Introduced in November 2000, this Nissan SUV was created as an adventure-oriented model aimed at drivers who wanted everyday practicality with a tougher, outdoors-focused character. Nissan’s own heritage material describes the name as combining “X” for extreme sports and “TRAIL” for footprints and rugged paths, reflecting the model’s original 4WD concept and active-lifestyle positioning. The first-generation T30 established the template with a washable, easy-clean interior and utility-minded packaging, and it quickly became one of Nissan’s notable global nameplates.
The model has remained in continuous production through four generations. The second-generation T31, launched for the 2007 model year, carried forward the same rugged brief while adding a more premium feel and advanced all-wheel-drive technology. The third-generation T32, introduced in 2013, moved the nameplate further upmarket with sleeker styling, greater refinement, and broader availability of hybrid powertrains in some markets. In 2020, the fourth-generation T33 arrived in North America first and later in Japan, continuing the same tough-gear identity while adding a more sophisticated, technology-led character.
Across its history, the nameplate has been positioned as a practical SUV with genuine outdoor credentials rather than a soft-roader fashion statement. It has also been notable for keeping the original spirit intact even as Nissan evolved the formula from a utilitarian compact SUV into a more refined global family vehicle.