- Doors and Seats
NA
- Engine
NA
- Engine Power
135kW, 244Nm
- Fuel
Petrol 7.4L/100KM
- Transmission
NA
- Warranty
NA
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2021)
Family Cars Guide
With a front-wheel-drive powertrain, the 2025 Nissan X-Trail N-Trek seems more show than go. Is that the case? Tom Fraser finds out.
Likes
Sturdy, weatherproof upholstery
Bigger screens from higher-spec variants
Refined ride comfort and noise levels
Dislikes
Thirsty non-turbo engine
No mechanical improvements over ST-L spec
Misses out on wireless charging, wireless Android Auto
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2025 Nissan X-Trail N-Trek
The Nissan X-Trail N-Trek is a visually-amped variant of the stalwart X-Trail medium SUV nameplate, designed with a mild off-road look, bit no extra capability.
It was introduced for the current generation midway through 2024 with rugged styling and additional equipment, but the base package is built upon the mid-spec ST-L variant.
It’s not the first time Nissan has pulled this trick – the X-Trail had an N-Trek variant in 2015 and then again in 2019. But is there more substance to this latest revision of the popular medium SUV?
I’ve saddled up in a five-seat, front-wheel-drive version to find out.
How much is a Nissan X-Trail?
The Nissan X-Trail range kicks off from $37,750 before on-road costs for the ST petrol. This extends up to $58,990 (plus ORCs) for the range-topping hybrid X-Trail e-Power Ti-L hybrid.
The new N-Trek variant sits in the middle: $47,790 for the five-seat, FWD version and $50,890 for the seven-seater all-wheel-drive car.
This is $3600 more than the ST-L mid-spec variant on which it’s based.
In comparison to its rivals, the N-Trek competes with the Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire AWD, which starts at $47,340 plus on-road costs, or the Honda CR-V VTi L7 2WD, which costs $53,500 drive-away.
However, there are few vehicles in the medium SUV segment that compete philosophically with the off-road intentions of the N-Trek.
To set it aside from regular X-Trail variants, the N-Trek gets a dark finish on the V-motion front grille. On all other X-Trail variants, the V-motion grille is chrome.
The door mirrors, door handles and roof rails have also been blacked out, with a glossy finish.
There are subtle tweaks to the lower front and rear bumpers, LED front fog lights, unique-design 18-inch alloy wheels, and a gunmetal grey faux front skid plate.
2025 Nissan X-TRAIL
Unfortunately, there are no tweaks to the running gear. It continues with the non-hybrid 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in Australia, which develops 135kW and 244Nm and is matched with a continuously variable automatic transmission.
Inside, it’s highlighted by ‘weather resistant’ upholstery and larger screens from more expensive model grades: a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.8-inch head-up display.
Nissan X-TRAIL cars for sale
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2024 Nissan X-TRAIL
e-POWER 1.5L SUV 4WD Hybrid
$46,340
Drive Away
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2024 Nissan X-TRAIL
2.5L SUV FWD
$42,990
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2024 Nissan X-TRAIL
e-POWER 1.5L SUV 4WD Hybrid
$56,840
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2023 Nissan X-TRAIL
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2024 Nissan X-TRAIL
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$42,888
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2024 Nissan X-TRAIL
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$48,678
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2024 Nissan X-TRAIL
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Key details | 2025 Nissan X-Trail N-Trek |
Price | $47,790 plus on-road costs |
Colour of test car | Ceramic Grey |
Options | None |
Price as tested | $47,790 plus on-road costs |
Drive-away price | $53,722 (Melbourne) |
Rivals | Honda CR-V | Mitsubishi Outlander | Volkswagen Tiguan |
How big is a Nissan X-Trail?
For one thing, the addition of the larger screens does a lot to help the X-Trail’s interior appeal.
The water-resistant material feels nice to the touch and most surfaces are covered in soft-touch materials. Fit and finish are great, as we’ve come to expect from the nameplate.
Higher specifications might get nappa leather and quilt-stitch seating, but the hardy stuff used in the N-Trek feels like it’ll last the test of time.
The brown/black combination of the door panels and dashboard might not have the same longevity in the style stakes, however.
The front seats are comfortable with a good amount of adjustability and bolstering. You can also sort out a nice, high perch to see up and over the bonnet.
There’s good storage with twin cupholders in the transmission tunnel area, a phone holder spot (no wireless charging), and a double-door centre console compartment for hiding away items. The door pockets are also wide enough to swallow larger drink bottles.
Back-seat occupants are treated to a load of space. I’m not short at 194cm, but I was more than comfortable in the head room, leg room, and footwell stakes.
Plus, one thing I love to see in practical SUVs is sliding adjustments for the seat base and a reclining backrest.
There are air vents, two USB ports, and integrated sun blinds too.
