NISSAN has launched its revised X-Trail sports utility vehicle (SUV), with attractive pricing and enhanced economy, emissions and tax liabilities.

Revisions include an updated exterior design plus new levels of interior quality, comfort and functionality and CO2 performance.

The entry level X-Trail remains the Acenta, now priced at only £23,995 on the road.

This undercuts the Honda CR-V ES diesel by £685, and the Land Rover Freelander GS by more than £1,000. Standard equipment on the Acenta includes body coloured electrically adjusting door mirrors, privacy glass, automatic headlamps and wipers, front fog lamps and 17in alloy wheels.

The range-topping Tekna model costs just £27,495. Additional features above Acenta trim include power-folding door mirrors, xenon headlamps, panoramic sunroof and leather seats.

The infotainment package incorporates a Connect Premium HDD satnav with music server and USB port, a rear view camera and BOSE audio with nine speakers.

CO2 emissions for the X-Trail 2.0 litre dCi 173 PS diesel manual now stand at just 168g/km. That’s a drop of 30g/km, or 15 per cent. This moves the car down two VED tax bands from Band J (£425) to Band H (£250).

It also takes the company car BIK percentage liability from 32 per cent to 26 per cent. There has also been significant improvement on fuel economy, with performance up from 38.2mpg to 44.1mpg on the combined cycle.

The 2.0 litre dCi 150 PS diesel automatic also benefits from Nissan’s engineering excellence. The CO2 drops from 216g/km to 188g/km, or 13 per cent, which takes the car from VED Band K to Band J and company car BIK liability from 35 to 30 per cent.

Fuel economy improves from 34.9mpg to 39.8mpg on the combined cycle.

Andy Connell, Nissan’s 4x4 marketing manager, said: “These changes make the X-Trail one of the most competitive compact SUVs available today. In terms of performance versus emissions, it could be considered the class leader.

“Our extensive upgrades will help maintain its position in the SUV segment as one of the few truly versatile and agile four-wheel drive vehicles on sale in the UK.”

Technical changes have improved its credentials considerably, without impacting on the car’s outstanding performance both on and off-road. It’s still rated to tow a trailer weighing up to 2,200kg, has 360Nm of torque at just 2,000rpm and accelerates from 0-62mph in 10 seconds.

Mechanical revisions to the X-Trail include a new manual gearbox for optimised environmental performance, and an improved shift schedule and enhanced friction reduction for the automatic transmission.