2005 Nissan X-Trail Road Test

How is it off-road? Well, that depends if you purchase a front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive version. My tester featured the

A reasonably tall ground clearance and 2WD/AUTO/LOCK feature make the X-Trail a fairly decent light-duty 4x4. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press)

latter, but I didn't have opportunity to test it. Its reasonably tall ground clearance and 2WD/AUTO/LOCK feature is reported to make for fairly decent light-duty 4x4 use, however, which is more than can be said for many of its rivals. The optional yaw and traction control, if chosen, helps off-road too.

Of course, there won't be many people who ever test its off-pavement capabilities, which is OK by me as I like the wilderness less crowded thank you.

I don't know if you noticed, but I really liked my week with the new X-Trail. Its styling is neither here nor there to me, with

The X-Trail is a great little truck, with a solid stance, commendable performance, a well-made flexible interior, and a quirky industrial exterior design. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press)

most of those I talked to either liking its utilitarian design or commenting that it's a bit frumpy, especially the long front overhang. Me? I'd like something a little less dowdy but it wouldn't make me consider something else in its class instead, as I spend most of my time inside a vehicle and the X-Trail's interior just so well done for its compact, entry-level class.

In the end it comes down to its value proposition. The X-Trail starts at $25,900 in 2WD XE trim with a host of standard features. Move up to an SE and the price starts at $28,500, again not too bad. Add 4WD and the XE starts at $27,200, with the SE asking $29,600 and top-line LE needing $33,000. While $33K isn't cheap, leather is standard, as are many more exclusive X-Trail features not available anywhere else.