Which used Nissan X-Trail should you buy?

The Nissan X-Trail is a family SUV that has been around for a number of years and is available as a five-seater or seven-seater.

It’s worth noting that seven-seat versions of the Nissan X-Trail aren’t quite as spacious as rivals such as the Kia Sorento or the good-value Skoda Kodiaq, but as long as you slide the middle row of seats forward you should find enough legroom for shorter passengers in the rearmost seats.

Engine options include a variety of petrol and diesel choices, plus more recent models come with varying degrees of electrical assistance.

On the petrols, a 165PS 1.6-litre turbocharged unit was phased out in 2019 in favour of a more modern, smoother 162PS 1.3-litre DIG-T engine.

Diesel choices include a 132PS 1.6-litre dCi – a common option – a 179PS 2.0-litre dCi, and a 1.7-litre with 152PS for models sold from 2020 onwards.

Read our full Nissan X-Trail review

What used Nissan X-Trail trim levels are available?

There’s a number of different trims commonly available on used Nissan X-Trail models. Read on as we explain the differences between the Visia, Acenta, Acenta Premium, N-Connecta and Tekna variants.

Nissan X-Trail Visia

The Nissan X-Trail Visia is the entry-level model, but still gets plenty of equipment. All Nissan X-Trail Visia models are two-wheel-drive only, so if one of the reasons you want an SUV is to go off-road, this is not the model for you. 

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Digital radio
• Cruise control
• Electric windows
• Manual air-conditioning
• Heated mirrors

Nissan X-Trail Acenta

The Nissan X-Trail Acenta is the next step up the trim ladder and offers quite a few extra bits of kit over the Nissan X-Trail Visia. There was also the option of four-wheel-drive with these models.

• Panoramic sunroof
• Automatic lights
• Automatic windscreen wipers
• Upgraded sound system
• Leather steering wheel
• Parking sensors

Nissan X-Trail Acenta Premium

The ‘premium’ part of the Nissan X-Trail Acenta Premium trim doesn’t mean all that much, as it basically constitutes everything you get on the regular Nissan X-Trail Acenta, with the addition of a few desirable bits of equipment. The highlights are:

• Sat-nav
• 360-degree parking camera

Nissan X-Trail N-Connecta

Nissan X-Trail N-Connecta trim level cars upped the equipment a stage further, as detailed below. The alloy wheels, in particular, really helped beef up the car’s looks.

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Roof rails
• Keyless go
• Powered tailgate (hands-free from 2017 onwards)

Nissan X-Trail Tekna

If you want all the bells and whistles, the Nissan X-Trail Tekna is the model to seek out. This features a host of luxury touches and high-tech kit, plus bigger wheels for an added dose of style.

• Leather upholstery
• Electrically adjustable front seats
• Heated seats front and rear
• Self-parking system
• 19-inch alloy wheels

Is a used Nissan X-Trail a good buy?

The Nissan X-Trail is the larger of the Japanese company’s two mainstream SUVs.

Although it might not sell in such large numbers as the smaller Nissan Qashqai, it’s still a popular choice, offering dependable family motoring and good value for money.

Indeed, versions of the Nissan X-Trail sold between 2014 and 2021 share a lot in common with the Nissan Qashqai, including an all-but-identical dashboard.

It’s well built and feels classy, with soft-touch materials and plenty of equipment on most trim levels. Certain trim and colour combinations can appear a bit sombre, though, so choose wisely here.