Nissan X-TRAIL News

A new hybrid family SUV war is heating up.Nissan has revealed its new X-Trail e-Power hybrid mid-size SUV to challenge the existing Honda CR-V and new Toyota RAV4 which is due to land in showrooms imminently.The Japanese brand lifted the lid on the new family-hauler during the company’s announcement of its global strategy today.Nissan has flagged the X-Trail as a core product for the brand and will heavily promote its 'e-Power' hybrid tech.The e-Power system works more like an extended range hybrid, where the engine is used purely as a generator for the battery and electric motors drive the wheels only.This means it drives in similar fashion to an electric car, but without the range anxiety and mimics the fuel use of conventional hybrids such as the Toyota RAV4.Nissan revealed images of the updated X-Trail, which brings it inline with newer vehicles such as the updated Qashqai small SUV.It features a large lattice work grille with dynamic headlights and lots of label creases down the side.The makeover gives the X-Trail a more modern look compared to the ageing design of the current version.Nissan hasn’t provided any mechanical details of the next-gen X-Trail yet.The current X-Trail e-Power has been on sale in Australia for several years and has found success, but a new design and increased tech could catapult it up the sales charts.It is also likely the next-generation X-Trail will be hybrid only, with purely petrol-powered versions deleted.Carmakers will soon face fines for selling purely petrol powered cars in Australia due to the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Scheme (NVES), which requires cars to emit CO2 below a certain threshold. This threshold gets lower every year until 2030.

Nissan Australia has confirmed sweeping changes to its model line-up effective immediately, as formerly key models are axed in favour of a more hybrid-focused product mix.The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder large SUV and the Nissan Juke small SUV will be the last of their kind sold in Australia indefinitely, while the brand is also putting a hold on the arrival of the new Nissan Leaf electric small SUV until further notice.Along with dwindling sales, the models’ powertrain options make them incompatible with Nissan Australia’s hybrid-heavy plan, the outgoing regional boss has said.Nissan Oceania Managing Director Andrew Humberstone told CarsGuide the Pathfinder and Juke are being given the axe while the new Leaf, which in its new form is a small SUV, won’t arrive in showrooms for the foreseeable future either.That plan, he said, involves a lot more e-Power electrification to, presumably, balance out the effects of the incoming diesel-powered D27 Nissan Navara ute and the rather large Y63 Nissan Patrol in terms of Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which bring fines for models that pollute more and award credits for selling low-emissions vehicles.With Juke and Pathfinder out, Nissan’s line-up is down to six badge names: Qashqai and X-Trail, the small and medium SUVs with hybrid ‘e-Power’ options, Navara and Patrol which fall under the light commercial vehicle category, plus the electric Ariya and the low-volume Nissan Z sports car.“We're going to see a natural dispersion between product and what's coming in, what's going out,” Humberstone told CarsGuide, “so we have to manage that in order to make those tough decisions now for the future.“Juke will no longer be in market, Pathfinder will no longer be in market. Leaf, we're going to, in essence, indefinitely delay at this moment.“We’ll continue to bring in, obviously Navara, which is more NVES-appropriate than the previous version, as is the new Patrol.”Behind Mazda Australia, Nissan is in second place for the largest looming fines as of the most recent February 1, 2026 figures.According to the NVES Regulator, Nissan Australia racked up $10.76m in potential fines between July 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025. Nissan must offset this by selling more low-emission vehicles, or buy credits from other manufacturers, in order to avoid the fines becoming a reality.The plan, according to Humberstone, is to create a model line-up that consists of mostly hybrid variants, thus the introduction of the e-Power-only Qashqai range last year.In addition, a more affordable version of the Nissan X-Trail is set to arrive with 2WD e-Power hybrid in the hopes of increasing hybrid sales of the model.“In addition to that, in the bridging strategy we're focused on when we see circa 75 per cent of all the registrations being, which is within the EV/hybrid space, and that's where we're putting all our energy in the short-term.“So that means the full range of Qashqai now is coming with e-Power technology, which is our hybrid. We’re seeing it with X-Trail… we now want to expand that with a 2x4 hybrid version.”Nissan’s financial situation has been the subject of much speculation, but Humberstone says one of the final things he leaves Nissan Australia with before his departure to a posting in France from April 2026 is this plan to future-proof the model line-up.He said the tumultuous state of the industry means difficult short-term decisions are needed to put the business in a better position in the medium- and long-term.“I would say even within the next six, seven months, you're going to start seeing the benefits of the work. The natural cleansing needs to be done. The sooner you do that, the better. “I believe our timing was perfect, given the volatility of what's been going on all over the place, and the number of competitors and more recent stuff that's going off at the moment around the globe.“We're here to stay in Oceania, and we're committed to the market. There's product investment being made. It's done. So there's no speculation on that.”Humberstone’s replacement is Steve Milette, who was President of Nissan Canada for more than five years, and is currently Division Vice President for Dealer Network Development, Customer Resources, Training and Customer Experience for Nissan and Infiniti’s entire North America region.He takes up the much shorter title of Managing Director of Nissan Oceania on April 1, and is expected to continue overseeing the plan to increase Nissan Australia’s hybridisation of the model range.

