Major Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander rival updated in Japan: 2026 Nissan X-Trail facelift brings more tech, plus sporty Nismo and rugged Rock Creek trims, but will it come to Australia?

Nissan has revealed the mid-life facelifted version of its fourth-generation X-Trail in Japan roughly two years after the update for the US-built Rogue twin debuted.

With new trim levels, including an off-road-oriented Rock Creek and sporty Nismo variants, the Japanese-market X-Trail is now available in many different forms.

“We have no updates regarding X-Trail facelift or Rock Creek at this time,” said a Nissan Australia spokesperson.

“The X-Trail NISMO that has been unveiled is for the Japanese domestic market only.”

The Nissan X-Trail Rock Creek picks up a unique front grille with illuminated sections, as well as a different front bumper and alloy wheel design with red highlights.

Inside there are red highlights on the door trims, dashboard, steering wheel, as well as on the “waterproof” seats.

It’s only offered with an e-Power hybrid engine in Japan.

With the X-Trail Nismo, on the other hand, it’s a new sport-oriented flagship trim. Although its e-Power hybrid engine doesn’t make any more power, it receives special tuning and a ‘Sport’ drive mode to “emphasise” the engine response.

It also receives a retuned all-wheel drive system that increases the amount of power sent to the rear wheels, gains larger 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres, as well as a unique power steering tune.

Aesthetically there is a Nismo body kit which is claimed to improve downforce by 29 per cent.

With the rest of the X-Trail line-up there’s a subtly revised grille, the lower section of the front bumper is gloss black with satin silver accents, the front and rear indicators are LED, a new daytime running light signature, as well as redesigned 19-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the X-Trail’s touchscreen multimedia system is powered by Google. It now features Google Maps and Google Assistant, plus a range of apps can be downloaded directly to the touchscreen.

There’s also wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in-car WiFi, as well as connected services available with a NissanConnect smartphone app.

Additionally, the X-Trail now picks up a 3D view and transparent bonnet view for the surround-view camera system.

In Japan there continues to be two powertrain options – a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, as well as a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder e-Power hybrid.

The 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine offered locally hasn’t been available in Japan for years now.

In Australia there have been a total of 9648 examples of the Nissan X-Trail sold in the first seven months of 2025. This is down 9.6 per cent year-on-year.

While it’s outselling rivals like the Subaru Forester (8171 sales) and GWM Haval H6 (8007 sales), it’s behind heavy-hitters like the Toyota RAV4 (28,449 sales), Mazda CX-5 (13,812 sales), as well as the related Mitsubishi Outlander (13,268 sales).