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0A new Nissan X-Trail arrives in Australian showrooms imminently, with more power, more tech, and a hybrid option to follow soon after. Here’s how it compares to the outgoing model.
The Nissan X-Trail medium SUV has made an impressive effort in recent years to maintain its footing in a crowded segment, despite being one of the last of its peers to undergo a significant model upgrade.
Until now, that is. The fourth-generation 2023 Nissan X-Trail is due to land in Australian showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2022, marking the model’s first major update since 2017.
It certainly looks the part, with subtle but impactful styling tweaks like a larger grille, the addition of functional air intakes at the front of the car, and squared-off edges replacing the previous generation’s more curved stance.
Otherwise, key changes include a revision to the model grade line-up – minus a manual, plus a hybrid – an increase in power, torque and towing capacity, an improved safety suite as standard, more up-to-date technology and infotainment features and, naturally, a higher price point.
All X-Trail variants are powered by the same 2.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission and offering the choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
To get a sense of the changes in person, Drive was granted access to an early production trial car for the new X-Trail.
While we weren’t able to drive the car – which was a top-of-the-range Ti-L – we were able to place it side-by-side with the outgoing X-Trail to see how it measured up (literally).
Here’s what we found…
How much does the new Nissan X-Trail cost in Australia?
One of the old X-Trail’s major drawcards was that it had a lower price point compared to competitors, starting at $30,665 before on-road costs for the entry-level, front-wheel-drive, manual ST, and topping out at $46,115 before on-road costs for the flagship five-seat Ti grade.
Unfortunately for buyers on a budget, the new X-Trail range has undergone a price rise across the board.
There are now four variants – the ST, ST-L, Ti and Ti-L – all of them automatic and petrol-powered.
With a manual offering dropped from the line-up, the X-Trail’s starting price has been kicked up to $36,750 before on-road costs for the entry-level ST – a $6085 increase to the range’s overall entry price.
That climbs to $39,790 before on-road costs for an all-wheel-drive, seven-seat ST.
Meanwhile, the new flagship Ti-L grade is priced from $52,990 before on-road costs – $6875 more than the old Ti flagship.
From the base Ti grade, all X-Trail cars receive automatic LED headlights, paddle shifters, rear parking sensors, a reverse camera and an electric parking brake as standard.
Those who want full leather seats will have to splurge on the flagship Ti-L grade, which offers nappa leather seating. The grade down, the Ti, offers genuine-leather-accented trim, while the ST-L features synthetic leather trim and the base ST features fabric seats.
- X-Trail ST five-seat FWD – $36,750 (up $4085)
- X-Trail ST seven-seat AWD – $39,790 (up $5525 vs old ST seven-seat FWD, $5125 vs ST five-seat AWD)
- X-Trail ST-L five-seat FWD – $43,190 (up $4515)
- X-Trail ST-L seven-seat AWD – $46,290 (up $6015 vs old ST seven-seat FWD, $5615 vs ST five-seat AWD)
- X-Trail Ti five-seat AWD – $49,990 (up $3875)
- X-Trail Ti-L five-seat AWD – $52,990 ($6875 more than old Ti flagship)
Note: All prices exclude on-road costs.
| Key details | 2022 Nissan X-Trail | 2023 Nissan X-Trail |
| Entry price (MSRP) | $30,665 plus on-road costs | $36,750 plus on-road costs |
| Flagship price (MSRP) | $46,115 plus on-road costs | $52,990 plus on-road costs |
The external footprint of the new X-Trail hasn’t changed much compared to the outgoing X-Trail.
To be precise, it’s 15mm taller, 20mm wider, 10mm shorter and the wheelbase is unchanged from the outgoing model.
On paper, some key interior measurements are actually less than the previous generation, including the ground clearance. Most notably, the new boot has 560L of storage capacity with the middle row in place, a decrease of 5L.
The design carries over Nissan’s “twin-board” set-up, which uses two separate base boards for the boot floor that can be lowered, raised or removed to the owner’s liking.
As a result, Nissan claims the new car’s boot is capable of being configured in 16 different ways, including storing valuable items under the floor.
Unfortunately, on the car we were given access to, there was no additional storage space for the retractable tonneau cover when removed.