It really feels like Nissan is striking the right notes with family buyers, if the second row is anything to go by.
There is no power-operated boot on this model grade, but it still paves way to a 585-litre capacity with the seats up. This is the most amount of storage capacity you’ll find in an X-Trail – the others with hybrid powertrains or seven-seat configurations have less outright loading space.
2025 Nissan X-Trail N-Trek | |
Seats | Five |
Boot volume | 585L to second row |
Length | 4680mm |
Width | 1840mm |
Height | 1725mm |
Wheelbase | 2705mm |
Does the Nissan X-Trail have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
I’m into Nissan’s latest infotainment system. It's used in the Qashqai small SUV and this larger X-Trail medium SUV. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is configurable with different displays and gauges, while the matching 12.3-inch infotainment screen is full of bright colour, and is a sizeable step up from the 8.0-inch unit in the ST and ST-L grades.
In all, it’s much easier to navigate menu systems and swipe between displays compared to its predecessor.
It comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, a key must-have for a medium SUV. In the X-Trail’s case, the connectivity is wireless – though only for Apple CarPlay users, Android users still need to plug in.
In terms of native features, the N-Trek comes with Bluetooth, satellite navigation, AM/FM radio, and DAB+ digital radio.
Sadly, there is no remote connectivity for the infotainment system, which means no dedicated smartphone application.
Is the Nissan X-Trail a safe car?
As with the rest of the Nissan X-Trail line-up, the new N-Trek variant inherits a full five-star ANCAP crash-test result.
Interestingly, the safety rating carries a 2021 date stamp and is based on the testing of the smaller Nissan Qashqai that shares the same platform. However, ANCAP says it "was provided with technical information and additional tests were conducted to show that the Qashqai rating is also applicable to the X-Trail".
Specifically, the X-Trail scores 91 per cent for adult occupant protection, 90 per cent for child occupant protection, 74 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 97 per cent for safety assistance systems.
What safety technology does the Nissan X-Trail have?
The entire Nissan X-Trail range is covered by bountiful active safety measures. Only the entry-level ST misses out on surround-view cameras, front parking sensors, and tyre pressure monitoring. All cars receive seven airbags in total.
In terms of the former, the X-Trail N-Trek is kitted with forward autonomous emergency braking (with pedestrian and cyclist calibration), adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and prevention, traffic sign recognition, rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention alert, and reverse autonomous emergency braking (with pedestrian detection).
In my time with the car, the ProPilot adaptive cruise control and lane-centring was a helpful hand while driving the N-Trek on freeways. It keeps steady and straight between lane markings and the system brakes appropriately behind the car ahead.
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) | Yes | With junction assist and pedestrian/cyclist detection |
Adaptive Cruise Control | Yes | With stop-and-go assist |
Blind Spot Alert | Yes | Alert and assist |
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert | Yes | Alert and assist |
Lane Assistance | Yes | Lane-departure warning |
Road Sign Recognition | Yes | Includes speed limit assist |
Driver Attention Warning | Yes | Fatigue detection |
Cameras & Sensors | Yes | Front and rear sensors, 360-degree camera |
How much does the Nissan X-Trail cost to run?
The Nissan X-Trail N-Trek gets the same five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty as all other Nissans in the showroom. It’s not the best offering in the segment, lagging behind rivals such as the Kia Sportage and Mitsubishi Outlander, but it’s one of the most common arrangements on the market.
The Nissan warranty and five years of roadside assistance are transferable between owners as long as they're still current.
If you service your X-Trail at a Nissan dealership, you can expect to pay $1326 for the first three services, or $2296 for five services. You can save a slim amount of money by committing to a prepaid maintenance plan package, but there’s not a lot in it. Where Nissan falls down slightly ins in 10,000km intervals between services where many brands push to 15,000km intervals.
We retrieved an insurance premium estimate for the X-Trail N-Trek FWD specification and were quoted $1765 based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW.
The same details for a Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid or Kia Sportage GT-Line hybrid (FWD) came to $1787 and $1522 respectively.
Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.
At a glance | 2025 Nissan X-Trail N-Trek |
Warranty | Five years, unlimited km |
Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km |
Servicing costs | $1326 (3 years) $2296 (5 years) |
Is the Nissan X-Trail fuel-efficient?
Nissan quotes the X-Trail’s fuel consumption figure at 7.4 litres per 100 kilometres on a mixed driving cycle.
This isn’t particularly impressive in 2025, and it gets even worse with real-world use. I returned an 8.9L/100km rating in my time with the car, and this favoured highway use.
Comparatively, the Honda CR-V VTi-L quotes a 7.1L/100km rating and so does the Cupra Ateca V.
Good news is the fact that the X-Trail’s non-turbo engine only requires 91-octane regular unleaded petrol.
