Nissan X-Trail

[PeteC]

I seem to recall we talked about this before, but I can't find it. Anyone have one and can give a review good or bad? A comparison against the Ford Escape would be good also if anyone has experience. Thanks. Pete

[VincentD]

Yes, Pete, I have one. It's a 2006 model and I've been driving it for around two years now. Love it to bits.

It's a front-wheel drive with selectable part-time electronic 4WD. I believe the unit was lifted from the GT-R and put back to front. As it is car-based it drives very well, the guy who does my wheel alignment came back with a look of surprise on his face. It's comfortable inside (my model has leather seats) but the aircon could be colder, probably due for a service. The rear seats fold down flat giving very good useable space. Boot and rear seat back is wipe-down plastic, so easy to clean but can be noisy if you have loose loads. Think the original design was meant to cater for skiing, as there is that little cut-out in the center armrest of the back seat. Instrument cluster is in the center of the dashboard, takes a bit of getting used to but once accustomed to it, I find it great for night driving as there are no distractions in front of you.
As the engine is a 2.5 liter benzine it is not that enconomical, but they unfortunately don't bring in the diesel to Thailand. I've been off-road to the Bo Thong waterfall and it coped surprisingly well.

There is a newer model with a 2.0 liter benzine engine and much bigger interior space, but it is front wheel drive only. Good if you only need to get around urban areas and definitely more economical, but I wanted it for the 4WD capability.

No comments for the Ford, but as I have owned a Ford Escort before in Thailand it's not somewhere I want to go to again.

They do have a clip on Youtube where 5th gear puts 5 small SUV's up against each other, the Xtrail and the Escape were featured. The Xtrail won overall.

[JW]

Ford are building seriously good cars now, they are having some problems (as it seems all do) with the dual clutch systems, they are all a little jerky in 1st and 2nd gears. The build quality and finish is excellent, engines are very strong... just gotta get dealers to give decent service!

[Dannie Boy]

Yes, Pete, I have one. It's a 2006 model and I've been driving it for around two years now. Love it to bits.

It's a front-wheel drive with selectable part-time electronic 4WD. I believe the unit was lifted from the GT-R and put back to front. As it is car-based it drives very well, the guy who does my wheel alignment came back with a look of surprise on his face. It's comfortable inside (my model has leather seats) but the aircon could be colder, probably due for a service. The rear seats fold down flat giving very good useable space. Boot and rear seat back is wipe-down plastic, so easy to clean but can be noisy if you have loose loads. Think the original design was meant to cater for skiing, as there is that little cut-out in the center armrest of the back seat. Instrument cluster is in the center of the dashboard, takes a bit of getting used to but once accustomed to it, I find it great for night driving as there are no distractions in front of you.
As the engine is a 2.5 liter benzine it is not that enconomical, but they unfortunately don't bring in the diesel to Thailand. I've been off-road to the Bo Thong waterfall and it coped surprisingly well.

There is a newer model with a 2.0 liter benzine engine and much bigger interior space, but it is front wheel drive only. Good if you only need to get around urban areas and definitely more economical, but I wanted it for the 4WD capability.

No comments for the Ford, but as I have owned a Ford Escort before in Thailand it's not somewhere I want to go to again.

They do have a clip on Youtube where 5th gear puts 5 small SUV's up against each other, the Xtrail and the Escape were featured. The Xtrail won overall.

I believe that the Xtrail has been well received by the motoring press, just a pity that its looks don't quite match the plaudits, but if you can ignore that aspect of it, then it would seem to be worth considering.

[PeteC]

Thanks Vincent, good info. It seems that they only offer the 2.0 now from what I can find on the Nissan Thai site. Pete

[VincentD]

Yes, only the 2.0 front-wheel drive with CVT is available new. That is why I had to buy secondhand as I wanted the 4WD capability. It is still a very nice car, and if you don't stray too far off the beaten track you can't really go wrong with it.
P.S. The instrument binnacle moves back to the 'normal' place, in front of the driver.

[PeteC]

Yes, only the 2.0 front-wheel drive with CVT is available new. That is why I had to buy secondhand as I wanted the 4WD capability. It is still a very nice car, and if you don't stray too far off the beaten track you can't really go wrong with it.
P.S. The instrument binnacle moves back to the 'normal' place, in front of the driver.

Thanks again. The wife is looking at them. Her CRV is getting high on miles and she doesn't like the looks of the new CRV style....so she's exploring. She really wants the third row back seats but doesn't want anything as big as a Pajero Sport, Fortuner etc. That kind of leaves her only with the Chevy Captiva.....so she is now looking at non-3rd row types as well. Pete

[VincentD]

Pete, we had a Chevy Captiva as a company car - I found it a bit ponderous and a little on the large side. Sort of almost Fortuner size. The bloke who used it most of the time did say he wouldn't buy one for himself when he went back home.
I find the X-trail size just nice for a mix of city and country driving and a decent power spread. Can't beat the Saab turbo it replaced, though.

My advice is to go out and do a couple of test drives to find out which one she's most comfortable with.

[Nereus]

Don`t be such a tight a--s.! Go and buy her a Mini Cooper!

[dragonseeker]

Spent 28 years in Australia working in motor dealerships with multiple franchises.
Would not recommend or buy anything not Japanese or Korean (incl "prestige" European brands).
Nissan X-Trail had one of the fewest warranty return rates.
If you want a 'soft' 4wd and are comfortable with appearance and price, Buy. You won't be disappointed.