A power tailgate is only available on the Ti grade and up (and in the top-of-the-range Ti-L, it’s activated with a kick sensor).
All X-Trails are equipped with a space-saver spare wheel stored under the boot floor.
From the ST-L grade and up, the rear bench seat can slide forward and back and fold in a 40:20:40 split, providing the option to increase boot space or legroom as required, and access the boot in the event you have child seats in the car.
The doors on the new model also open slightly wider than on the outgoing model, while bulk on the door has been decreased to improve access and clearance when loading and unloading children.
The new X-Trail can accommodate up to three child seats, with two ISOFIX points on each of the outboard seats in the middle row, and three top-tether points over the back of the middle row.
Those who splurge on the flagship Ti-L grade will also receive built-in rear sunblinds and heated rear seats, while tri-zone climate control (i.e. climate control for middle-row occupants) is offered from the next grade down, the Ti.
In the front seat, a floating centre console design has improved storage space, while the central glovebox has a butterfly opening, meaning it is also accessible to middle-row occupants.
Does the new Nissan X-Trail have seven seats?
Just like the outgoing Nissan X-Trail, the 2023 Nissan X-Trail offers buyers the choice of five or seven seats – but only in the two lower-spec grades.
Buyers of the entry-level ST and ST-L grades have a choice of five seats and front-wheel drive, or seven seats and all-wheel drive.
The higher-spec Ti and Ti-L are offered exclusively with five seats and all-wheel drive.
Opting for seven seats adds roughly $3000 before on-road costs to the purchase price, with the cheapest seven-seat offering – the ST AWD – priced from $39,790 before on-road costs.
With the 2023 model-year price rises, the X-Trail loses its title of Australia’s cheapest seven-seat SUV to the LDV D90, which starts at $36,990 before on-road costs.
| 2022 Nissan X-Trail | 2023 Nissan X-Trail | |
| Seats | Five or seven | Five or seven |
| Boot volume | 565L seats up (135L in seven-seat models) 945L seats folded (825L in seven-seat models) |
560L seats up (in five-seat models) Other measurements TBC |
| Length | 4690mm | 4680mm |
| Width | 1820mm | 1840mm |
| Height | 1740mm | 1755mm |
| Wheelbase | 2705mm | 2705mm |
Does the new Nissan X-Trail have Apple CarPlay?
The entry-level variants of the new X-Trail range – the ST and ST-L – each receive an 8.0-inch touchscreen that manages infotainment functions and is equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
However, from the Ti grade, the size of that touchscreen increases to 12.3 inches, satellite navigation is added and Apple CarPlay becomes wireless (although Android Auto still requires a cable). It’s also mirrored by a similarly large 12.3-inch driver display.
The Ti and Ti-L grades also feature a wireless phone charger, a 10.8-inch head-up display and an all-new smart rear-view mirror, which uses rear-mounted cameras to provide a digitally augmented view of what’s behind your vehicle that is then displayed on a screen contained in the rear-vision mirror.
Like the outgoing X-Trail, the new X-Trail offers a 360-degree view monitor on its higher grades in addition to the reverse camera, but Nissan claims the camera has been upgraded to provide a crisper view.
Another all-new feature for the X-Trail range is the addition of remote engine start for the Ti-L grade – a function that is activated via the key and enables the engine to be started without an occupant in the car.
Previously, the X-Trail’s level of safety equipment varied depending on the specification grade – something Nissan has sought to remedy with this new generation.
For example, the old X-Trail missed out on things like blind-spot monitoring, a rear-cross traffic alert and lane-departure warning as standard from the base grade.
In contrast, the new 2023 X-Trail’s standard safety equipment from the base grade is comprehensive – including intelligent cruise control, a rear cross-traffic alert, active emergency lane keeping and active blind-spot warning and intervention.
The autonomous emergency braking system can also detect both pedestrian and cyclists and functions at intersections and in reverse.
The 2023 X-Trail features seven airbags, including the addition of a front far-side airbag, which prevents the front seat occupants from hitting each other in a crash.
The previous-generation Nissan X-Trail received five stars from ANCAP and was last tested in 2017, but the current generation is yet to be rated by ANCAP.
| At a glance | 2022 Nissan X-Trail | 2023 Nissan X-Trail |
| ANCAP rating & year tested | Five stars (tested 2017) | Untested |
| Safety report | ANCAP report | N/A |
Does the new Nissan X-Trail come with a diesel engine?
