Nissan X-Trail review - Reliability and safety

The X-Trail is a model in its own right, but the platform, engines and technology have been used for a number of years across the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Reliability seems good as a result, and while the X-Trail didn't feature in our annual Driver Power survey, Nissan finished a credible 11th out of 30 manufacturers.

If we are being picky, a few bits of trim still feel a little cheap, but that's not always an indicator of durability, and so far most X-Trails seem to be holding up to family abuse well. Admittedly, the Skoda Kodiaq feels fresher, but the new materials and updated steering wheel that were introduced to the Nissan as part of the 2017 facelift do improve things. 

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Also on the plus side, the X-Trail has plenty of safety tech in its arsenal, including liberal use of high-strength steel in the bodyshell, plus the Nissan ‘Safety Shield’, which includes lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring. 

All of this meant a strong five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2014, with the X-Trail achieving 86% for adult occupant safety, 83% for child passenger protection and 75% for both pedestrian safety and safety assist equipment.

Warranty 

All Nissans come with a three-year/60,000 mile warranty, which is about average for this class. If you want more cover, it’s worth remembering that the Hyundai Santa Fe comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and the Kia Sorento has a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Servicing 

Nissan offers fixed-price servicing that starts from around £200 on petrol vehicles and £229 on diesel cars. Major services are about £275 for petrols and around £320 for diesels, but overall the rates compare reasonably with mainstream rivals like the Ford Kuga.

Nissan has also introduced eVision, which allows technicians to video any faults they discover during service visits and email you with a clip explaining any work that’s required.