Nissan X-Trail 2018 Review

In the local compact SUV market, family users have always been the main consumer group. They need enough space to travel with their families while paying attention to durability and practicality—the 2018 Nissan X-Trail public is a model that aims to meet this demand. In this test drive, we mainly evaluated its performance in daily commuting and weekend family outings to see if it meets Malaysian consumers’ expectations for "balance."

In terms of appearance, the 2018 X-Trail public continues Nissan's family-style V-Motion front design, with large chrome trims connecting the headlights on both sides, giving it high recognition. The side profile of the car features straight lines, and the waistline that extends from the fender to the rear prevents the side from looking too monotonous. The 17-inch alloy wheels have a moderate design, aligning with the positioning of a family SUV. At the rear, the LED taillights feature smoked treatment, providing clear visual effects when lit, and the silver skid plate under the rear bumper adds a hint of off-road flair. The overall design leans towards a stable appearance without overly aggressive elements, making it suitable for the aesthetics of most family users.

Sitting inside the car, the interior layout is focused on practicality. The center console features a symmetrical design, with soft plastic wrapping the upper layer, providing a decent touch feeling, while the lower layer is hard plastic, but the seams are evenly finished, and the overall workmanship is in line with this class level. The central control screen measures 7 inches, supporting Bluetooth connectivity and a reversing camera, with simple and direct operational logic that requires no significant learning curve. The seats are fabric, with the front seats offering manual adjustment. The wrapping is average, but the cushioning is soft enough to ensure comfort during long periods of sitting. The rear is equipped with independent air conditioning vents and two USB charging ports, which are practical features for rear passengers.

In terms of space, the 2018 X-Trail public has a wheelbase of 2706mm. The front row offers ample headroom; a passenger with a height of 175cm can sit with more than a fist’s worth of headroom to spare. Rear legroom is on the upper-medium level among the same segment. A passenger of the same height sitting in the rear row would have around two fists of space between their knees and the front seatback, ensuring a comfortable experience even on long trips. The trunk offers a standard capacity of 565L, which can be expanded to 1595L by folding down the rear seats, easily accommodating large items such as a baby stroller and suitcases, meeting the storage needs for family trips.

For the powertrain, the model we test drove is equipped with a 2.0L naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum power of 144PS and a maximum torque of 200Nm, paired with a CVT transmission. During daily driving, the power delivery at the beginning is smooth without noticeable jerkiness, making it suitable for city traffic. When accelerating or overtaking, pressing the throttle harder will prompt the transmission to increase the engine speed to enhance power. However, due to the characteristics of naturally aspirated engines, acceleration is not overly aggressive, and the process feels relatively linear. There are two driving modes to choose from: Normal and ECO. In ECO mode, power response is slightly slower, but fuel efficiency improves.

In terms of handling, the steering wheel has moderate weight and decent precision, with no obvious slack. The suspension system is tuned towards comfort, with a combination of front MacPherson independent suspension and rear multi-link independent suspension that effectively filters minor bumps on the road. The impact when passing over speed bumps isn't too harsh either. During cornering, body roll is somewhat controlled, but as a family SUV, it’s not designed for high-performance or sporty handling expectations.

In the fuel consumption test, we drove approximately 50 kilometers each on city roads and highways, with the air conditioning on throughout the journey. The final displayed fuel consumption was 7.8L/100km. This performance is considered normal among 2.0L naturally aspirated SUVs in the same class and meets the requirements of family users for fuel economy.

In terms of driving comfort, the vehicle's noise control is quite decent. During highway travel, wind and tire noise are somewhat audible but do not affect normal conversation among passengers inside the car. The seat support is average, but the padding is soft, making long-term sitting comfortable. The CVT transmission offers excellent smoothness, with virtually no noticeable shift shocks, significantly improving ride comfort.

Overall, the core strengths of the 2018 Nissan X-Trail public lie in its balanced space utilization, practical configurations, and stable power output. Compared to competitors in the same class, it has certain advantages in rear-seat space and storage capacity, and its CVT transmission's smoothness is well recognized by many consumers. However, its interior materials and power performance are relatively average, without any particularly outstanding highlights.

This car is suitable for family users who value space practicality and fuel economy, such as those who often travel with family members, have modest requirements for features, but prioritize reliability. If you are looking for a thrilling driving experience or have high expectations for luxury interior designs, you might need to consider other models.

In summary, the 2018 Nissan X-Trail public is a very pragmatic family SUV. It doesn't boast flashy designs or aggressive performance, but it strikes a good balance in the areas that family users care about the most, such as space, configuration, and fuel consumption. If you are looking for an SUV suitable for daily commuting and family trips, it is a worthy option to consider.