Nissan

Budget crossover that’s a twin of the Renault Kiger.

Nice infotainment touchscreens, but cabin materials feel very cheap. Laudable safety spec. All versions have 6 airbags, ESP and tyre pressure monitoring.

Magnite’s 1-litre turbo engine works very hard for a living. The on/off boost response makes smooth driving in low-speed traffic or on steep urban terrain a chore. Non-turbo 1.0 is very slow at highway speeds, especially on the Highveld.

Magnite has good ground clearance for rough dirt roads at 205mm and surprisingly good suspension function for its price. Suzuki’s Fronx feels like a better quality product. Chery’s Tiggo 4 offers much better engine performance and features.

Timelessly attractive bakkie design with low risk of theft and hijacking – unlike the market leaders.

Navara’s 2.5 turbodiesel engine makes decent numbers. But can’t compare with a Ranger2.0 BiTurbo and Hilux 2.8 for overtaking and towing performance.

Only bakkie in class with coil-sprung rear suspension and a full 1t payload ability (Ranger Raptor also has coils, but much lower payload). Navara’s ride quality and stability on corrugated dirt roads can be class-leading with appropriate tyre pressures.

The cabin is feeling its age, with average materials and cramped rear-seat accommodation.

Worth remembering that Mercedes-Benz based its double cab on the Navara’s platform. Locally built, which means there’s a reasonable onshore supply chain of parts

The Warrior version is a very capable off-road upgrade without being compromised on-road.

Once Rav4’s most credible rival, but no longer the class-leading alternative it once was.

Exterior design balances conservative and contemporary elements. And there’s ample screen size and UX functionality in the cabin.

But the issue is that X-Trail no longer has any of those pioneering diesels that made it so popular in the 2000s. And there aren’t any clever PHEV options, either.

X-Trail’s 2.5 petrol engine is just too heavy on fuel, too, for a non-turbo powertrain.

Ride quality across all surfaces remains excellent, true to X-Trail’s legacy as a comfortable mixed-terrain cruiser.

Toyota, the Koreans and a flood of new Chinese rivals just have too much technological integration and powertrain diversity on offer.