Specifications for the updated 2026 Nissan X-Trail have just been released.Pricing was detailed in November last year, but the updated X-Trail will start from $38,140 before on-road costs before hitting $58,215 for the top-spec grade.It will be available in petrol or e-Power hybrid guise in front or all-wheel drive variants.The X-Trail’s hybrid and all-wheel drive grades see it shape up as a rival to the strong-selling Toyota RAV4 hybrid.The RAV4’s all-wheel drive grades start from $49,340, before on-roads, which is marginally more expensive than the cheapest X-Trail hybrid, with a starting price of $48,915.Hyundai’s Tucson hybrid is roughly $6000 cheaper than the X-Trail, but that model does not have an all-wheel-drive system.Nissan’s e-Power system operates differently to conventional hybrids, as the petrol engine never directly drives the wheels, only generating energy for the battery.The petrol variant of the X-Trail is slightly more expensive than the Mazda CX-5.The X-Trail comes in five-seater and seven-seater configurations.It is powered by either a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine or a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol hybrid set-up.The petrol-only unit produces 135kW and 244Nm, while the hybrid version has a total system output of 157kW of power.Inside, the X-Trail gets a 12.3-inch central touchscreen display as standard as well as a digital driver display, with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality.New colours are also available, including ‘Deep Ocean Blue’ and ‘Everest White’, while there is a new ‘Chestnut’ interior on the Ti-L grade. 2026 Nissan X-Trail pricing Australia 2026 Nissan X-Trail engine and efficiency  2026 Nissan X-Trail standard features17-inch alloy wheels12.3-inch central touchscreenWireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay7.0-inch digital driver displayPowered and heated door mirrorsPaddle shiftersRain-sensing wipersLED headlightsST-L grade adds18-inch alloy wheelsLeather-accented seatsLeather-accented steering wheelPower adjustable seatsRemote engine start12.3-inch digital driver displayDual-zone climate controlHeated front seatsWireless phone chargerAuto-dimming rear-view mirrorTi grade adds19-inch alloy wheels10.8-inch head-up displayTri-zone climate controlMotion sensing power tailgateRear door sunshadesTi-L grade adds20-inch alloy wheels (hybrid model only)Bose premium 10-speaker audio systemHeated steering wheelHeated second-row outside seatsAmbient interior lightingMemory driver seat 2026 Nissan X-Trail safetyThe Nissan X-Trail has a five-star ANCAP safety rating, awarded in 2022. Standard safety featuresSeven airbags360 degree cameraLane keep assistAuto emergency brakingBlind spot warningAdaptive cruise controlRear parking sensorsST-L grade addsFront parking sensors3D surround view monitorTyre pressure monitoring system 2026 Nissan X-Trail dimensions  2026 Nissan X-Trail warranty and servicingThe Nissan X-Trail comes with a 10-year/300,000-kilometre warranty and roadside assistance when serviced at authorised Nissan dealers. The car has flat price servicing at $399 per year for the first five years. Intervals for servicing have changed from every 10,000km/12 months to a better 15,000km/12 months. 

