Nissan X-Trail 2.5 SE 4X4

the 2.5 SE 4X4 Nissan X-Trail

You live a multi-faceted life. You are an adventurer and a nester, you live indoors and outdoors, you deal in the boardroom and get lost in the wide open spaces, you are a parent and a pioneer and you are looking for a vehicle that can complement every aspect of your life. When you live the X-life opportunities are endless.  You can go where you want, when you want and take along whomever you want with the 2010 Nissan X-Trail.

The X-Trail is an advanced, authentic SUV offering a powerful engine, versatile interior space and an ALL MODE 4x4 system.

An extremely agile performer on all kinds of surfaces, the X-Trail is rugged yet refined, spacious and versatile.

at home in the dirt

The 2010 Nissan X-Trail’s great looks are matched by its impressive ability. Attention to styling refinements now gives the 2010 Nissan X-Trail an even greater sense of purpose. The X-Trail proves the maxim: if it looks right, it is right. Short front and rear overhangs of 945mm and1055mm, excellent approach and departure angles of 28º at the front and 24º at the rear, as well as a ground clearance of 203mm, gives the X-Trail the ideal shape for an active life – whether it’s off-roading or tough urban terrain.

and in the bush

Our drive in the 2010 X-Trail was great. The rigid steel body forms a strong, stiff platform for the long-travel suspension and is built for hard work and hard play. Set the advanced transmission to switch automatically between two and four-wheel drive, while it grips tenaciously up slopes and round corners.

rough terrain was no problem for Nissan's X-Trail

The Nissan X-TRAIL’s advanced active safety systems give you the maximum possible grip on the road. The new Nissan X-Trail stops as convincingly as it goes. Large diameter disc brakes with the latest ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) and EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution) are integrated with VDC and the ALL MODE 4x4-i system. These reduce stopping distance, prevent the wheel locking during emergency braking and give you optimum control on all surfaces.
The ABS prevents the wheels from locking, so you can steer safely round the obstruction, while the EBD automatically regulates front and rear braking pressure, for maximum braking efficiency, so you stop in the shortest possible distance, especially useful when carrying heavy loads... and, Nissan's Brake Assist senses an emergency stop, reducing stopping distance by up to up to 15%.

the X-Trial with a small herd of Wildebees in the background

Words by Kenn Slater - Photos by Dylan Slater

Thanks to Nissan South Africa for the drive.

The X-Trail is spot-on in our books - Great!

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< SECOND OPINION >

Like the shape of the headlights, nice all-round shape of the car, decent size mirrors. The ground clearance for  a 1.65m tall person is good, you don’t need to struggle to get into the car. Like the idea that the tow hitch is factory fitted, don’t have to waste time and money to still do that. Wheel rims are also attractive.  Overall a nice looking car.

My first impression of the instrument cluster is that the rev counter and speedometer could be a little smaller and the centre display with fuel, odometer, etc could have been a little larger, the size it is now one can really only look at that gauge while standing still, looking at it while driving is not an option for me, takes too much concentration to actually focus on the small indicators on that gauge.

Love the idea of front cup holders, well done. Leg room for both driver and passenger is nice and roomy providing for long distance comfort. The same goes for decent leg room for the rear passengers. Good luggage space for all the bits and pieces and the door armrests are at just the right height. Radio, cruise control, aircon and other controls are all easy to reach. Luggage boxes/draws in the boot are a good idea. Important for me is the easy adjustability of the seats, especially if other people are driving the car as well, in this case found the seats very easy to adjust and that goes for the comfortable steering wheel too.

Seats comfortable, liked the lumber support. Comfortable steering wheel and found the power steering to be easier that other cars I have driven.  Brakes quite sensitive but just the way I like them. Gear shifting very easy, no problem or effort to change into any of the gears. Like the large windscreen, gives you excellent vision and found that there wasn’t really any frame work obscuring view. Love the mirrors both outside and rear view mirrors are great. No need to constantly change gears in traffic, even in 4th or 5^th gear the car still pulls through, may labour a little but she recovers nicely. Power is there and did not find her sluggish in any way.

Great car, enjoyed driving her, fun to drive, comfortable and easy, also not noisy. Perfect family car for short or long distances or the younger generation who are into camping, scuba diving etc. I give this car a big thumbs up.

Brigitte with the Nissan X-Trail - photo Kenn

Thanks to Brigitte Alex for her time & second opinion.