SECOND-HAND SENSEWhen the Nissan X-Trail was first shown at Detroit some years ago, the direction of the smaller SUV vehicle in the US was clear. What was not quite so clear was the place that cars such as the X-Trail had in Europe - or how successful these grass and gravel off-roaders would become.
Well, we got our answer. The X-Trial is quite a big presence at suburban dealers and is popular with people who want something crossing between a car and an off-roader - and, it has to be said, it's not the most offensive of the bunch. Another columnist noted: "It's a solid, sensible, practical vehicle, not an in your face status symbol".
This is the kind of car designed to take on the Land Rover Freelander and what a job it makes of leaving it in the shade. It's more sturdy, handles more sensibly, doesn't behave skittishly and, most importantly, it doesn't rely on gimmicks or smart styling that says it's something it's not.
This is not a serious off-roader but none in this class is. Don't be fooled by the chunky looks - these cars are designed or built for serious work. On the road you'll get good acceleration and just a hint of roll. Remember it's a heavy car.
There is a choice of a 2-litre petrol or a 2.2 diesel. I prefer the older economical 2.2 diesel - it's not the quietest engine and seems agricultural at times but it's a nice performer overall. The car drives well and doesn't wander as other similar vehicles do.
The styling too is balanced - the interior comes nicely between practicality and airiness. There are lots of practical touches and the boot is as handy for the country person as for the townie.
The X-Trail has had no major recalls and it has a good record for reliability. A minor problem of some engines stalling in some Almeras, X-Trails and Primeras was caused by engine angle and position sensors of the engine management system but nothing major to worry about.
The X-Trail has done well with its EuroNCAP crash tests. Early models showed weaknesses which Nissan couldn't ignore, but more recent models have scored four out of five for occupant safety and cage structure. Body roll was significantly improved in the last test but the head-protecting airbag didn't work as well as it should in the pole test. There was also a question about the rear-facing restraint for an 18-month-old infant not fully protecting his head and chest.
You can get a 2002 petrol 2-litre version with 40,000 on the clock for €23,500. A 2003 petrol version with 18,000 on the clock asks €29,995. A 2003 2.2 diesel version with 25,000 on the clock seeks €32,000. Not cheap, but you can expect air con, all electrics, abs, multiple airbags, power steering and a lot more.