The mainstream mid-size SUV segment is one of the most hotly contested in the Australian market, as the prevailing family car of choice for so many.We’re truly spoilt for choice, with options available at many price points, and with the choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric, as well as from both old favourite brands and new challengers.While this has generally been a boon for buyers, it has also made this congested segment more difficult to shop in than ever before, so as part of our ongoing 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards, we’ve distilled a top-10 shortlist of our highest-rated Medium SUVs starting under $60K.Our top three and winner will be announced on February 6, but you can see the alphabetically ordered shortlist below.The Cupra Terramar serves as the Spanish brand’s take on the Volkswagen Tiguan formula - a true mid-size SUV, although it offers a truly sporty take over the Tiguan’s more wide appeal.Priced from $53,990, it’s a surprising value player considering its sporty look and feel, although if you want the full performance on offer, you’ll have to spend north of the $70K mark to get the spicy VZ version.Still Cupra continues to impress us with its edgy designs and impressive driving dynamics compared to its other Volkswagen Group relations.Perhaps a candidate for the most improved model on sale in Australia, the new GWM Haval H6 moves up in the world from simply a value player to a more impressive mainstream offering.Packed with standard kit and tweaked across the board when it comes to drivability and tuning, this Chinese rival takes more direct aim at the segment-leading Toyota RAV4 than ever before.Available as a 2.0-litre turbo as well as a 1.5-litre hybrid in plugless or plug-in form, it also covers the gamut of powertrain options Aussie buyers are looking for.While the sharply-priced Lux is impressive value, the plugless hybrids are the pick of the range with their trim fuel efficiency and smooth electrified transmission.One of the original nameplates which kicked-off the mid-size SUV segment altogether, the CR-V continues to this day to be a stellar offering in the segment, with Honda as always doing an impressive job of moving with the times.The CR-V is also one of the better value options in Honda’s current range, priced much closer to its rivals than the HR-V or ZR-V which sit below it.Again, the pick of the range is the e:HEV hybrid, although you’ll have to fork out for the pleasure with the hybrid powertrain still only sitting atop the mid-sizer’s range, priced at $59,900 drive-away.While it exudes quality like other Honda models, it also isn’t as efficient as some of its rivals, and doesn’t offer a plug-in or all-wheel drive in its hybrid form.Another impressive car from Honda, the ZR-V is a right-sized SUV to fill the increasingly large gap between the ever-growing CR-V and the still diminutive HR-V below.Again sporting the same Honda characteristics of great build quality, sharp driving dynamics and a practical interior space, with a smaller overall footprint than some of its rivals the ZR-V should be on any buyers shortlist.However, while it is marginally more affordable than its CR-V sibling, the ZR-V suffers from the same problem of only offering the sleek and efficient hybrid system on only its top-spec LX variant, eliminating savings from its fuel sipping powertrain via a much higher starting price ($54,900 before on-roads).Hyundai’s current-generation Tucson now has a few years behind it, but continues to be a strong seller thanks to gradual updates and price tweaks which keeps it high on the consideration list alongside its Kia Sportage sister vehicle and the segment-leading Toyota RAV4.Now strongest-selling as a fuel-sipping hybrid, the Tucson continues to be offered in a range of variants at many different price-points, with both front- and all-wheel drive options.The latest major updates synced the mid-sizer up with the rest of Hyundai’s range in offering a new interior design approach with fresh software, and even an array of buttons and dials for climate and volume controls we always like to see.Nissan has been embattled by rivals in recent years, but its ever-improving X-Trail continues to deserve a look-in as possibly the brand’s most competitive current offering.Spacious, modern, offered with up to seven seats, and with an innovative electric-first e-Power hybrid option, the X-Trail has a lot to offer buyers as a rival specifically to the RAV4 or Honda CR-V.Plus, it gets ergonomic fundamentals right, as well as a good level of refinement and a solid array of well-calibrated safety kit to keep newcomers at bay.Czech brand Skoda, as always, flies under the radar, and the Elroq is certainly worth your consideration thanks to a myriad of factors, not least of which is its surprisingly sharp starting price of (now) $49,990 drive-away. Did we mention it’s fully electric?On top of that, the Elroq is right-sized, with a modest but well-utilised footprint, which is laden with the brand’s clever touches like plenty of storage areas, an umbrella hidden in the door, and plenty of storage organisation options in the boot.The Elroq rides on Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform and is offered with either a long-range 85kWh battery, and now a standard-range 60kWh option. All versions are rear-wheel drive, keeping them efficient, with the longer-range one said to travel up to 529km on the WLTP cycle.The Enyaq is the Elroq’s larger sibling in Skoda’s two-pronged mid-size electric SUV range, offering a sportier look and feel.Recently updated to wear the brand’s latest and more futuristic design language, the Enyaq also inherits a lot of the same brilliant packaging as its smaller sibling. It also offers the same battery variants, which are still relatively long range considering their capacities, with the smaller version travelling 410km on the WLTP cycle, and the larger one travelling up to 548km.Not as affordable as the Elroq, but still good value in the segment, the Enyaq has a lot of the right ingredients to tempt buyers away from other popular offerings in this electric space like the Tesla Model Y or Kia EV5.To be clear here, the RAV4 being considered for our Car of the Year is the current generation, as the next-gen model hadn’t arrived in time for consideration.As dated as this top-seller may be though, it’s remained a top-seller for a reason, namely that it’s well laid out, comfortable, versatile and backed by Toyota’s ever-sturdy reputation.Its quality finish and ever smooth hybrid drive are still some of the best on the market, emulated by many to varying degrees of success.The RAV4 still bests them all in the sales charts though, and some may even argue the styling of this outgoing car is more appealing than the new one, which will also bring with it a long-awaited plug-in hybrid.Zeekr’s long-awaited third model has proven to be its most hyped. The Zeekr 7X is a fully electric premium SUV at the price of a high-end mainstream combustion or hybrid one.Despite its keen price-tag, this is still an impressively specified vehicle, with plenty of high-end features, a big battery with long driving range, and dynamics on par with much more expensive rivals.It also impresses on the design front, with Zeekr’s studio in Sweden next door to those of Polestar and Volvo making the Chinese newcomer feel like much more than a first attempt.

