Not the common sight on our roads that its predecessor was, the latest generation Nissan X-Trail, first introduced in 2008, seems to have experienced a few growing pains in its transition into a more upmarket SUV.
Its core attributes still seem to be in place, those being a tough exterior covering a package that's soft enough to keep you comfortable in town yet still capable enough when it comes to the odd off-road jaunt, at least by 'softroader' standards.
Personally I've always felt that the second-generation X-Trail's designers lot the plot a bit, perhaps having spent a bit too much time kayaking and rock climbing and not giving enough thought to the X-Trail's style.
The previous generation had a chunky simplicity about it that just seemed to hit the right chord, whereas the latest one just looks bland and bloated. Luckily it's just had a facelift and though the only major difference is in the frontal look, I really like its new face - it has a nicely chiselled, sporty kind of attitude about it.
The new X-Trail also gets subtly enlarged wheel arches, accommodating bigger wheels on all models, with the flagship LE getting a nice set of 18-inch alloys. Modifications at the rear end are subtle, pretty much limited to new LED light clusters.
Another downside of the pre-facelift X-Trail was the steep price tag and even that has been addressed, to an extent, in this revision - with Nissan having reduced the prices of 4x4 models.
Despite this, the range-topping diesel-powered 4x4 LE that I test drove is still on the steep side of the equation, retailing at R435 000. That said, it's still R10 000 cheaper than the equivalent Honda CR-V although a Kia Sorento ultimately offers better overall value than this Japanese duo.
For the kind of money that the X-Trail LE commands, one expects a decidedly plush interior and here the Nissan does not disappoint. On climbing in for the first time, I was immediately struck by how soft and comfortable the leather seats were.
And if there's one area where the X-Trail has made huge strides over the pre-2008 original, it's in the far more harmonious dashboard design that has a neater and more upmarket appearance and this has been further strengthened with the facelift, which adds a new palette of higher-quality materials.
On top of that, the LE has enough bells and whistles to sink a battleship, with electric seat adjustment and heating up front, sunroof, keyless start, automatic climate control and a reverse camera built into the rear-view mirror among other novelties that you'd no doubt expect at the price.
Although still a five-seater, the X-Trail provides an abundance of space for those five occupants and their luggage, rear legroom being particularly impressive and the rear seats also recline to make it easier for the kids to fall asleep and spare your concentration for the road ahead. That said, the Honda CR-V also offers all of the aforementioned attributes.
Performance from its 2.2-litre commonrail turbodiesel engine is nothing to really write home about, but it gets the job done well enough in most situations, its outputs rated at 110kW at 4000rpm and 320Nm at 2000rpm. Nissan claims consumption of 7.4 litres per 100km on a mixed cycle and I achieved a decent average of 9.4 l/100km in an urban environment.
While the engine delivers its power smoothly enough in most situations, through its smooth CVT constantly variable transmission, it does have a fair amount of turbo lag. While this seldom gets in the way when you need to make sudden manoeuvres on the move, it does make acceleration from standstill decidedly sluggish.
If you're one of those that doesn't only buy this thing for Sandton pavement bashing, you'll be pleased to know that the X-Trail is among the better-equipped 'softroaders' when it comes to tackling the bush. It might not have a low-range set of ratios, but with a ground clearance of 203mm, approach and departure angles of 28- and 24-degrees respectively and Nissan's all-mode permanent all-wheel drive system with an Active Brake Limited Slip Differential, it's certainly not scared of the bush.
Furthering this cause, this upgraded model also features an advanced hill descent control system that lets the driver choose the preferred speed of descent, between 4km/h and 15km/h. Its hill start assist device also makes pulling off on gradients a little easier.
Overall, the X-Trail LE is a well rounded, spacious, comfortable and relatively capable vehicle that sits among the cream of the softroader crop, but it comes at a hefty price.
It's a natural choice if practicality is your main concern but if you don't mind sacrificing some space for better performance and more prestige then a 140kW Land Rover Freelander TD4 SE can also be had for this kind of money.