From October, buyers of Nissan’s SUV X-Trail will benefit from a series of extensive updates to maintain its position in the SUV segment as one of the few, versatile and agile four-wheel drive vehicles on the European market.

Already well regarded for its durability, comfort, practicality and convenience, the changes refresh X-Trail’s exterior styling; improve the interior quality and functionality, as well as mechanical and aerodynamic changes. The most obvious changes have been made to the frontal aspect of X-Trail which emphasise a feeling of integration to the car body, with a completely redesigned grille, headlights and bumper assembly. Directly from the front, the more sophisticated, technical appearance makes the car look more dynamic. The grille is of higher quality and flows down into the bumper assembly. The lower part of the bumper is angled outwards, suggesting a wider track and more solid stance. The overall feeling from the front expresses the sense of unity to the top and bottom. The grille retains the twin angled struts either side of the Nissan logo, which is a signature found on Nissan’s SUV range globally. The lights are sleeker and more technical in appearance, with either Xenon or halogen projectors (depending on grade) for the main lights and halogen parabole for the high beam. The indicators remain integrated in the assembly above the headlights. The background to the headlamps is painted black on all grades and fog lamps are mounted below the headlights, recessed in the bumper.

At the rear, the X-Trail’s distinctive vertical lights have been updated to incorporate LED light technology for the running lights and braking, improving visibility and, therefore, safety. The indicator is incorporated into the lower portion of the light assembly, with the running/brake lights to the outside of it. In profile, the X-Trail’s stance has been improved thanks to an increase in wheel size, with a ten-spoke 18-inch alloy wheel design, which is also wider, now up to 225/55/18 in size giving X-Trail even more stance to the road. The small increase in tyre width has led to a slight widening of the wheelarch moulding, which adds a little extra presence to the X-TRAIL’s stance. There is also a new double five-spoke design of 17” wheel, giving an added premium feeling to the X-Trail Acenta. X-Trail’s dimensions have slightly changed as a result of the exterior updates; the overall length has increased by 10mm as a result of the redesigned front end, while the height and width also increase by 10mm due to the increase in tyre width and diameter.

Moving to the interior, the design has been updated to give a more harmonious ambience thanks to improved materials and better colour coordination, in particular, the area around the base of the A-pillar. The materials used for the switch surrounds on the steering wheel, around the gear selector and on the door-mounted armrest have all been improved for better touch feeling, while thicker, soft-touch materials have been chosen for the cloth seats. For the leather equipped interior, the stitching is more attractive and more premium. The driver will appreciate the improved visibility and legibility of the new main combimeter, with bigger and clearer speed and engine speed readouts enhancing the quality. In between those principal dials is a new drive computer with a white-on-black display for maximum clarity. The computer offers a series of useful information for the driver, including: fuel economy, outside temperature (including ice warning function), cruising range, average speed and a reminder to take a break. The drive computer screen can also display additional information such as warnings for low fuel, parking brake, undetected Intelligent Key and open door, as well as vital maintenance information, such as tyre maintenance, low oil and a service reminder. Rear occupant comfort has been improved thanks to redesigned front seats, creating an additional 10mm of knee-room, without compromising on comfort for the front seat occupants. And to better survive the wear and tear of the X-Trail’s busy daily life, the rear tonneau cover material has been upgraded. Reflecting its role as a hard-working family car, the X-Trail is now specified with a glovebox that will either keep its contents warm or cold – ideal for drinks – depending on the prevailing conditions and if X-Trail’s occupants need cooling down or warming up! And to ensure that drivers and passengers returning to the X-Trail in cold conditions can defrost as quickly as possible, the heating system has been upgraded for quicker warm-up, as well as more efficient cooling in hot conditions. Rear seat passengers can now enjoy a toasty drive as the revised X-Trail will be available with rear seat warmers, offering two levels of heating.

Under the X-Trail’s skin, significant updates to the diesel version have resulted in Euro 5 compliance. A key innovation is the addition of an extra injector port, taking the total number to seven, while the piston bowl has been adapted for the new injector configuration. The manual gearbox has revised ratios for a better compromise between acceleration, fuel economy and emissions, while the automatic gearbox has been modified for reduced friction. An additional feature is the gearchange indicator function in the drive computer screen, showing drivers when to change gear for optimised economy. Thanks to optimised underbody aerodynamics, X-Trail’s Cd is reduced from 0.36 to 0.35.

Speaking about the updates to Nissan’s X-Trail, Vincent Wijnen Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Nissan Europe, said: “All of these changes will reinforce the X-Trail as one of the few genuine compact SUVs which can just as comfortably tackle the demands of everyday family life, as it can a muddy, slippery track when it transports a family for a weekend of adventure. X-Trail customers love it for its ease and convenience of daily use, no matter what situation they find themselves in. With these revisions to Nissan’s X-Trail, there is even more to love about X-Trail.”