2026 Nissan X-Trail e-Power AWD review

Our verdict

The X-Trail e-Power AWD is the most capable version of Nissan's family SUV pairing EV-style smoothness with clever dual-motor all-wheel drive and no charging cable. It's for families who tow, head to the snow or regularly leave the bitumen. The catch is a missing spare wheel, and for buyers who don't need AWD, the cheaper 2WD now makes more sense.

What does the X-Trail e-Power AWD cost in Australia?

The e-Power AWD range spans three grades: the ST-L at $49,080, the Ti at $54,580 and the flagship Ti-L at $58,380, all before on-road costs.

The e-Power hybrid is no longer AWD-only. Nissan has added 2WD versions of all three grades, priced between $3090 and $3665 less, and for most families they're the better buy.

View Nissan X-Trail driveaway pricing and specifications →

The ST-L AWD is the value pick, sitting just under the equivalent Toyota RAV4 GX Hybrid AWD at $49,340. The Ti is the sweet spot, adding leather, 19-inch alloys and a more upmarket feel. At $58,380 before on-roads, the Ti-L is harder to justify, with the RAV4 Cruiser AWD and Outlander PHEV both within reach.

What does the X-Trail e-Power AWD look like?

Nissan has moved away from the previous generation's slightly anonymous shape and given this X-Trail genuine road presence. The split headlights are more cohesive than similar treatments elsewhere, and the V-motion grille still works. It looks chunky without falling into the over-styled trap that catches plenty of mid-sized SUVs.

The Ti and Ti-L look the part on bigger alloys, with the Ti on 19s and the Ti-L stepping up to 20s. Full LED lighting, black mirror caps and restrained chrome give the range a tasteful, premium look. It's less in-your-face than a Hyundai Santa Fe, and that's probably the point.

What is the X-Trail e-Power AWD like inside?

The X-Trail's cabin is one of its biggest strengths and it gets better the further up the range you go.

The real win is the layout. Nissan has resisted the push to bury everything in touchscreens, so climate control sits behind two proper dials and a row of physical buttons. The steering wheel uses real switches, and the stubby drive selector is simple to use. You can operate almost everything without taking your eyes off the road.

The 12.3-inch infotainment screen is responsive and runs wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The driver's display is sharp, though the graphics feel a generation behind some rivals. Storage is excellent, with deep door bins, a handy shelf under the floating centre console and a wireless charging pad that holds your phone in place.

The ST-L covers the essentials well, with heated, power-adjustable front seats and dual-zone climate control. The Ti adds leather and a more premium feel. The Ti-L is the one that really impresses, with quilted Nappa leather, a 10-speaker Bose stereo, a panoramic sunroof, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel and a 10.8-inch head-up display. Soft-touch materials and faux-wood inserts look far more expensive than you'd expect.

How practical is the X-Trail e-Power AWD?

Rear-seat space is excellent for a five-seater. The rear doors swing wide, the floor is flat, and there's enough head and knee room for adults on longer trips. In the Ti-L, heated outboard rear seats and rear sunshades lift the experience further.

The boot measures 575 litres with the rear seats up, which is competitive without being class-leading. The 60:40 split rear bench includes a fold-down centre section, so skis or long boards can pass through the middle while two passengers stay seated. There's useful underfloor storage too.

The catch is that every e-Power X-Trail is a five-seater. If you need a third row, you'll have to choose a seven-seat petrol ST or ST-L AWD. Braked towing is 1650kg, which is enough for a camper trailer or a small boat but less than the petrol models offer. It's still well ahead of the 2WD e-Power's 670kg, and that alone could make the AWD the right choice.

What is the X-Trail e-Power AWD like to drive?

This is the bit that surprises you.

The e-Power system works differently from a Toyota or Hyundai hybrid. The 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine never drives the wheels. It charges a small 2.1kWh battery, which feeds two electric motors, one on each axle, for a combined 157kW and a 0-100km/h time of around seven seconds.

