Should you buy a used Nissan X-Trail Mk3?

The market for used family SUVs is fiercely competitive, and the Nissan X-Trail is up against alternatives that not only offer better handling, trim or style, they are also much easier to find. However the strongest argument against an X-Trail comes from Nissan itself – it shares its platform, engines and 4x4 tech with the Qashqai, which is considerably easier to find if you don’t need seven seats.

Part of what dilutes the appeal of a used X-Trail is that it’s lost some of the previous generation’s off-road credibility. It’s still a good poor weather choice for 4x4, but it’s not as comfortable on green lanes. Likewise, while there is a seven-seater option, the X-Trail isn’t the best replacement for an MPV and it’s most suited to life as a Qashqai with a huge boot.

If a Qashqai that can carry more stuff is what you want, then the X-Trail is perfect. If you want something with a bit of off-road ability the Land Rover Discovery Sport or Mitsubishi Outlander are a better bet, whereas for a seven-seater family SUV for a reasonable price, it’s hard to beat a pre-owned Skoda Kodiaq.

What we like about the third generation X-Trail

Economical 1.6-litre diesel, and it offers a 4x4 version with that engine – not always the case when the focus is on making economical family SUVs. Fuss-free AWD system, some nice technology such as surround-view parking cameras, and of course the flexibility of seven seats and 4x4 at a low price.

What we don’t like

It’s not as good off-road as the earlier versions, and it’s not as distinctive and clever inside either – feeling more like a replacement for the Nissan Qashqai +2 rather than a continuation of the original X-Trail. It doesn’t have a great reputation for reliability, either.