2026 Nissan X-Trail ST review

The updated Nissan X-Trail range has arrived in Australia, bringing new designs for some exterior parts, and revised equipment inclusions across the mid-size SUV range.

We recently had the chance to spend a week in the entry-level ST grade, which was kind of refreshing. Often when car brands hand out press cars for review, they only give you the highest-spec, most richly appointed ones.

But the ST is proof that a simple SUV is still a reality in Australia, and while it mightn’t dazzle you like some of the models that cost 50 per cent more, it is a practical, comfortable, and likable family hauler, with a strong position on price, too.

How much does the Nissan X-Trail cost?

Here’s a rundown of the entire petrol-powered Nissan X-Trail range. There’s also the AWD e-Power ‘hybrid’ versions, but we're not covering those here.

There are deals to be done if you’re looking for an entry-level X-Trail, with the brand offering a promotional price of $41,490 drive-away, or a low finance rate of 1.9 per cent for existing owners.

That price means this model is sharply positioned against the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage, while the new Mazda CX-5 hits pretty hard in the entry-level part of the market, despite lacking a few goodies that this car has.

To see how the Nissan X-Trail lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What is the Nissan X-Trail like on the inside?

The X-Trail ST variant is pretty straightforward, but it doesn't feel cheap. 

The cloth seat upholstery is excellent, and the front seats themselves are supportive and have plenty of cushioning, while the manual adjustment should allow most drivers to find their ideal position. 

There are no heating or ventilation functions, but comfort levels are strong nonetheless. Although the plastic steering wheel trim is a tangible daily reminder that you bought the cheap one, even if it actually feels better than you might expect.

In fact, Nissan has done a nice job of lifting the ambience here with some clever trim choices. 

The dashboard is finished in a stitched soft-touch material, while the doors get padded armrests and even soft upper sections. 

There are bottle holders in the doors, a pair of cupholders between the front seats, a sizable storage tray ahead of the gear shifter, a glovebox, and a centre console bin – so practicality is well considered.

Overhead, there are a couple of compromises. The sun visors are narrow and don't extend, which means they aren't especially effective at blocking afternoon glare. But you get illuminated vanity mirrors, a sunglasses holder, a driver's-side grab handle, and a light-coloured headliner that helps make the cabin feel airy. 

The rear-view mirror is manual rather than auto-dimming. But you’d expect that in a base grade, right?

The in-car tech stuff is handled by a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is where most owners will spend their time. The system is otherwise fairly simple and doesn't offer a huge amount beyond smartphone mirroring, but it's easy enough to use. 

Thankfully, Nissan has retained some shortcut buttons and a volume dial – but I'm still not sold on the piano-black trim for those bits (and others), because it reflects sunlight and makes some things harder to see at a glance. There are basic manual air-conditioning controls, again in shiny black.

The driver gets a 7.0-inch digital instrument display between two analogue dials. There's enough information available through the menus, but nothing especially fancy. But you might be frustrated by the fact you have to cycle back through those screens as soon as you activate the cruise control system if you want to keep an eye on your actual speed.

Rear-seat accommodation is one of the X-Trail's biggest strengths. With the driver’s seat set for my 182cm/6’0” frame, there is loads of kneeroom and plenty of space under the front seats for big feet. The stadium-style seating also gives rear passengers a better vantage point – inquisitive window-gazing kids will love it. 

The back-seat area plays host to bottle holders in the doors, soft armrests, map pockets, rear air vents and USB ports, while the seats themselves are cushy and supportive in equal measure. Even in this base model, rear occupants score a flip-down armrest with cupholders.

Parents will appreciate the independently switchable rear reading lights, which allow just one side of the cabin to be illuminated. ISOFIX anchor points feature in the outboard seats for child seats, while all three positions get top-tether anchors, but be mindful that the middle one is mounted in the ceiling of the boot area, which could be a pain if you have big items in the back area.

However, the boot space is generous with 585 litres of space – but if you choose a seven-seat version, the boot isn’t quite as useful (465L with the rearmost row folded down into the floor).

But this entry-level ST grade misses out on the clever Divide-N-Hide cargo system offered higher up the X-Trail range. That means there's no adjustable floor arrangement, and the load area sits at a fixed height. The upside is a flat loading lip, which makes it easy enough to slide in suitcases, backpacks or bulkier items. Under the floor you'll find a space-saver spare wheel, along with a little extra storage if you need it.

There are a few thoughtful touches around the cargo area, including tie-down points, a small side storage section and a 12V outlet, plus a cargo cover as standard. Oddly, though, there are no shopping bag hooks, which is an omission in a family SUV like this.

To see how the Nissan X-Trail lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What's under the bonnet?

The old four-cylinder petrol game is still going strong here. And yes, there's a contuinuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) too. Some Nissans have been known to have not-so-great CVT longevity, but there’s a long warranty for this car, which might put your mind at ease if you’re concerned about it. Scroll down to learn more.

These are decent digits for a family five- or seven-seat SUV.

As for the fuel consumption, I didn’t fare too badly over my week of testing, with a displayed return of 9.2L/100km – that’s clearly not brilliant, but not that far off what I saw in the significantly more expensive e-Power version (6.9L/100km).

To see how the Nissan X-Trail lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How does the Nissan X-Trail drive?

The X-Trail gets moving with a fair bit of enthusiasm. 

