail finds itself more at home filling the role of a family car, where comfortable, relaxed driving inputs rewards the driver with an equally comfortable and well-insulated ride. Fuel economy figures are in the range of 7.4 kilometers per liter with combined city and highway driving. Feature rich At P1,820,000, the top-of-the-line X-Trail is still one of the more value-for-money offerings in its category, coming out as the more affordable option compared to the other top-spec crossovers in its class, though not by much. While loaded with impressive safety technology and convenience features, the X-Trail still needs a distinct advantage to say it’s a clear winner in the pack. Nissan doesn’t have to do much to get it there, though. An upgraded screen, more airbags, and a beefier, more economical engine is all it will take to push the X-Trail straight to the top.