Nissan X-Trail e-Power FWD 2027: first drive review

The Nissan X-Trail has never been a bundle of laughs … unless the original model’s dogged understeer and wobbly body shimmy over corrugations fuelled your schadenfreude. So it’s not surprising that this legacy of lugubriousness perhaps unfairly ushered 2022’s fourth-gen T33 X-Trail through the service entrance, rather than via the red carpet.

But here at Chasing Cars, we’ve tended to oscillated between surprise and astonishment at just how sweetly the T33 X-Trail drives – especially the base ST petrol on the highest-profile tyres.

Lithe, poised, encouraging and crisply responsive, the Japanese SUV mimics a good French car in the way it tackles Australian curves, though its ageing 2.5-litre petrol four – robust and likeable as it is – can trace its origins back 25 years, so right now couldn’t be a better time for Nissan Oz to expand its e-Power hybrid alternatives.

Previously only offered in ‘e4orce’ AWD form, this late-2026 update to the facelifted MY26 X-Trail line-up introduces a trio of front-drive e-Power variants that forego a rear electric motor.

Lost is a degree of power (down 7kW) and torque (down 195Nm), if trading for superior fuel efficiency (now 5.4L/100km combined – down 11.5 percent) and sexier price tags (down $3090 to $3665, depending on the variant).

What this means is that the list price of a base X-Trail e-Power is now $45,990 for the ST-L FWD ($2500 more than the ST-L 2.5 petrol FWD), and as of October 2026, also $45,990 drive-away.

This price point makes it impressively good value compared to its chief mainstream rivals – the Toyota RAV4 GX Hybrid FWD (also $45,990, or $50,723 driveaway), Hyundai Tucson Hybrid FWD (currently $44,990 driveaway) and Kia Sportage SX Hybrid FWD ($48,990 driveaway).

And yet sifting through the ST-L e-Power FWD’s standard equipment, it’s hard to believe it’s a one-up-from-base spec, especially inside.

There’s stitched padding across the dashboard, centre console and door armrests, as well as leather-faced upholstery, 10-way electric adjustment for both front seats plus electric lumbar and heating, sliding second-row seats, wireless phone charging, dual-zone climate control, a 360-degree camera and front parking sensors, as well as 18-inch alloys.

It’s a roomy, robustly built, ergonomically intelligent interior with excellent front seats, a great driving position and plenty of storage, though boot space (575 litres to the ceiling) is only average for the class.

The X-Trail’s premium-mainstream perception becomes even more apparent once you start driving the ST-L e-Power FWD. With only one electric motor and 150kW/330Nm to pull 1752kg, it doesn’t quite have the punch of the ‘e4orce’ AWD but it isn’t far off.

And the distant thrumming of its turbo-triple petrol engine under full-throttle acceleration is preferable to the slightly strained revving of a CVT-equipped RAV4 Hybrid.

Being an ‘e-Power’, where the 106kW/250Nm petrol engine acts as a generator to keep the battery charged, it’s the electric motor that directly drives the front wheels, not a combustion engine and a regular transmission. So it spends much of its time in the city wafting around in soothing silence, which amps its feeling of refinement.

Nissan also fits an ‘e-Pedal’ button ahead of the gearlever slider that adds a useful degree of seemingly adaptive regenerative braking, which works well in both urban driving, dynamic cornering and even off road.

Yes, on the e-Power FWD launch in New Zealand we drove an ST-L variant (wearing 235/60R18 Dunlop Grandtreks) along dirt tracks and through rocky river crossings and it had no issue with maintaining momentum, despite having only 187mm of ground clearance.

The X-Trail 2.5 petrol, though, has a minimum 205mm clearance, which is perhaps why the new off-roady ‘Rock Creek’ variant is exclusively petrol AWD in Oz.

But it was on the wonderfully twisting roads adjacent to Lake Wakatipu on the outskirts of Queenstown that the X-Trail e-Power FWD demonstrated what a classy piece of work it is. Combining consistently weighted and reasonably firm steering with a terrific stance on the road and a fine sense of balance, it blends dynamism with effortless confidence.

Admittedly, the petrol version does feel slightly crisper and a bit more natural steering-wise, though the difference isn’t a deal-breaker.

But compared to the mostly decent road manners of China’s current class best when it comes to dynamics and hybrid drivetrain (the MG HS Hybrid+), the X-Trail e-Power FWD has a maturity to its chassis balance, ride control and driving position that elevates it well beyond cheap-and-cheerful.

The main area where the current-generation e-Power has received a degree of criticism is that it isn’t as fuel-efficient as a series-parallel, naturally aspirated Toyota hybrid, though the e-Power e4orce AWD has always been as much of a performance choice as an efficiency one.

With a combined fuel consumption figure of 5.4L/100km (compared to 4.5L/100km for the RAV4 GX FWD), it could be argued Nissan’s front-drive version largely bridges that efficiency gap – especially if you take into consideration its ability to regularly drink 91-octane whereas the Toyota needs 95RON.

During the launch drive over 250km of varying terrain, including off-roading, and with plenty of foot-flat overtaking, our test ST-L e-Power FWD averaged a decent 6.5L/100km. Given the size of its fuel tank, that calculates to a comfortable 850km of total range.

The RAV4 GX FWD has slightly more braked towing capacity as well (800kg versus 670kg), though if you need your X-Trail e-Power to tow, the e4orce AWD can pull 1650kg braked.

But the appeal of the ST-L e-Power FWD, especially at the current $45,990 driveaway price, is its all-round goodness and its feeling of quality. No matter where you look, it’s almost impossible to find a rough edge.

It’s a solid, capable, handsome car that can also have its warranty extended to a benchmark 10 years/300,000km if you service it at a Nissan dealer, where you’ll be paying $399 every 12 months or 15,000km (which is middling for its class).

Budget Direct told us the median annual premium purchased for the first time between 1/5/25 and 1/5/26 to comprehensively insure a new Nissan X-Trail was $1300. Individual circumstances and policy terms may vary.

Of course, everybody’s situation is different, and the premium will vary according to make and model, and other things insurers take into account, such as your postcode, driving history, who drives the car, where you garage the car and more.

Please quote for yourself. Subject to meeting underwriting criteria. Insurance issued by Auto & General Insurance Company Limited. See PDS & TMD at budgetdirect.com.au.

About the only caveat is the ST-L’s projected three-year Red Book resale of 49.0 percent, which is similar to the Tucson Hybrid’s (52.3%) and better than an MG HS Essence Hybrid+ (46.0%), but some way behind the Sportage SX Hybrid FWD (65.8%) and RAV4 GX FWD (77.8%).

There’s also a new-generation T34 X-Trail due by the end of 2027, which will introduce a third-generation e-Power drivetrain that Nissan engineers claim will offer 15 percent better highway economy. But it will also have a screen-heavy interior so maybe what we see here is the sweet spot? It’s now well-proven that newer doesn’t equal better…

…which leaves the X-Trail ST-L e-Power FWD in a rather appealing position. It’s a lot of well-engineered car for relatively attainable money, though if you want more bells-and-whistles, there’s always the Ti e-Power FWD ($52,490 driveaway) or the flagship Ti-L ($55,490 driveaway).