IN the autumn of 2001, Nissan took the plunge, diving into the crowded soft-roader, sports utility vehicle (SUV) market by introducing the motoring public to the X-Trail.
In a sector already well stocked with quality, fashion four by four contenders, which include the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Land Rover Freelander, Hyundai Santa Fe and many others, life wasn't going to be easy for the X-Trail.
However, the Japanese car maker did have the advantage of being able to fall back on half a century of experience in the creation of 4x4 vehicles so, despite being late to the soft road party, Nissan's utility-minded approach was tailor-made for producing a compact 4x4 to compete at top level.
The X-Trail bowed in with two engine options - two-litre petrol and 2.2-litre diesel - and a trio of trim levels, S, Sport and SVE, a situation which changed at the beginning of this year with introduction of the 2.5-litre petrol power pack.
Like other manufacturers of off-roaders, Nissan was on the trail of even more low-end pulling power to urge on the quite weighty X-Trail, and the engineers do appear to have harnessed this with the extra 28lb ft of torque developed by the 2.5-litre engine.
I say appear, because the test car came with transmission via the four-speed autobox, a £1,000 option which, while providing a smoothly engaging performance, didn't provide the driver freedom I like to enjoy with manual operation!
In fact, having experienced the automatic transmission in others four by fours, I find myself continuing to question why? Particularly in an off-road situation.
However, this new power source does justify its inclusion in the range, the 163bhp producing quite refined performance and covering the 0-62mph dash in 11 seconds en route to a maximum speed of 109mph, where legally allowable.
But the downside is that company car drivers who size-up from the two-litre model into the 2.5 auto will move into the 30 per cent tax band this year thanks to CO2 emissions of 232/km.
Nissan does say, however, that the E-flow automatic transmission provides better mpg than previous generation boxes, pointing to the mechanical lock-up on fourth gear, designed to boost mpg on the long haul, and an extra-urban fuel consumption figure of 35.3mpg.
The inside story of the X-Trail is of an extremely practical cabin, Nissan having avoided the plush approach of some competitors, but it is well put together and, once you find you way around the centrally-mounted instrumentation, this is a pretty comfortable place to be.
It's roomy too, housing three in the back with relative ease and with an extremely accommodating luggage bay. Tere are some neat touches in the lifestyle department too including three 12-volt power sockets, two cupholders which fold out from the dash, plus a pair in the rear, reclining split-fold rear seat, extra glovebox for the driver and, in the air-conditioned SVE model, a pair of drink boxes in the dash which will chill your Coke if required.
The ideal driving position is easily arrived at with the high command spot and huge area of glass combining to provide fine all-round visibility. In SVE guise, the X-Trail also comes well kitted out with leather seating, powered tilt and slide sunroof, electric windows all round, electrically adjustable door mirrors and six-speaker sound system leading the way.
X-Trail stands impressively astride the tarmac, its Estate Car meets 4x4 look certainly gets you noticed as you move off to tackle the road in front wheel drive mode, an extremely well-damped drive being your reward, with pock-marked B-road surfaces failing to faze its progress and tortional movement well under control.
Should conditions at tyre level deteriorate, hitting the Auto button on the dash, at any speed, will kick in all-wheel drive as required and, should the road run out altogether, a switch marked Lock will call for 57:43 front to rear torque split from the centre diff to help you successfully tackle the steep stuff off-road.
Overall, the Nissan X-Trail is a well-built, manoeuvrable, roomy and generously equipped soft roader, with a capable suspension set-up and a refined four-wheel drive system which provides a rewarding drive on or off-road -as around 9,000 owners to date will no doubt testify.
FAST FACTS
Nissan X-Trail 2.5 SVE Auto
Price: £21,495
Mechanical: 164bhp, 2,488cc 4-cyl petrol engine driving front or all four wheels wheels via 4spd auto transmission
Max speed: 109mph
0-62mph: 11.1secs
Combined mpg: 29.1
Insurance group: 11
CO2 emissions: 232g/km
BiK rating: 30%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 8yrs anti-rust; 3yrs paint
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