Used car tests

Used Nissan X-Trail (Mk4, 2022-date) buyer’s guide: a great family car, just avoid the basic models

Name: Nissan X-Trail
Brand: Nissan

A full used buyer’s guide on the Nissan X-Trail, covering the X-Trail Mk4 that’s been on sale in the UK since 2022

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_40599z16mn1potwi { display: none !important; }

By:Richard Dredge

22 Mar 2026

.polaris__post-meta--date { display: none; } .polaris__post-meta--date.no-script { display: block; padding-left: 45px } 22 Mar 2026

Verdict

The Nissan X-Trail Mk4 is slicker and more car-like than earlier iterations, but it still isn’t as good an all-rounder as some of its rivals. It’s not a bad car, but has proven not to be quite as efficient as it’s claimed, while boot capacity is not as generous as it could be, and some of the materials used at the lower end of the range aren’t as plush as you’d hope. But the X-Trail still makes great family transport, the powertrains work well, and you get plenty of kit, although buying further up the range is crucial in this respect – we’d avoid basic editions. We wouldn’t steer you away from the X-Trail, but we would suggest that you try a few of its rivals before signing on the dotted line.

When it comes to big-selling Nissans, it’s perhaps easy to overlook the X-Trail, because it’s just not as familiar as models such as the Qashqai and Micra. But, it’s a hugely successful model for the brand which, globally, has sold more than eight million examples of the capable family-friendly SUV over the past quarter of a century.

We’re now on the X-Trail Mk4, which was unveiled almost five years ago, yet it still looks fresh and has a lot of things to offer. The big development with this model was a switch to an electrified powertrain – the innovative e-POWER range extender – on certain models, in a segment where diesel still enjoys relative popularity. As a result there are some people who won’t consider an X-Trail because they’d prefer an oil-burner, but if you’re not one of them, here are all the reasons why we think this large SUV is worth a closer look – as well as why it might not be for you.

History

We got our first glimpse of the fourth-generation X-Trail at the Shanghai Motor Show in April 2021, but it didn’t go on sale in the UK until September 2022, with the first deliveries taking place the following month. Prices started at £32,030 and there were three powertrains available.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_40599z16mn1potx2 { display: none !important; }

2019 Nissan

X-Trail

51,378 milesManualDiesel1.8L

Cash £13,651

View X-Trail

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_40599z16mn1potx3 { display: none !important; }

2024 Nissan

X-Trail

60,388 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £18,200

View X-Trail

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_40599z16mn1potx4 { display: none !important; }

2017 Nissan

X-Trail

33,069 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £15,547

View X-Trail

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_40599z16mn1potx5 { display: none !important; }

2024 Nissan

X-Trail

29,846 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £20,197

View X-Trail

The first to appear, dubbed e-POWER, was a range extender, using a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine acting as an on-board generator to power a 201bhp electric motor, which drove the front wheels.

There was also a 210bhp version of this powertrain, sold as the e-4ORCE, with two electric motors to give four-wheel drive, or a cheaper and more conventional 161bhp mild-hybrid version of the 1.5-litre turbo engine, which came in front-wheel drive form only, with CVT automatic transmission.

On the road

There’s nothing that makes the X-Trail stand out dynamically, but it acquits itself well overall. There’s some body roll, but it’s not too bad, so makes a good compromise for ride comfort next to many rivals.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the driving experience is the steering, which lacks feel, but what we really like about the e-POWER models is the power delivery, which is seamless. Because the wheels are always driven by the electric motors, there’s no switching between power sources. Refinement levels are also impressive, making it an accomplished motorway cruiser.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_40599z16mn1potx7 { display: none !important; }

Prices

The most affordable Mk4 Nissan X-Trails are early, high-mileage examples, but there is plenty of choice out there on the market. By far the most common trims are Acenta Premium and N-Connecta, while the range-topping Tekna+ is the most unusual and you’ll pay a premium for these ultra-luxurious editions. Almost one in three X-Trails is an e-4ORCE.

You can buy a used Nissan X-Trail for just over £19,000 through our Buy a Car service.

Check the price of a Nissan X-Trail with our free car valuation tool...

Which one should I buy?

The mild hybrid is fine if you’re in no hurry, while the e-4ORCE option is the perkiest and best for grip. But for most people, the best all-rounder is the e-POWER, which is quick enough and has the potential to be frugal. However, in real-world use, many owners find it isn’t as economical as it should be.

