Nissan X-Trail T31 (2008-2013)

Disastrous and expensive, can't believe its a Nissan – car bought on nissan reputation after owning patrol for many happy years .x trail always garaged, serviced regularly, use average12,068 Km /year, Recently diesel particulate filter had to be replaced- expensive. Clutch hydeaulic slave failed, new design ,internal to bell housing - chassis sub member had to be removed to allow gearbox removal for… Read more

repair ,as new slave cylinder Internal in bell housing. - expensive ! Tailshaft universal joints failed and not reparable- new tailshaft-expensive. two months later new dpf appears to be playing up as car has once again gone to limp mode, and, oh yes, the electric boot release only works when it feels like it . This is the 21 st car that I have owned and is unquestionably the WORST. car mostly local running, no off road, no 4wd. daily drive. mechanic not happy I bought it.

Ok mechanicals – Had mine since new and about to get rid of it and will be glad to see it go. Had to have the window which rattled like mad fixed and seat replaced. Had the air con compressor replaced after it failed just 3 yrs old. Its a know issue too with the Xtrails and Nissan should replace them all free of charge when they fail. Its not wear and tear Its a… Read more

known manufacturing fault. Also mine developed the dreaded die for a few seconds under acceleration which is common. This too is a known fault. It is linked to the switches under the pedals for disengaging cruise control when you hit the brakes or change gears. Happens in both auto version and manuals. The switch developes voltage issues and does not show up when a diagnostic service is performed. This can cause power loss for a few seconds on heavy acceleration which is dangerous when overtaking. It can also cause the visual on the dash to show a flashing message about cruise control and it will not engage until its cancelled. Some have had the Xtrail go into limp home mode with this. A search will show its a known problem which Nissan will not admit to. Anyone experiencing this who gets told nothing is wrong, get them to test the switches. Especially if the flat spot, losing power for a few seconds, occurs when cruise is engaged. There is also a flat spot in acceleration from stop to go when you have the pedal lightly depressed but its not often and only from what some term as manifold harmonics. This can never be fixed its just an Xtrail thing and only comes through as a split second hicup, not to be confused though with the cruise switches under the pedals failures. I have heard from one owner that the switches caused issues even without cruise control engaged so anyone with a major power loss on acceleration and gets told all is ok, you haven't got anything to lose getting the current/voltage checked on those switches under the pedals.

Lovely soft roader – Bought an unloved 200,000km 2012 ST for $5000. Took it to the mechanic and got a clean bill of health. It's a lot of fun off road. I wouldn't push this as hard as my old Pajero but it's a lot of fun off road on the bush tracks next to the Murray where I live. Actually makes me smile and laugh as I'm bouncing around. It's a thirsty beast. … Read more

Uses about the same amount of fuel as my 3.8L V6 380.

Road noise is incredibly low for a 7 year old compact SUV.

City handling is fine if you drive like grandpa. Nothing nippy about this. Definite bus like feel.

Rear seats fold fully flat and it's so roomy you can chuck a double mattress back there.

Stereo is pretty crappy compared to other cars of the same era.

Seats are very comfortable and the telescopic adjustable steering wheel lets to find a perfect driving position very quickly. If your back is ordinary this would be a good car. I can drive long distances and not get and lower back pain in this.

Accelerator is a bit heavy but the brakes are steering wheel kissing good.

If you buy one DEFINITELY take it off roading. They are so much fun!

