Although the new-for-2014 Nissan Qashqai is better in almost every respect than the previous model, we know of potential customers who are disappointed that there is no equivalent of the old +2 long-wheelbase version, and that it's therefore impossible to have a current-generation Qashqai with seven seats.Nissan's line is that if you want that many seats you can buy an X-Trail instead, which is true, though perhaps not what all those customers might have wanted. And even within that range those extra two seats are not standard but will cost you an extra £700, an option that around half of UK buyers are expected to take advantage of.Those who do will not be able to carry anyone more substantial than a compact child in the third row, and if you do that you'll have to be careful of rear-end impacts because there isn't much room between heads and rear window, though I've seen worse.The middle seat in the second row is for children only, but the remaining four offer plenty of space for six-foot tall adults, and they can all be made to recline or move forwards or backwards.The only engine currently being offered in the X-Trail is a 128bhp 1.6-litre turbo diesel which is good, and certainly strong enough for what it's asked to do here, but a bit loud. The same unit is noticeably quieter in the Qashqai, which despite being the cheaper model feels generally like a higher-quality product.In support of that comment, the test car's gearchange was quite floppy, which I recognise from older Nissans but not from any example of the new Qashqai I've driven so far. The other major controls are much better, and smooth in operation.Any driving pleasure there might be is limited by the over-soft front suspension which makes the ride less comfortable than would be ideal. On-the-limit handling is probably affected too, but it's difficult to imagine anyone who buys an X-Trail investigating its dynamics that closely.The styling is outstandingly more modern than that of the previous car, but it does involve the use of very thick windscreen pillars and a bare minimum of glass at the back, with obvious effects on your ability to reverse safely. More positive is a luggage capacity of 550 litres when the car is in five-seat configuration and 1982 litres if all but the front seats have been folded down.X-Trail pricing starts at just under £23,000. Most people will pay more than that, though, as the top two of the four trim levels will account for 80% of sales on their own.The n-tec specification tested here includes 19" wheels (not as damaging to ride quality as they are on the Qashqai), DAB digital radio, a powered tailgage, roof rails, Around View Monitor, Forward Emergency Braking and the entirely satisfactory Nissan Connect combination of satellite navigation, connectivity and apps.Teknas have heated leather seats, LED lighting and automatic parking, along with a few more electronic safety aids. Avoiding that lot will save you £2000, and you can spend a further £1700 less by choosing front- rather than four-wheel drive, which makes the X-Trail faster, more economical and cheaper to tax while also restricting its off-road potential. Engine 1598cc, 4 cylinders Power 128bhp Transmission 6-speed manual Fuel/CO2 53.3mpg / 139g/km Acceleration 0-62mph: 11.0 seconds Top speed 116mph Price £28,995 Details correct at publication date
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