Nissan has become the latest car manufacturer to announce a new focus on hybrid vehicles with the company’s global boss declaring a “full blast” of new models to come.Speaking to industry publication Automotive News at Nissan's headquarters in Japan last week the company's CEO Ivan Espinosa said that while sales have been flat a host of new products are about to be launched. “Next year we should be in a position to grow our sales,” Espinosa told Automotive News.“The fact that we have these new product lines coming in and having a full blast next year is definitely something that’s going to help.”Espinosa said Hybrid variants would be offered across Nissan’s range including the possibility of a V6 hybrid. “We should see offers in the C segment (medium sized vehicles), in the D segment (large), and likely in the B (small) segment. We see the hybridisation accelerating very quickly,”Espinoza also announced that Nissan’s production facilities in the United States will continue to operate due to the new tariffs and regulations overseas carmakers now face. Nissan has three plants in the US, which make the X-Trail and Pathfinder SUVs and others. “It will not make a lot of sense to stop a plant in the US when you have tariffs,” Espinosa said.Nissan has been struggling with profitability and closing the US plants was a possible way to cut costs but those plans appear to be on hold now and in a fortunate turn of events the factories have become advantageous to the company.  “What could have been seen as a problem 18 months ago, is now a strength that we have because of the presence and the capability that we have,” he said. “It’s a good position to be in.”Nissan has faced major financial difficulties in recent years. In May this year Nissan posted a loss of A$7B for 2025. The shortfall prompted the company to undergo an emergency restructure with potentially 11,000 job cuts and the closure of plants.Espinsosa became Nissan’s CEO in April 2025 and is faced with the considerable challenge to turn the company’s fortunes around and that may see joint ventures with other car makers. Only last week Espinosa announced he was looking at the co-development of engines with Honda.In Australia, Nissan has two hybrid vehicles already on sale —  X-Trail e-Power and Qashqai e-Power. Subaru also recently announced a focus on hybrid vehicles and a step back from its massive electric vehicle plans. 

Nissan Australia is soon set to finally roll out the facelift for its popular X-Trail mid-size SUV.