In practice, the X-Trail drives like an EV. Throttle response is instant, there's no droning CVT and acceleration builds in one smooth, linear shove. Around town it's outstanding, with the engine occasionally humming into life to top up the battery while you barely notice.

On hills or freeway on-ramps, the engine becomes more noticeable. Hearing revs that don't match your acceleration feels a little disconnected at first, but you adjust within a day. The bigger payoff is cabin quiet, with very little noise intruding at 100km/h.

The e-4orce AWD system works particularly well. With a motor on each axle, it can adjust torque almost instantly, and there's plenty of traction on wet roads and gravel or when accelerating hard out of an intersection.

The downside is steering that's too light. It's effortless in car parks, but on a winding road it never builds enough weight to place the car with confidence. Body control is good and the ride is composed without feeling soggy, but this isn't an enthusiast's SUV. That's fine, because it isn't trying to be.

How efficient is the X-Trail e-Power AWD?

Nissan claims 6.1L/100km combined for the e-Power AWD. Our mix of urban, freeway and suburban driving in the Ti-L returned 6.5L/100km. That isn't class-leading, and a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid will do better in the same conditions.

The upside is range. The 55-litre tank gives you more than 800km between fills, without having to think about charging infrastructure or hunting for a working DC fast charger on a long weekend. It's not the most efficient hybrid, but more than 800km from a tank is still hard to argue with.

Servicing is capped at $399 per visit for the first five years.

Nissan's 10-year, 300,000km warranty is one of the most generous in the segment, and roadside assistance is included for the same period. You need to keep servicing at an authorised Nissan dealer, otherwise cover reverts to five years and unlimited kilometres.

Is the X-Trail e-Power AWD safe?

The X-Trail carries a five-star ANCAP rating, with 91% for adult occupant protection and 97% for safety assist.

Standard kit across the range includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, junction assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and seven airbags, including a front-centre airbag. Every e-Power grade also gets a 360-degree camera.

The Ti-L adds Nissan's ProPilot system, which pairs adaptive cruise with lane centring. It works smoothly on freeways and takes real strain out of long drives.

What are the main competitors to the X-Trail e-Power AWD?

The Toyota RAV4 is the efficiency benchmark, from $49,340 plus on-roads for the GX Hybrid AWD. The new generation is more refined than ever, but matching the Ti-L's equipment means stepping up to the Cruiser AWD at $60,340 plus on-roads. The X-Trail answers with a more electric driving feel, a richer cabin and a far longer warranty.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the plug-in alternative, from around $57,290 plus on-roads. It shares the X-Trail's underpinnings and can run on electricity alone for short commutes. If you can charge at home it might be the smarter buy, but if you can't, the Nissan wins.

The Kia Sportage is the value play, with the S Hybrid AWD from $47,450 plus on-roads. It's frugal and refined, but it can't match the Nissan's 10-year warranty, and its cabin doesn't feel as polished.

The Mazda CX-5 is the driver's choice and has just entered a new generation. It's sharper to drive than the X-Trail, but there's no hybrid option yet, so it can't compete on fuel use or EV-like smoothness.

The RAV4 is still the better choice if fuel economy is your priority, but the X-Trail has the nicer cabin, longer warranty and a more EV-like driving experience.

Should I buy the X-Trail e-Power AWD?

Yes, if you need the AWD.

The e-Power AWD remains the X-Trail to buy if you actually need its extra capability. It drives like an electric car, covers serious distances on a tank, tows a useful 1650kg and wraps it all in a cabin that feels properly premium. The 10-year warranty is another strong reason to choose it over its rivals.

Our pick is the Ti, which delivers most of the experience without stretching to Ti-L money. The Ti-L is lovely, but the missing spare wheel is hard to forgive, so regional drivers should budget for one.

If you don't tow and rarely leave sealed roads, save the money and buy the 2WD e-Power instead. If you do, this is the X-Trail to have.