Fuel efficiency | 2025 Nissan X-Trail N-Trek |
Fuel cons. (claimed) | 7.4L/100km |
Fuel cons. (on test) | 8.9L/100km |
Fuel type | 91-octane unleaded |
Fuel tank size | 55L |
What is the Nissan X-Trail like to drive?
Considering there are no mechanical differences between this N-Trek variant and the regular X-Trail line-up, wheel-time in this new variant is as we’ve come to expect from the nameplate.
That means its non-turbo 2.5-litre petrol engine – and its 135kW/244Nm outputs – is more lethargic compared with its rivals such as the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid FWD (160kW) or the non-turbo Mazda CX-5 (140kW).
It’s also a touchy throttle response that lurches the car forward – it can be hard to modulate the throttle in heavy traffic for smooth acceleration.
Thankfully, the engine is paired with a continuously variable automatic gearbox that does a good job of serving up power in each given scenario. Gone are the days where the CVT felt elastic in its response and whirred loudly.
Whether you’re traversing up a steep hill, overtaking on a freeway, or punching the throttle to zip up to a speed limit, the CVT ensures the engine stays in its power band and appropriate power is put to the road.
Front-wheel drive may not be the most philosophically perfect pairing for an adventure-ready medium SUV, but the X-Trail is good at putting its power to the ground without breaking traction.
Nissan’s X-Trail offers a softened ride quality that plays into the car’s high refinement overall. The car absorbs speed-hump impacts and skips over potholes without letting too much intrusion inside the cabin. It can shake over particularly sharp road joins and the cabin wobbles as a result, but overall ride comfort is high.
It’s also refined with regard to road and wind noise. There’s not a lot of sound coming into the cabin – apart from the naturally aspirated engine – which makes for a comfortable everyday driving experience.
Key details | 2025 Nissan X-Trail N-Trek |
Engine | 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol |
Power | 135kW @ 6000rpm |
Torque | 244Nm @ 3600rpm |
Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
Transmission | Continuously variable transmission |
Power-to-weight ratio | 85.6kW/t |
Weight (kerb) | 1578kg |
Spare tyre type | Space-saver |
Payload | 462kg |
Tow rating | 2000kg braked 750kg unbraked |
Turning circle | 11.1m |
Can a Nissan X-Trail tow?
This Nissan X-Trail is rated to tow up to 2000kg with a braked trailer. Unbraked towing is rated only up to 750kg.
Nissan quotes a maximum roof load of 100kg and the calculated payload is 462kg, representing the maximum weight you can carry including passengers, cargo, and any weight in the roof racks or towball.
Should I buy a Nissan X-Trail?
Don’t be fooled, this off-road-themed Nissan X-Trail is little more than a style upgrade over the existing ST-L model grade.
It does look cool – but I feel Nissan could have gone further with stickers, decals, or even a two-tone paint job. There’s still very little about the N-Trek that screams 'off-road'.
The overall X-Trail package is still a really good thing in 2025. It’s spacious in both rows and the boot contains plenty of space for luggage and life. The technology is also very easy to use.
That said, to drive, its powertrain is not the newest on the market, and its fuel efficiency lags behind some rivals.
You are getting a better tech interface with the larger screens in the N-Trek, but I wouldn’t call what the ST-L had outdated.
For the $3600 difference in price, I’d be happy motoring along in the accomplished ST-L version, and potentially saving some money for some real aftermarket additions.
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e-POWER 1.5L SUV 4WD Hybrid
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$42,990
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How do I buy a Nissan X-Trail? The next steps.
The best Nissan X-Trail is one powered by the e-Power drivetrain. It’s quiet, powerful, fuel-efficient, and refined – the kind of attributes that matter to Aussie families.
It’s available in ST-L specification, but comes with a $50,490 price tag before on-road costs. It’s not as affordable as some rivals, and the hybrid powertrain is not as democratised across the model line-up as you’ll find in rival SUV showrooms like Toyota or Hyundai's.
That said, the ST-L specification is the sweet spot in terms of included features and affordability.
The next step on the purchase journey is to check the Nissan website for stock of your preferred X-Trail. You can also find Nissans for sale at Drive Marketplace.
If you want to stay updated with everything that's happened to this car since our review, you'll find all the latest news here.
Ratings Breakdown
2024 Nissan X-TRAIL N-TREK Wagon
7.5/ 10
Infotainment & Connectivity
Interior Comfort & Packaging
Family Cars Guide
Tom started out in the automotive industry by exploiting his photographic skills but quickly learned journalists got the better end of the deal. With tenures at CarAdvice, Wheels Media, and now Drive, Tom's breadth of experience and industry knowledge informs a strong opinion on all things automotive. At Drive, Tom covers automotive news, car reviews, advice, and holds a special interest in long-form feature stories.