Perfect Adventurer on a Budget – 2008, 2.0L Diesel, Manual. Used as daily, small bits off road use so far, performed well on the beach. Averaging 1000km to a tank combined city/highway. So much power out of such a small engine. Comfy interior. Huge amount of space. I have slept in it on a double air bed with back seats down. Had enough room for 4 people and gear for a week away. Show details

Great and Reliable Car – I have had my 2011 Nissan X-Trail since new. Now over 10 years old and has never missed a beat. I usually change cars every few years but haven’t felt the need to do so as it has fulfilled my needs really well. Great space inside, unlike the newer model, lovely to drive and great fuel consumption. A lovely comfortable car for long trips. Show details

Car is fantastic, love it – Very economical small too to get into tricky spots, use the car daily when not in lock down. I get it serviced usually every 6months and have had no issues. Show details

Automatic transmission died – I bought a brand new 2011 Nissan X Trail always serviced every 10,000kms by a highly rated qualified mechanic. Immaculately clean and well looked after. Then I was shocked as my transmission died while I was driving. This happened only 7 years later in 2018 and the car had only 127,000 km on the clock. It left me out of pocket $3,000 to replace the transmission with a second hand one. Extremely disappointed.  Show details

It literally fell apart! – My parents bought a brand-new X Trail in 2011. This car was immaculately looked after. Driven like an old man, kept incredibly clean inside and out, it was serviced before it’s due dates… nine years later, that’s right just nine years later, the transmission explodes. I’m only leaving this review because my dad takes such pride in what he owns and… Read more

he looks after his things so incredibly well and it broke my heart to see him have to go through the stress and anxiety of having such an expensive machine simply fall apart.

OK vehicle, but issues with Air con and sound system – I purchased this vehicle new. It got some getting used to after driving a performance car. Having totally changed my driving habits, I've now become used to it, including the built in 'lag' on take off. It is comfortable and spacious. Road noise for an SUV is acceptable. I've had good kilometers out of the original tyres and brakes, probably due… Read more

to my more sedate way of driving. Services don't seem to be too expensive, around the $300 mark, using my mechanic.

However, I have had some niggling experiences. * The front passenger door has never closed on the first go. Something that they repaired in warranty but continued. * The AM/FM radio is totally useless. Worst I've ever had in a car. Nissan could never rectify it. * The Bluetooth connection to my phone is incredibly slow. * As from a week ago, the AIR CON compressor has ceased to work. It appears to be a common problem according to sites I've visited. An independent quote for $1400! I am going to take this up with my Nissan dealer, but I'm not too hopeful. They aren't a good dealer to deal with. Attitude problems. The ACCC will be informed if not satisfied.

All in all these vehicles aren't too bad, but I probably won't buy another. I can get from Sydney to Melbourne (900k) on a tank and a bit, approximately 80 litres. I haven't done any serious 4x4 ing, but feel that it would get me to where I wanted to go.

UPDATE Aug 18: Air Con now fixed after going halves with Nissan dealer. $730 poorer, but at least it's working again.

UPDATE Apr 19: It's coming up to 12 months since a new air con compressor was installed, so far it's working fine. STILL issues with the crappy sound system. AM is so crackly that I don't bother. I stream it through apps. This has been an issue since the day the car left the dealership. If purchasing, turn on the AM/FM radio while you're driving. Also try and connect your bluetooth if you can. It takes up to 5 minutes to connect. I still haven't changed the brake pads after 90k klms! Good luck

Very reliable and versatile but has some flaws – I drive 2011, petrol, FWD, and manual for over 5 years. Purchased it in SEP 2017 with 130000km and doubled its odometer since. I'll be focusing on the flaws: The 1st speed and the reverse are quite fast, which means, to drive very slow under resistance (like towing or going uphill), you have to work the clutch and accelerate its wearing. The… Read more

clutch is a "Dual fly-wheel", which makes it extremely expensive to be replaced (like 4 times the price of another manual minivan's clutch). the distance between the roof racks' bases is extremely short (less than 80cm) and fixed. it makes it valuable to the vertical forces applied on long cargo's edges (e.g. the front of a 4.2m long sea kayak).

Everything You Need – This is my second Xtrail. First was manual 2008. This is an Auto 4WD 2012. We bought the car with 30K on the clock - now 130K after 6 years. Mainly city commute but some off road and across the Turon River to get to my brothers pad. Started with chunky All Terrain Tyres but at 120K switched to much quieter Cooper CS5 Grand. Huge amount of boot… Read more

space and rear seats fold flat so you can throw in a mattress for camping. Switching to 4WD it handles mud, slop, and steep gravel grade easily. Serviced every 10K and nothing major has gone wrong. This model changed shape in 2014 to the sloping back but that stops you putting in large boxes. Downside - Fuel economy. I was used to about 7.2 with the manual but this sits around 9.5.

