Can you distinguish between the Nissan X-Trail and the Qashqai? That’s the question that seemed to be on everyone’s lips as I took the new X-Trail for a test drive on our roads. I had driven the new SUV back in May at its European launch but it’s never the same until you get out on some familiar roads.

That’s why the X-Trail felt a little different now. I covered close to 500km across a range of road conditions and got to grips with why it felt different. The fact that it has seven seats instead of the Qashqai’s five didn’t impact on me that much; it was the stronger feel of the X-Trail that impressed.

This new X-Trail is a very different 4x4 than in the past. Nissan are calling it an SUV rather than a 4x4, taking away the impression of it being a work vehicle and more of a car for family and fun driving. And it’s now available as a more cost-effective two-wheel-drive version too.

While many new X-Trail drivers will be impressed by the look, they will also be impressed with the lower entry prices. This new X-Trail is about €1,000 less than the previous model entry price.

The preferred engine option for the new X-Trail is the 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine, similar to what’s available for the Qashqai. It is slightly higher in power compared with the Qashqai, but is marginally slower in terms of acceleration.

At 130bhp, it’s less powerful than the older 173bhp 2.0-litre engine fitted to the previous model. The most obvious loss for rural drivers is the towing ability.

The gain is better economy and more comfort, and I suppose more people will prefer that side of the choice. The economy differences are very significant, making this a cheaper SUV/4x4 to own than in the past.

The new X-Trail is heavier than the Qashqai and, with that, comes poorer economy. But it’s still comparable with the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe and a match in terms of economy for one of my favourites, the Mazda CX5.

Relative to the older X-Trail, the economy difference is very positive. That’s because Nissan claims that the new version is 90kg lighter than the model it replaces.

I was surprised that the 60-litre capacity fuel tank is smaller than that of the Qashqai, giving me a range of 745km. That means more stops, especially as the X-Trail will more likely be used for towing.

In driving terms, the X-Trail is slightly longer than the Qashqai. The wheelbase is also longer and this gives good driving comfort and road holding. I found it easy to get comfortable in the X-Trail, but the longer vehicle means that it has a larger turning circle. So you need to have parking sensors and the Nissan reversing camera fitted for driving comfort.

The X-Trail that I had on test was the two-wheel-drive version, which gives the best economy when matched to an easy-to-use six-speed manual gearbox. The lack of a four-wheel-drive system meant that I had limited off-road driving, apart from a dry field.

Nissan offers an electronic four-wheel drive system, ALL MODE 4x4-i. This is controlled via a rotary switch on the centre console. It offers a choice between two-wheel drive, auto mode or lock, offering permanent four-wheel drive, but brings no benefits in terms of towing capacity.

Those who need extra seating will have to choose the X-Trail over the Qashqai. There is more than a €3,000 price difference between both and, when you need the extra seats, that jumps to more than €5,000 of a price difference.

The new X-Trail has a higher specification than in the past. All grades feature air-conditioning, alloy wheels and six airbags, LED daytime running lights, five-inch colour display, Bluetooth with microphone, cruise control and speed limiter. Hill start assist, sliding and reclining rear seats and a luggage board system are also among standard features.

The X-Trail prices are naturally slightly higher than those of the Qashqai. The CO2 rating is only marginally higher; the €70 extra annual road won’t break anyone.

The X-Trail feels marginally stronger looking than the Qashqai – more to do with the bodywork and extra length. The benefits are hard to measure over the Qashqai except if you need seven seats; over the previous X-Trail there’s better economy, comfort and lots more features at a better price.

Nissan X-Trail 4x4 1.6 SVE

Engine 1.6 litre

Engine power 130bhp

0 – 100km/hr 10.5 seconds

Economy 20.4km/litre

Fuel tank capacity 60 litres

CO2 emissions 129g/km

Road tax band B1 (€270)

Main service 20,000km/ 12 months

Safety rating Five stars

Towing rating 2,000kg

Warranty Three years

Entry price €29,950

NI price £22,995