The X-Trail isn't a good idea for the US. It's an old design and if you ask me the only reason anyone ever thought it was cool was because of the JDM-only X-Trail GT with the SR20VET engine making 278 hp. The GT is an ugly, outdated small SUV that, were I in the market for an SUV, would buy for the engine. The regular version sold in Canada is just an ugly, outdated small SUV that I wouldn't buy.

If Nissan wanted to bring the X-Trail to market in the USA they would have to do it like Subaru is doing with the Forester, and that is to have the hot engine option. A stick shift Forester 2.5 XT will run a 1/4 mile in the high 13s. That's pretty cool. So even though it doesn't work as an SUV nearly as well as the Honda CR-V, the Forester is still able to command some interest in the marketplace.

But it's a moot point since the X-Trail is most likely never going to be sold in this country.