Mat’s Car of the Day: you can lease this practical family SUV for the same price as a small hatchback

It may not be as popular as the huge-selling Nissan Qashqai, but the Nissan X-Trail is a really good SUV. It’s a seven-seater that isn’t too massive, so you don’t feel like you’re driving around in a tank just because you occasionally need to take more than three passengers in the back – and it comes with a great hybrid engine, too.

It’s not the cheapest model around, though, especially compared to some of the bargain brands from China. But I’ve found a lease deal through Carwow that brings the cost of ownership right down and makes the Nissan X-Trail an extremely tempting family car.

But first, here’s what I like about it…

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

Three good things about the Nissan X-Trail

1. The hybrid engine is really good

The X-Trail uses Nissan’s ‘e-Power’ hybrid engine, which doesn’t work like most others. In this system, the 1.5-litre petrol engine never drives the wheels directly – it’s not even attached to them. Instead, it just acts like a generator, providing charge for the battery so that an electric motor can do all the driving.

That means you get a smooth and responsive driving experience, like an electric car, but it’s still petrol-fuelled.

2. The interior is sensible

Nissan has kept the X-Trail’s dashboard about as user-friendly as possible. There are loads of proper physical buttons, including a full panel of climate controls, and the screen is a sensible size.

It feels well-built, too – not super luxurious, but capable of standing up to family life.

3. It’s super-comfortable

Nissan really took the ‘Sport’ out of ‘Sport Utility Vehicle’ with the X-Trail. It’s not fun or engaging on a twisty road, nor is it a particularly amazing off-roader (especially since most models are front-wheel drive only).

But around town, on the motorway and over the sort of broken, pockmarked road surfaces you find all over the place in the UK, it’s impressively comfortable. The X-Trail is a very relaxing car to drive long distances in.

Nissan X-Trail deals: lease one for £255 a month

Buying a Nissan X-Trail through Carwow is already a great way to do it. The popular e-Power model starts at more than £38,000 in Acenta Premium trim, but with Carwow savings you can get that for just £31,585. That’s barely more than a Chery Tiggo 8 and represents a nearly £7,000 saving.

Or, if you want to go as posh as possible, the range-topping Tekna version equipped with the four-wheel drive hybrid engine costs more than £46,600, but through Carwow you can save more than £7,500 bringing it to just over £39,000.

But the best savings are to be found leasing. For the Acenta Premium model over a four-year deal, with 12 months initial payment, you’ll put down just £256 per month. That makes your total payment just £15,376, which is barely more than you’d pay for the smaller Qashqai.

Despite being the base trim, Acenta Premium doesn’t come too poorly equipped either. You get 18-inch wheels, a rear-view camera, wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control and keyless entry.

Three annoying things about the Nissan X-Trail

Though it’s a great car – and a great price – the Nissan X-Trail isn’t perfect. Here are three things to consider before buying.

1. It’s not a seven-seater as standard

If you’re looking at these deals thinking they’re amazing value for a seven-seat SUV, you’d be right – but check carefully, because not every version of the X-Trail gets seven seats as standard equipment. Many of the hybrid models are simply five-seaters with a larger boot.

2. … and the third-row seats are a bit rubbish

Even if you do get a seven-seater model, don’t expect to put adults back there. The third row of the Nissan X-Trail is really occasional-use only, as it’s pretty cramped for all but small kids. A Chery Tiggo 8 has more space in the third row, and is a seven-seater as standard regardless of which engine you get.

3. It’s not very economical on a long trip

Hybrid cars are really good on fuel, right? Well, the X-Trail’s clever hybrid system is really efficient around town, where the electric motors work at their best – but on a long motorway journey, the engine has to rev quite hard to keep them topped up. As a result, long-distance mpg is in the mid-30s – where a Chery Tiggo 8 would pretty easily return 45-50mpg.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

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