2017 Subaru Forester vs Nissan X-TRAIL

What's the difference?

The Subaru Forester has been a dependable, popular best-seller for the Japanese brand for over two decades. A boxy, practical machine, it's far less interested in the fashion for sleek-looking lifestyle SUVs and rather more keen on function.

Along with the Nissan X-Trail, it is by far the most capable off-roader in its class, but has proven itself comfortable and capable on road as well. It might be getting on a bit in years, but with a new Impreza and XV the priority for Subaru, the Forester continues to be a popular machine on Australian roads.

The X-Trail is one of Nissan's local success stories, first touching down in 2001 and almost immediately striking a chord with Australian buyers. In the years since, the medium SUV has truly embedded itself in this country's motoring landscape

This third-generation model might have arrived a few years ago, but it only recently underwent a minor refresh to help renew its appeal. Still, sales are off a bit over 2016's numbers, due largely to the arrival of new or updated rivals.

And so we took the high-spec Ti out for a week to see what's new, and whether it's enough to set it ahead of this hotly contested pack.