Good car but .. A nuisance problem – 4x4 2012 134 kms, daily use, car has a flat spot, the car dies for a couple of seconds when accelerating, ok of a lot of pedal is used. Two dealers no comp faults. Show details

2012 T31 2.5 petrol CVT XTrail. Great vehicle – Was getting the famous throttle lag until I installed an iDrive unit at $299. Will spin the front wheels if you go too hard on take off. 6 throttle settings to cater for on/off road conditions. Made such a difference I then fitted one to my wifes Corolla to counter the throttle lag in it. Show details

Underrated all-rounder – Basic, but fantastic for around town or on long trips. Can easily fit 3 carseats across the back row, and the boxy design means the boot can be filled to the gills. Wipe down boot surface and what more can you need? Our growing family of 5 had 6 and a half outstanding years and 118,000kms in that car - so good, that we traded it in for a brand… Read more

spanker. Glad we don't need more than two car seats in the new ones though - the fanciness of the new model has cost some interior space!

Good and reliable – X-Trail ST 2008 Good Japanese car for city driving and limited off road. I have been driving my X-Trail from 2014. Boot space is good, can carry a double mattress easily. Electric Steering Wheels, no more power steering leaks. Drive belts not exists and equipped with timing chain another less serviceable item. Good ground clearance. 2 Wheel/… Read more

Auto/4 Wheel selection mode.

Popular choice over Honda CRV, RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Forester, Grand Vitara etc.

Very happy with my purchase.

11l/100km city driving – My Nissan X-trial 2012 2wd and 2.0L The car has lot of space and perfect for camping and comfortable highway driving . However average fuel consumption around the city 11l/100km, That is a bit too high . Show details

Still the best SUV for a family but still offroad – We have had 2 of these models. One was in an accident and was written off, but we knew exactly this was the type of vehicle we wanted. It still has a rugged-enough frame and engine to do some offroading, but economical and small enough to be in the city. It's 4cyl engine doesn't let it be a towing vehicle for much, but it's still the best vehicle I have ever owned. Show details

lagging/dying? – I have a 2013 Nissan XTrail 4X4 Petrol with a dreadful lag/die/flat spot on take off. I try to accelerate to take off and it dies under me, sometimes for 2 to 5 seconds then picks up again - my trusty Nissan dealer says after many many visits - its normal - any ideas or shared experiences on this one?  Show details

Practical, but a few quirks – After much deliberation between a multitude of similar SUV's such as the Ford Kuga, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi Outlander, and Subaru Forester, I ultimately chose the Nissan X-Trail based on its overall reliability record, fuel consumption and value for money. So far, it has delivered on all accounts. I have not had any problems with the car to date,… Read more

and I don't expect any as well. These cars have quite simple, yet reliable drive components that ensure you won't be going back to the workshop that often. Fuel economy wise, my 2.5L CVT uses 9.3L/100KM, which is quite impressive in my opinion, considering the size and aerodynamics of the car, and the mixed city/highway driving I do. In terms of value for money, the car is quite cost-efficient with servicing even through the dealerships. Also, the connectivity in the car is quite good, with Bluetooth handsfree calling and Bluetooth streaming, auxiliary port, and USB jack for both charging and music.

I do have some grips about the car though. Firstly, the CVT takes quite a bit of getting used to, including accepting its many annoyances. The throttle mapping of the car is also quite weird; where at 1500rpms or so, the revs will just drop and a momentary loss of power follows. Note that this only occurs when the car is cold. Once at normal operating temperature, this does not happen. I have spoken to other owners who have experienced the same. The boot floor is plastic, which makes cleaning a breeze, however, without a carpet liner or rubber mat cover, your shopping will roll around like crazy at every turn. The LCD display is also suspect to a lot of glare in daytime driving, making what's on the screen hard to see.

