THE award winning Nissan X-Trail has been voted "Soft Roader of the Year 2003"' for the second consecutive year by the off-road magazine, 4x4. It is the third award this year for the X-Trail.

The judges said: “The Nissan X-Trail has blasted into this sector and taken it by storm for two years running. It’s smooth-driving and superbly practical, offering not only an excellent load space (in easy clean plastic) and comfortable seating for five, but also a central flap in the backrest to cope with unusually long loads, like skis or snowboards, for example.

“Add all this to its two lively, torquey engines - a speedy 2.0-litre lump and a beefy 2.2-litre turbodiesel - and its inoffensive and sleek styling, and you have a clear winner. Well behaved and capable on the road, the baby Nissan also has sufficient off-road ability to get it over difficult terrain, in short it has everything a soft roader should have.”

The X-Trail comes with a choice of two new engines: 140PS 2.0-litre petrol and 114PS 2.2-litre diesel and three trim levels: S, Sport and SE+. Prices start at £16,750.