The entry-level Visia has auto-folding door mirrors, a seven-inch touchscreen, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, high-beam assist, traffic sign recognition, air-con and 18-inch alloys. The Acenta Premium adds a rear camera, eight-inch touchscreen, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The N-Connecta brings privacy glass,

a 360-degree camera and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Tekna trim adds a powered tailgate, electric front seat adjustment, heating for the front and rear seats, windscreen and steering wheel, a head-up display and an opening glass roof. Tekna+ also gets quilted leather trim and a 10-speaker BOSE hi-fi.

Alternatives to the Nissan X-Trail

There aren’t any other range extenders in this segment, but there are various hybrid, petrol and diesel options, along with several pure-electric models. If you’re after the latter, we’d suggest the Peugeot E-5008, which also comes in hybrid and plug-in hybrid forms. The Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 are only offered with electrified powertrains, while the Land Rover Discovery Sport comes as a petrol, diesel and PHEV.

Other full-size SUVs available with seven seats and worthy of consideration include the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Kia Sorento, while the Skoda Kodiaq, SEAT Tarraco and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace are the most car-like to drive.

What to look for

Reliability

So far, the X-Trail seems to be holding up well in terms of dependability. Some cars have suffered from glitches because of sensor failures, but these have generally been easy to fix with dealer diagnostics.

On the pull

The mild hybrid has the greatest towing capacity at 2,000kg in five-seat form and 1,800kg as a seven-seater. This compares with 1,800kg and 1,650kg for e-4ORCE models. All e-POWER models are limited to 670kg.

Rugged option

In April 2024, a Trek edition was introduced for outdoor types, sitting between N-Connecta and Tekna. It had a more rugged design, waterproof interior trim and came with e-POWER or e-4ORCE powertrains.

Bug out

Some owners have had issues with the responsiveness of the continuously variable transmission in non-e-POWER models, but a software update should eradicate any bugs.

Interior

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_40599z16mn1potxm { display: none !important; }

The dashboard is modern, but the touchscreens are still easy to navigate. There are also some physical controls, which is a win for us. All-round visibility could be better, but the seats are comfy with ample adjustment. Rear-seat space is good, but the third-row seats (a £1,000 option) are for children-only. Boot capacity is 485-1,400 litres, depending on powertrain and seating configuration.

Running costs

Service intervals are 12 months or 10,000 miles, alternating between minor and major. These are priced at £280 and £380 – the latter includes fresh brake fluid every two years. The engine is chain-driven, so there’s no cambelt to replace.

In terms of road tax, cheaper models aren’t subject to the £425 expensive car supplement, but posher models are (top-spec seven-seat models cost almost £50k new). That’s until the car’s sixth birthday, so it’s worth checking what you’ll pay. Insurance should be fair: mild-hybrid models

are in groups 22-25, while e-POWER versions are in groups 25-32. The e-4ORCE is in groups 28-36. Fuel consumption is around 39mpg for the hybrid, 48mpg for the e-POWER and 43mpg for e-4ORCE models, but depending on how the car is driven, it’s easy to average considerably less.

Recalls

The X-Trail Mk4 has been recalled twice so far, with both campaigns issued on 3 March 2025. The first was aimed at 2,246 X-Trails made between January and October 2024, which were fitted with adaptive headlights. Software glitches meant the headlights didn’t switch between high and low beam correctly, but an update put things right.

The other recall affected 187 X-Trails made between July and September 2024. Once again, it was a software fault, which stopped the adaptive cruise control from working properly. Another software update was needed to fix things. To see if any Nissan is subject to an outstanding recall, take a look at nissan.co.uk/owners/recall-alert.html.

Driver Power owner satisfaction

The X-Trail has never appeared in our Driver Power surveys, but most years there are two or three Nissans included in the rankings somewhere. They never do especially well, though; in our 2025 survey, the Juke came 27th out of 50, while the Qashqai was 28th, and looking at the last four surveys, that 27th spot was the best of any Nissan.

Out of 32 contenders in our 2024 Brands survey, Nissan came in 15th place, ahead of Audi, MINI, Mercedes, Volkswagen and Volvo.

Don't miss out! See more of Auto Express in your Google Top Stories. Click here...

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_40599z16mn1potxq { display: none !important; }

2019 Nissan

X-Trail

51,378 milesManualDiesel1.8L

Cash £13,651

View X-Trail

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_40599z16mn1potxr { display: none !important; }

2024 Nissan

X-Trail

60,388 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L