That might seem surprising given we're talking about a naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with a CVT auto, because those sorts of combinations can often feel lazy or sluggish. 

This powertrain, though, has genuine eagerness off the line thanks to the throttle response being, well, eager to please. After the initial shunt, it settles into a more relaxed nature once the revs rise. 

The CVT won't convert anyone who hates this type of transmission, but it is better mannered than in years gone by, and once you learn how to drive it most effectively, it’ll be easy to get along with.

The brake pedal also has a natural feel, without the strange responses or awkward transitions you sometimes encounter in hybrid rivals.

This front-wheel drive ST has the smallest wheel/thickest tyre sidewall package in the range, giving it a lighter-footed feel and a more comfortable ride than other X-Trails with larger wheels and lower-profile rubber.

It can still feel a touch firm on rougher roads and occasionally busy over broken surfaces, but for most Australian conditions it's perfectly acceptable. 

The steering is light and accurate, making it easy to operate in roundabouts and during parking moves, and in corners the handling is predictable and confident.

The safety technology is refreshingly easy to live with, too. There's no overzealous driver-monitoring camera constantly nagging you, and while speed sign recognition is fitted, it won't incessantly chime at you.

This is the sort of SUV you can drive without turning anything off, and that in itself is a commendable trait.

Just be mindful that the reversing camera quality is poor by current standards, and you’ll need to step up to the ST-L to get a surround-view/360-degree camera system.

To see how the Nissan X-Trail lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

This is the base model, so is it equipped well enough? I think for a previous-gen X-Trail buyer, it’s going to feel like a seismic change.

2026 Nissan X-Trail ST equipment highlights:

• 17-inch alloy wheels with 235/65 R17 tyres
• Automatic LED headlights
• Automatic high-beam
• Power-folding exterior mirrors
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Proximity entry with push-button start
• NissanConnect connected car services
• 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster screen
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• Wireless smartphone charging
• 2 x front USB-C outlets
• 2 x second-row USB-C outlets
• 2 x 12V outlets
• Air-conditioning with second-row air vents
• 6-speaker sound system
• 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat with 2-way power lumbar
• 4-way manually adjustable passenger seat
• Cloth upholstery in light charcoal
• Urethane steering wheel
• Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
• Sliding second-row seats (7-seat ST only)
• 60/40-split/folding second-row seats with manual recline, centre armrest (FWD)
• 40/20/40-split/folding second-row seat with manual recline, centre pass-through/armrest (AWD)

The ST-L adds:

• 18-inch alloy wheels with 235/60 R18 tyres
• Leather-accented upholstery in black
• Leather-accented steering wheel
• 10-way power-adjustable front seats with 2-way power lumbar
• Heated front seats
• Dual-zone climate control
• Active noise cancellation (e-Power only)

The Ti adds:

• 19-inch alloy wheels with 235/55 R19 tyres
• Adaptive Driving Beam
• Hands-free power tailgate
• Panoramic sunroof
• Digital rear-view mirror
• Chrome side moulding
• Silver lower front and lower rear fascia
• Ambient lighting (console tray only)
• Rear door sunshades
• Tri-zone climate control
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 10.8-inch head-up display

The Ti-L adds:

• 20-inch alloy wheels with 255/45 R20 tyres (e-Power only)
• Remote start
• Power-folding exterior mirrors with tilt to reverse
• 10-speaker Bose sound system
• Quilted Nappa leather-accented upholstery in black or Chestnut
• Driver's seat and mirror memory
• Heated steering wheel
• Heated outboard second-row seats
• Ambient lighting (console tray and doors)

For some, the step from ST to ST-L might be money well spent, especially considering that it offers some welcome extra safety tech. But spending more than that on a petrol-only X-Trail doesn’t make as much sense to me.

To see how the Nissan X-Trail lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Is the Nissan X-Trail safe?

The Nissan X-Trail has a five-star rating from independent auto safety authority ANCAP, based on testing conducted in 2021.

Standard safety equipment across the range includes:

• Adaptive cruise control
• Autonomous emergency braking
• • Pedestrian and cyclist detection
  • Junction assist
  • Reverse AEB
• Blind-spot assist
• Lane-keep assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Reversing camera
• Rear parking sensors
• Traffic sign recognition

ST-L and up also include:

• ProPilot
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Front parking sensors
• Surround-view camera with transparent bonnet view

The X-Trail comes with seven airbags – dual front, front side, front centre, and curtain coverage. But note that for versions with seven seats, the airbags don’t completely cover third-row occupants.

To see how the Nissan X-Trail lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How much does the Nissan X-Trail cost to run?

Nissan is clearly trying to get you to buy a car and stick with it for the long-run. The aftersales ownership program offered by this auto brand is one of the most comprehensive in the market.

If you service with Nissan you get a decade of warranty and roadside assistance, and service intervals for the X-Trail have now been extended too, from 10,000km to 15,000km.

To see how the Nissan X-Trail lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

CarExpert's Take on the Nissan X-Trail ST

The Nissan X-Trail remains a strong option for customers who are looking for a mid-size family SUV that delivers inoffensive motoring, lots of space and comfort, and – in ST spec – an enticing price.

It mightn’t be the most thrilling or captivating SUV you can buy, but for some of us those considerations aren’t on the checklist.

Interested in buying a Nissan X-Trail? Let CarExpert find you the best deal here

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MORE: Explore the Nissan X-Trail showroom