Nissan back on track with latest X-Trail

BADGE snobbery is a truly a terrible thing to witness. In automotive terms, badge snobbery is a situation whereby a person knows they could easily save a bunch of money on a car which will serve their every need, but cannot do so because said car’s perceived status would not fit their idea of their own social standing.

I came across a vivid example of the phenomenon some years back when, after reviewing the excellent original Nissan X-Trail and telling readers it was a fair match when compared with many more expensive 4x4s, but even more of an attractive purchase when you balanced ability and price.

A guy I know rang me to ask if I was serious and when assured I was, he went out and test drove the X-Trail. Having asked him to let me know how he got on, the man duly reported back to say he was hugely impressed by the Nissan, but there was no way on earth he’d buy one. Why? Well, because it was a Nissan.