Mum & Dad's 2005 Nissan X-Trail SVE 2.2 dCi

There are all sorts of SUV's and off-road vehicles, and I've only ever been keen on a small number of an even smaller proportion of them. Old or new, I don't mind the really basic utilitarian mud sluggers, you know the original Land Rovers (and their later 90/110 /Defender variants), the Suzuki Jimny and it's SJ410 predecessor, the Jeep that pretty much got the market segment going in the first place, even the Lada Niva has a basic appeal, oh, and don't get me started on the Dacia Duster. I even quite like some of the gas guzzling, big engined (you know cubic capacities that read like phone numbers), be-turbo'd, luxo-palaces on wheels, mostly the Range Rover and Mercedes G-Wagon, but the odd Yank-tank if the mood takes me. The middle ground however, mostly Japanese, often a pick-up, with a load-bay cover, blacked out windows, and more chrome than a Halfords accessory catalog, they and their ilk leave me stone cold. They might have 4WD to balance out the handling somewhat, and healthy Turbo Diesel torque outputs, but all are heavier and tailer than a similarly spec'ed estate car, which would out perform its rugged counterpart everywhere, except off-road. And who's really gonna put 20-30 grands worth of shinny new SUV through some serious rough terrain hardship in the first place?

Enter my parents Nissan X-Trail, bought new in August 2005, with un-characteristic frivolity when it came to choosing the specification. The 2.2 diesel with its six speed manual 'box was probably the best UK option, the SVE spec level choice effectively ticked all the manufacturer options boxes, with only a few dealer fit options such as bull-bars and lamp-packs of questionable taste left on the shelf for another spend-easy to waste their pension money on. So as you approach the car you're greeted by metallic black paint, alloy wheels, chrome door handles, and privacy-glass windows. Clamber aboard and the list continues, leather, climate control, large screen Sat-Nav, heated seats, powerful stereo, cruise control, electric everything, including the massive glazed sunroof that you don't notice from outside because it sits out of sight, above your line of sight. The first thing I normally do when driving this car is adjust everything, move the seat back, down, and back some more, the steering wheel needs to shift up slightly, then the rear view mirrors, after that, a prescribed pause before starting the engine, before finally, the change of radio station away from that crackly LW Radio 4 drone.

The festive duties nearly over, I've returned my parents to their home on the seafront between Barmouth and Harlech, and can chill out for a few days before returning to the North East for New Years Eve entertainment with friends. Its a nice quiet day, and amazingly for North Wales (and British winters in general), the sun is out, albeit low in the sky. I've already been to Barmouth and back with Mother in search of food supplies to survive through to the weekend, so with only an hour or so's daylight left I'm keen to head out and get some photos taken. This is a thin but usable excuse to trace the rest of the A496 that runs out from Dolgellau to Barmouth, then along the coast through Harlech, Ynys (pronounce the Y's as I's) and Talsarnau (don't ask, I'm not sure), before heading inland beside what I thing is called the Crigyll estuary. This bit of the A496 can be especially good fun as most of the traffic turns off at the toll bridge in search of Penrhyndeudraeth and Porthmadog (I'm not making these up, honest), there are a few nice passing places to deal with any errant view seekers, and some seriously entertaining twisty bits on which to hone your skills.

With the sun sinking ever westward into the Irish Sea, I turn around at Maentwrog where the A496 crosses the A487 (its worth carrying on along the A496 all the way to Blaenau Ffestiniog if you're not rushed for time like I am), stopping opposite The Grapes Hotel to take the first few photo's outside an old stone built garage that I covet every time I pass this way. It's usually whilst photographing cars, that I really start to take on board their details properly. These first generation X-Trails had centre mounted displays with a correspondingly geometric dash top and centre console layout. This allows for some interesting features, like the extra vent that can direct cool air at the drivers face through the top of the steering wheel, and a useful storage bin beyond it with a 5 volt power socket (great for charging a mobile phone or or wiring up the iPod). The Sat-Nav screen dominates the console with large easy to use buttons beneath helping to age the devise, along with the dated software. The single din stereo is covered with fiddly little buttons, but easier to use steering wheel mounted controls negate their use most of the time. Three large round dials with push button centres make setting the climate control easy work too, although they can mostly be set to auto and left to both, keep occupants cosy and windows clear.

With the light fading fast, I hurry back along the estuary road in search of a farmers lay-by with a suitably picturesque backdrop for one or two final picture. Clambering in and out several times to adjust the cars situation in the landscape, I understand why Mum and Dad like the elevated seating position of these SUV's so much. Climbing aboard and disembarking can be a lot easier than in the standard family runaround. Other popular features include the heated seats which keep Mum happy, and deep cup holders which help keep Dad refreshed. The exterior styling is unashamedly chunky with large wheel arches, sturdy bumpers, and 'big' detailing, such as large lamp clusters and substantial D pillars. The looks might be a bit too rugged for my taste, but it'd be unfair to deny that this is a well proportioned nicely finished vehicle. And there is no denying that this is a very rugged vehicle. I've never had the opportunity, or more to the point, the knobbly tyres and back-up crew to try this thing off-road to any great extent, but if its capacity to shrug off snow and severe rain is anything to go by, I suspect it would prove itself competent at the very least.

This view of its potential off-road capabilities is enhanced by its on road abilities. The 2.2 litre common rail turbo diesel is a fairly old fashioned noisy brute of an engine, but it delivers 136bhp and rather healthy 232lb/ft. The 0-60mph and fuel consumption don't sound too great on paper (at 11 point something and 39mpg) but that useable torque makes for pretty good cross country performance, with reasonable real world mpg figures. Pressing on along the old B4573 back into Harlech, the 2WD transmission mode which helps increase that mpg a little, also starts to leave the front tyres with just a little too much to do, as they start to scrabble for grip in the leaf mulch covered corners. Flicking over to the AUTO mode, brings the rear drivetrain into action as necessary and quelling any understeer quite nicely. There always seems to be a higher or lower gear ready and waiting in that six speed 'box too. Mooching the last few miles back to my folks house for another cup of tea and an episode of Dads Army before dinner, it dawns on me, just how fond I have become of this X-Trail over the years. It's a straight forward, honest old fella, that is comfortable with who and what it is. It is willing to play on twisty roads to the best of its abilities, chomp its way through big motorway journeys, and do a myriad of other mundane but useful tasks. You could almost call it a sports utility vehicle really....

Thanks to Mum & Dad for the loan of their car. (now as always!)
ⓒ Dan Ewing 2013