Hybrid technology is having its time in the sun as electric vehicle (EV) demand tapers off in certain markets.As reported by Automotive News, Nissan is in discussions with a number of carmakers to manufacture and supply a version of the X-Trail, known as the Rogue, for the North America market.These rebadged Nissan X-Trail’s will be powered by the company’s e-Power hybrid system which uses an electric motor to drive the wheels and a petrol engine as a generator to charge a small high-voltage battery.Ford and Stellantis are reportedly looking at partnering with Nissan for this rebadged X-Trail e-Power. With the latter company it’s expected to be for the Chrysler or Dodge brands.Nissan will reportedly manufacture these rebadged vehicles alongside the Rogue at its production facility in Smyrna, Tennessee.Nissan Vice President, Communications, US & Canada Brian Brockman told Automotive News its “exploring options” to localise vehicle and powertrain production to meet the growing hybrid demand in the US.“ remains open to dialogue that delivers strategic, complementary market opportunities to our core model development efforts,” said Brockman.“At this time, we have no agreements in place regarding production at our U.S. plants.”Neither Ford or Stellantis commented on the topic when asked by Automotive News.It’s reported the collaboration between these carmakers could also result in joint electric vehicle (EV) development.“It’s not a quid pro quo,” said a person to Automotive News, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, adding that a deal could happen even without an EV partnership.Ford could reportedly be looking to plug gaps in its line-up as it has delayed or canceled several EVs over the last year or so.The Bronco Sport and Maverick hybrid models made in Mexico are subject to tariffs in the US.With Stellantis, Jeep has the 4xe plug-in hybrid line-up, while Dodge and Chrysler don’t have many products as they’ve shifted focus to EVs.Nissan currently doesn’t offer any e-Power model in the US, however, it’ll introduce the third-generation version of the powertrain technology in the Rogue in late 2026.The third-generation e-Power hybrid technology is set to arrive in Australia in the first half of 2026 in the Qashqai small SUV. At this point the entire Qashqai line-up will become hybrid-only.Beyond Ford and Stellantis, Mitsubishi is reportedly also looking at introducing e-Power hybrid power to the related Outlander.Conversely, Nissan is also reportedly looking at adding a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the Rogue, which is expected to borrow its powertrain from the related Outlander PHEV.

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.

The next-generation Navara is shaping up as being the most important new-vehicle release for Nissan Australia this decade. Expected to be unveiled globally next year, ahead of an on-sale date by early 2027, the fourth-generation ute (which may be codenamed D24) and the tenth in a continuing series that started in 1955, will have the future of the brand as a major player riding on its broad shoulders. According to Nissan Oceania Vice President and Managing Director, Andrew Humberstone, the next Navara must hit the ground running in Australia in a way that the current D23 Navara has not been able to in the 11 years-plus that it has been on sale here, or otherwise the alternative would be unthinkable.

Nissan Australia is looking to boost sales and has drawn on the Japanese translation of the numbers two (Ni) and three (San) to generate a revised pricing structure for its X-Trail SUV, as the long-serving mid-size ‘Ni San’ model turns, you guessed it, 23 years old.Currently the sixth-placed player in the white-hot medium SUV segment behind family favourites such as the all-conquering Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander, Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson, the current fourth-generation Nissan X-Trail has been in market here since early 2022.As recently arrived challengers like the BYD Sealion 6, Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, Geely EX5 and MG HS add extra pressure to this already hyper-competitive segment, price adjustments from established players are almost inevitable.And so it is, that with zero change to model specification the X-Trail’s Australian pricing has been reduced by between $1000 to $3000, depending on model.With a starting price now less than $37K, before on-road costs, the X-Trail throws down the gauntlet to the now hybrid-only RAV4 (from $42,260), Mitsubishi Outlander (from $37,740) and Mazda CX-5 (from $36,740) as well as newcomers like the BYD Sealion 6 (from $48,990) and Geely EX5 (from $40,990).But it’s still some distance away from the budget-focused MG HS (from $33,990 drive-away) and sharply-priced Chery Tiggo 7 Pro (from $29,990 drive-away). The current ‘T33’ X-Trail is offered across five model grades, with the entry-level ST’s standard features list including LED head and tail-lights, six-speaker audio (including digital radio) managed through an 8.0-inch multimedia display, 17-inch alloy rims, adaptive cruise control and more.Safety tech incorporates AEB (with pedestrian and cyclist detection), lane departure warning/prevention, blind-spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition and airbag coverage including a front centre ‘far side’ bag.The top-shelf Ti-L adds 10-speaker Bose audio, bigger alloys, a heated steering wheel, electric front seats (with memory), heated rear seats, Nappa leather-accented trim, ambient lighting, a hands-free tailgate and more.Earlier this year Nissan Australia also introduced a (dealer-servicing activated) 10-year/300,000km warranty operating in concert with a five-year ‘Flat Price Servicing Program’.Is this the first shot fired in a full-scale price war as more and more new brands enter what is a mature Australian new car market? Feels like the battle has only just begun.