Despite this, the car has been very good, and would easily suit the city suburbs or a country lifestyle, and would make a great family car.

160000 & no major problems! – I am retired, tow a small caravan. Have numerous trips from Qld to SA & in between. After a series of short runs the dpf partially blocked, cleared by my service person who advised using a dpf cleaner. Since I have been using a dpf cleaner, I have not had any further problems.  Show details

Affordable and reliable! – Had this car for about 5 years now, no issues with it at all except for the occasional tyre change. Runs on about 600km per tank. Very reliable and had no issues with it at all. Nice and has more legroom than the dualis I test drive a while back. Not as comfortable as the Nissan Murano, but for its price, definitely can’t complain. Plenty of space… Read more

in the back to carry things around. Bluetooth compatibility so I can use my phone with it. Definitely would recommend.

Oldie but a goodie – My mechanic said only buy a Japanese SUV and it seems to have paid off. Whilst it's not new it still drives very well and is mechanically sound. I really can't fault it. We drove a territory and a captiva and they really didn't compare. Nissan customer service so far seems really good.  Show details

Good, reliable but lacks power to get up hills – No mechanical problems. Has been a very good, comfortable car. Easy to park. Heaps of space for a family of 4 and 2 dogs. Only complaint is it lacks power up hills, however, I bought a standard. They all come with a sports power option, which helps, but I will make sure our next car has a bit more guts to tackle the hills.  Show details

Very practical interior but rubbish to drive – I have recently traded-in our X-Trail after ~5yrs of ownership and have always been in two minds about the car. It's incredibly practical and has done the job of transporting our young family of four and all our stuff admirably. The large boot with wipe down surface and drawers is great, seats are comfortable and the interior in general has taken… Read more

the abuse of young kids and what feels like an entire sand pits worth of sand being deposited in it without any noticeable damage. It's basic by new car standards but has the "essentials" covered.

However it is just completely bereft of any sort of driving enjoyment.The CVT auto is just awful, it has this elastic feel to it where initial prodding of the accelerator seems to be slowly winding it up before eventually it starts to release and the engine and transmission drone under acceleration is not pleasant.

It also has a bizarre throttle mapping where at about 35km/h the revs just suddenly drop to around 1500RPM regardless of what you're right foot is doing.

The suspension is ok however it is quite noisy over bumps, you hear the car hitting bumps more than you feel it.

Reliability wise the car has been good, I don't know that I would describe it is as having a feeling of quality to it but it does feel reasonably sturdy. The only problems we had was very weak air-con which the mechanics said just needed re-gassing and the LCD display on the radio fading out and becoming unreadable once the temperature went above ~18C

No drive or gears – No gears or no drive and well not go in gear,it's the first time it has happened and also i can feel a rattle under neath when I accelerate , I have to let it seat for awhile to have the car move 2metres just rolling back so please if there any cheaper way on knowing how to fix it or repair thank you  Show details

Love it – Absolutely fantastic car, great to drive, we have owned it since 2012 and it hasn't missed a beat. We have had one service costing us more than $300 and thats a diesel car. Lots of boot room and good space in the front. Only problem is less room in the back seats for feet however with two young kids it works in our favour as we can reach them on long trips. Brilliant fuel consumption and its 4WD. Definitely recommend!  Show details

Diesel and love it – Great SUV and tows our caravan well. Hot Summer day over Great Dividing Range almost 4ton all up no problem. Be mindful factory speedo out by 8-10%. Real economy around town 7.5ltr per 100km, Hwy can get down to 6.3. Towing van 1.4ton 9 which I still think is remarkable. Diesel 6 spd manual. Avoid models with VIN indicating French Cion built,… Read more

lots of failures. Look for oil on engine side of air filter and intake. Filter takes 5seconds to remove. buy a 2013 with over 100k and no visable issues. If you know your left from your right service yourself. Serpentine belt and tensioner will do 200k.

