Nissan X-Trail

Though the X-Trail has had a rather short production timeline from the turn of the century in 2000 to the present, it has managed to carve its name as one of the most reliable crossover SUVs in the 21^st century. Among its competitors are the Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Honda Tucson and Kia Sportage.

1st Generation T30 (2000-2007)

The X-Trail first appeared in 2000 at the Paris Motor Show. Nissan's FF-S chassis underpins it, the same one used by the Nissan Almera and Primera. The first generation came in with these engines below:

• 2.0-litre QR20DE inline-4 with 104kW (petrol)
• 2.5-litre QR25DE inline-4 with 133kW (petrol)
• 2.0-litre SR20VET inline-4 with 206kW (petrol)
• 2.2-litre YD22DDT Di inline-4 (diesel) 

In Australia, the X-Trail came in the 2.5-litre QR25DE (132 kW, 245 Nm) and was available in two trim levels, the ST and the 4X4 TI, both offered with either 4-speed automatic transmission or 5-speed manual gearbox.

The X-Trail ST trim featured a newly installed locking system, anti-lock braking, engine immobiliser, power steering and electronic brake force distribution. The Ti is a 4X4 wheel drive that came with climate control cruise control, fog lights, a leather steering wheel and full feature rear spoiler. 

In 2003, the X-Trail received two luxury trim variations, the STR and the luxury-trimmed Ti. Both came with previous year QR25DE engine fitted into them. The STR had a new sunroof and 16-inch alloy wheels while the Ti version featured leather seats. Later on, the X-Trail came with a Ti-L trim that had an additional DVD player.

In 2006, the Australian X-Trail ditched the Ti for the upgraded 40^th-anniversary ST-S, ST-S X-treme and ST-X releases. All these trims featured the QR25DE 2.5-litre engine. 

2nd Generation T31 (2007-2013)

The T31 second-generation offered three motor selections, still including the QR25DE engine, which was what Australia got. In 2008, however, the range featured a new diesel 2.0-litre M9R inline-four engine attached to either 6-speed automatic transmission or 6-speed manual gearbox. This new generation used Nissan's C platform with a front-wheel-drive chassis (Nissan/Renault).

The 2^nd generation of the X-Trail crossover SUV received a performance boost after its engine produced an increased 125 kW of power and 226 Nm of torque for all engines sporting the 2.5-litre QR20DE engine. The 2.0-litre M9R diesel engine made 110 kW and 320 Nm of torque. The TL came with powered front seats, climate control, heated front seats, parking distance control on the rear bumper.

3rd Generation T32 (2013-present) 

The 3rd generation came out in 2013 and has been the current and latest generation of the SUV. This new generation, codenamed T32, comes under the Nissan CMF platform with similar drivetrain options to the previous generation release with a new diesel engine variant added to the lineup. 

This new generation X-Trail has a similar sporty styling found in the Nissan Qashqai and the Nissan Pajero, which integrates curvy yet classy lines. Its redesigned front V grille gives it a more prominent look compared to previous versions. This generation also has the highest number of trims in the X-Trail’s history. The ST and STL got third-row seating options in their trims. 

Petrol:

• ST 2.0-litre MR20DD I4 2WD, 6-speed manual gearbox (106 kW, 200 Nm)
• ST 2.5-litre QR25DE I4 2WD, CVT (126 kW, 226 Nm)
• STL 2.5-litre QR25DE I4 4WD, CVT (126 kW, 226 Nm) 
• Ti 2.5-litre QR25DE I4 4WD, CVT (126 kW, 226 Nm)

Diesel:

• TS 1.6-litre Y9M I4 2WD, CVT (96 kW, 320 Nm) 
• TL 1.6-litre Y9M I4 4WD, CVT or 6-speed manual gearbox (96 kW, 320 Nm)  
• TL 2.0-litre I4 4WD, 6-speed auto or 6-speed manual (110 kW, 320 Nm)

In 2017, a facelift gave the X-Trail a sporty look. It came with redesigned headlight and taillights that featured LED projector headlamps, LED daytime running lights on the premium trim, while the S, the SV and SL trims came with halogen lamps with LED daytime running lights. Nissan pushed out a hybrid model of the redesigned X-Trail as well with regenerative braking and an added underfloor storage feature. The hybrid has the X-Trail’s 2.0-litre MR20DD 4-cylinder CVT, coupled with a 29 kW electric motor. Its lithium-ion battery is stacked under the floor cargo storage.  

The X-Trail has been around for some time, and its reputation continues to grow. From its boxy first appearance in 2001 to the sporty 2020 release, the X-Trail represents utility and class in one bundle. Yet as good as it comes, the X-Trail still needs repair from time to time.  

For X-Trail spare parts and accessories, you may refer to us at Carpart. Simply send us a parts request message and we will connect you to the best sellers in Australia.

-RayKaz