A diesel-powered offering was dropped from the Nissan X-Trail line-up back in 2021.
Now, all X-Trail variants are powered by a 2.5-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine capable of 135kW and 245Nm, which marks an increase of 9kW and 19Nm on the old X-Trail.
The X-Trail range has a continuously variable automatic transmission (no more manual), with the choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive on the ST and ST-L grades, while the Ti and Ti-L are exclusively all-wheel drive.
Cars equipped with all-wheel drive offer the choice of eco, standard or sport modes, plus five traction modes for paved roads, dirt roads, ice, snow or downhill off-road driving.
The new-generation model also boasts a maximum braked towing capacity of 2000kg, which is 500kg more than the outgoing model.
Does the new Nissan X-Trail have good fuel efficiency?
Until we’ve driven the 2023 Nissan X-Trail in a real-world setting, we can only compare as-tested fuel consumption claims from Nissan.
Nissan is yet to share the full breakdown of fuel economy figures for the new range, but revealed the combined figure for the base ST grade is 0.5L/100km better than in the previous generation.
That means a claimed consumption figure of roughly 7.4L/100km for the five-seat ST – but that is yet to be officially confirmed by Nissan.
| At a glance | 2022 Nissan X-Trail | 2023 Nissan X-Trail |
| Warranty | Five years, unlimited km | Five years, unlimited km |
| Fuel cons. (claimed for base FWD grade) | 7.9L/100km | 7.4L/100km |
| Fuel type | 91-octane regular unleaded | 91-octane regular unleaded |
| Fuel tank size | 60L | TBC |
Does the new Nissan X-Trail come in a hybrid?
The X-Trail line-up will expand with a hybrid variant in early 2023, although exact launch timing is yet to be confirmed.
Nissan’s e-Power hybrid technology functions differently to hybrids from the likes of Toyota or Lexus in that the petrol engine exists to power the battery. As a result, there’s no transition between petrol and electric power, and the car is driven exclusively by the battery and electric motor.
Thus, it has the instant torque of an electric car and a quiet electric drive feel, but with the faint sound of a petrol engine (although you have the option of putting it into EV mode to remove this engine noise entirely).
Much like the all-electric Nissan Leaf, the e-Power hybrids allow for one-pedal driving – to a point. Like in the Leaf, drivers can switch to E-pedal mode, meaning that simply decelerating will slow the car.
However, in developing the hybrid technology, Nissan engineers received consumer feedback that people didn’t like the car coming to a complete stop when using one-pedal driving in Nissan’s all-electric models, so drivers will have to use the brake pedal in order to bring the car to a stop.
| Key details | 2022 Nissan X-Trail | 2023 Nissan X-Trail |
| Engine | 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol | 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol |
| Power | 126kW @ 6000rpm | 135kW @ TBC |
| Torque | 226Nm @ 4400rpm | 245Nm @ TBC |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive |
| Transmission | CVT automatic | CVT automatic |
| Weight | 1458kg (1508kg in seven-seat models) | TBC |
| Spare tyre type | Space-saver | Space-saver |
| Tow rating | 1500–1650kg braked 750kg unbraked |
2000kg braked TBC |
Outgoing model: 2022 Nissan X-Trail
The 2023 Nissan X-Trail will arrive in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2022, so between October and December this year. The hybrid X-Trail is expected to arrive in Australia in early 2023.
Interested buyers can reserve their new X-Trail and subscribe to updates at this link.
Stay tuned to Drive for our full 2023 Nissan X-Trail launch review.
Susannah’s background is news journalism, followed by several years spent in celebrity journalism, entertainment journalism and fashion magazines and a brief stint hosting a travel TV show for Channel Ten. She joined Drive in 2020 after spending a year and a half at the helm of Harper’s BAZAAR and ELLE’s online platforms.
Susannah holds a Bachelor in Media and Communications from the University of Melbourne and cut her teeth as an intern for Time Inc in New York City. She has also completed a television presenting course with the National Institute of Dramatic Art. She lives in Melbourne with her husband and her one-year-old son who, despite her best efforts, does not yet enjoy a good road trip.
Read more about Susannah Guthrie 
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