GRRC Garage: Nissan X-Trail – so long

Yes, it’s time to bid farewell to the big orange beast as Nissan UK have turned up to take their X-Trail back home.

But how do we reflect on six dazzling months in the big seven-seater? Pretty well is the answer. It lugged anything and everything we tried to put in it, to anywhere we pointed it at.

And what a life it lived with us: touring up and down the country as well as motoring to Paris, Geneva and Reims, it even took a brief trip to Anglesey. Its vast boot space, whether in seven- or five-seat configuration was always able to carry more kit that we really knew what to do with on the other end, while its capable four-wheel-drive system probably saved us while a deadly blizzard hit from nowhere through the French countryside (some other, less well-equipped cars did succumb to the biblical conditions). If it wasn’t lugging loads the X-Trail was a camera car for an incredible variety of machinery. From the selection of BMW M5s that were driven in the north of Wales to the incredible Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato that is going on sale at FOS.

Our overriding memory must be of refinement at a surprisingly affordable cost. The X-Trail features almost everything you could wish for in a car – all loaded into an enjoyable interior – while still only tipping just over the £37,000 mark. While not quite as economical as some of its predecessors an average of just under 40mpg over the six months is impressive for a car that pushes the scales past two-tonnes.

So bye-bye X-Trail, we remember you as a good looking, surprisingly good to drive and incredible capable load-lugger.

MPG this week: 37.6