2008 with 180k no issues however will have to look at alternatives as new Xtrail has smaller donk and won't be up it. I'm thinking MUX

Ideal Family Deal – Opted for My first Nissan X-trail, was actually looking for size & space. But got the whole deal - comfortable seats and a lot of room space for the legs. For a 2.2l I found this car very economical especially with long distance driving. I actually travel from NSW to Victoria and was seemly surprised at how cost effective this option proved for… Read more

me. Apart from getting used to the foot handbrake - I find it is a great family car. I have had it for 4 months now and couldn't be any happier.

Wish I'd bought something else – A comfortable car to drive, however the air conditioner died at 50,000km and I was quoted $1750 to replace it. Nissan should have replaced it themselves but they said no. They also could not tell me what was wrong with it. The plastic panels on the interior of the car by the drivers left leg fell off when I was driving, it went under my feet. When… Read more

it rains, rain bounces off the bonnet onto the windscreen as well as the normal rain pelting down, bad design. I will never buy Nissan again, cheaply made car.

Large boot, easily cleaned, easy to fix – Given that it's a diesel, it's obviously going to be louder than a petrol engine. As with most other diesels, it also suffers from turbo lag - as you have to wait for the turbo to spool up. Inside, its pretty neat. We bought it because its easy to take care off; and can go through some fun soft off-road adventures without having to worry about… Read more

it breaking such an expensive 4wd.

Best fun feature is the birds-eye view camera. I've gotten so use to it - it makes reverse parking and parallel parking a breeze.

In terms of running costs; it's best to get a K&N Air Filter when the stock is being replaced. This will make it easier to clean the filter - as it gets pretty dirty - pretty quickly - from the turbo blow back.

The Dunlops tires that came with the car wore out easily within 30000km. Replaced it with some Coopers Grand Touring tires..

Also I've found that it tends to average 8.9L/100km on regular roads; and 5.3L/100km on highways.

Ultra Reliable – Bought by sheer accident along the way to purchase the new VW Tiguan we had thoroughly researched. As we went past the dealership we decided we'd better see what Nissan offered, as we hadn't put a lot of work into researching the X Trail for some funny reason. One of those decisions that really pays off!! The clincher at the time was the full… Read more ·  1

sized spare, and the full plastic rear interior - neither of which VW could offer. Who on earth would want a carpeted rear loading area ... unless of course one lived in an inner capital city - in which case you'd be buying something like a Nissan Leaf - rather than an offroader- if you had any sense!!

Our dear X Trail has now travelled just shy of 210000KM and has spent exactly zero time out of service for any reason at all. Admittedly it is well cared for, with all Penrite fluids, K&N filter, Cooper tyres, and thorough home servicing. You could slaughter a beast in that plastic rear area and still clean it up quite nicely!! It's carried bales of hay, 20KG bags of stockfeeds, kids bikes, and hauled hefty trailers - even a jetski!! It's been scratched and dented, and backed into a largish wattle tree. Still comes up smiling!!

It really is the "go to" car of the three in our garage - I can rarely get the wife out of it, and it's close to overhauling our 20 year old Prado's mileage. Easy as pie to drive - in fact our 9 year old son has learned to drive on it this past 6 months or so. Mileage a very consistent 7.1-7.5L/100KM all style average.

If we weren't going all electric for our next vehicle purchase, now that the technology has matured to the extent that it's mainstream, we'd gladly consider another .... maybe Nissan will show some forethought and put out an EV version?!?! If we were to have the chance to do it all again, we wouldn't change a thing!!

Mechanically Pathetic – Unrepairable style auto transmission collapsed at 80000k just out of warranty. Throwaway Cost $7000 Air conditioner compressor bearings failed at 11500k. Throwaway Cost $1850 A country car one owner 95% of kms on open road. 5% city driving. Towing of trailer to tip occasionally. A shocker of a car. NEVER EVER AGAIN  Show details