Nissan X-Trail’s functionality is faultless but it does feels far from premium

I don’t know if you remember the original X-Trail, which arrived in 2000, but the thing had been violently set upon by the ugly stick.
It was awkward looking, halfway between utilitarian SUV and flimsy soccer mom wagon.
Now, after a refreshing facelift on the third generation, the X-Trail suffers from no such identity crisis, other than looking more than a little like its better-selling younger brother.
It has inherited the chrome-laden “V-Motion” front grille, also found on the handsome Micra. This affords it a bolder, more muscular appearance.
The headlights have been sculpted to complement the modern design and can be optioned in LEDs for a small price.
What sets it apart most from the Qashqai is its size.
It has the option of seven seats, which immediately gives it an advantage over the Renault Koleos. Bizarre when you think Nissan and Renault are sister companies and both cars are built on the same platform.

Still, Renault’s loss is Nissan’s gain. The X-Trail’s interior is thoughtfully laid out, if not a bit cheap to the touch.
Functionality is faultless but feels far from premium. That said, it comes loaded with tech. Even entry-level Visia trim guarantees you cruise control.
Moving up a level to Acenta spec means goodies such as auto wipers and a panoramic sunroof.
If you like going crazy with extras, you can find a whole sweet shop of treats, including surround-view cameras, self-parking function and automatic tailgate. Let’s not get too excited here though as this is still a facelift. A fellow journalist joked with me that it is “basically the old X-Trail but with a new steering wheel”. While that’s unfair, he has a point (fun fact: The facelifted X-Trail does come with a new steering wheel, now with more buttons).