Nissan X-TRAIL (2001-2004) Review

Comfort and Equipment

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Here's where the X-Trail slips slightly: noise levels. Although it rides smoothly, keeps pitching and wallowing to a minimum and tackles bumpy surfaces without fuss, both engines are loud and raucous, especially when pushed hard. On balance, the diesel has a nicer note (and comes with less transmission whine) but both can be intrusive. The cabin is not entirely squeak or rattle-free, either, the standard sunroof rattling considerably on the test car. Shame, because otherwise the X-Trail is a very pleasant vehicle to ride in, not least because of the light provided by the big sunroof. Positively cavernous, as most five-door 4x4s are these days. It feels bigger than either a Freelander, RAV4 or CR-V, whatever the official statistics say, and the space looks very usable with the usual fold-flat rear seats and straight sides. There's loads of headroom, a wide cabin for lots of elbowroom and rear-seat passengers should be happy, too. The X-Trail comes with a standard four-speaker radio/cassette; the buttons are a bit fiddly and the graphics a but fussy, but it's of decent quality. Sport spec adds a six-speaker system with a single CD unit, and SE+ models have an in-dash CD autochanger. The comprehensive Birdview satellite-navigation system is a £1500 extra.