The third generation of the X-Trail was launched in 2013 and, by 2017, some of its features were considered outdated.
But after its mid-life cycle refresh, it was just as good as its rivals, if not better.
With over half of century of experience in off-road vehicles and some of the best SUVs in the world, Nissan considered that it was about time to show its muscles. The new wave of Korean and German SUVs tried to steal its glory. So, the Japanese car-maker decided to step ahead with a new smile.
It wasn’t exactly a smile, but an aggressive grin on the newly designed front fascia. If the non-facelifted version featured a simpler layout with somehow angled and clear-cut headlights, the facelift added a chromed element on the grille. It looked as if a knight just put on its steel helmet. From the side, the muscular lines and sculptured door panels amplified that warrior look.
Inside, the adaptive cruise control, the curved dashboard was kept but enhanced in the instrument cluster with a color display between the dials. Depending on the trim level, it was available with front and rear heated seats.
Under the hood, the 2017 X-Trail was offered with a choice of two gasoline and one diesel engine. It was mated to a 6 speed manual on the base model, while the top trim levels were fitted with the X-Tronic, automatic (CVT) gearbox.