The small production diesel engine has come a long way since the original X-Trail, and the outputs achieved by the 2.0-litre engine tested here would have been unthinkable a decade ago. Although it possesses 29lb ft of torque and 200cc less than a Freelander Td4, the lighter Nissan outpaces its British rival, just as it does the less powerful Honda CR-V i-CTDi.
The X-Trail sprang from 0-60mph in 9.3sec – impressive acceleration for a diesel-powered compact SUV and over a second quicker than the Landie.
The engine fires with a clatter and settles to a typically diesel idle that soon quietens. It’s never the most refined of engines, but the noise that does filter through the bulkhead is easy to live with.
On the move the turbo is quick to spool up, so you can dip into the torque as and when you need it. On the motorway, that translates to realistic acceleration without needing to change down a gear. Like any turbodiesel engine you have to keep it on song, but with a surprisingly enjoyable gearshift this is rarely a chore.
From behind the wheel, progress is initially as you’d expect. There’s noticeable squat and dive and a fair degree of body roll, even at modest speeds.
But the X-Trail is not ungainly. With light but pleasingly incisive steering and a nicely poised chassis, it's pleasantly biddable in everyday traffic. And unlike the old car, which Nissan advised owners to stick in 2wd mode for everyday running, new technology means ‘auto’ is now the default setting – the system working out when front-wheel drive is best for economy and when drive needs to be sent to the rear for increased traction.
A relaxing primary ride is impressive over long journeys, the soft gait smoothing over undulations with ease. The way the chassis handles individual intrusions is slightly less impressive, but for the most part it is only the noise that penetrates up into the cabin rather than an actual jolt. Tremors through the seats are about as bad as it gets.
