Once a boxy, rough-round-the-edges softroader, the Nissan X-Trail has undergone a surprising maturation on its fourth official rodeo (with four eyes now too), while gaining (partial) electrification for the first time on our roads.

In fact, we'd go as far as to say that as specced for the Singapore market, Nissan's largest here is even creeping slightly into premium territory.

Nissan fans should already be familiar with the firm's unique e-POWER drivetrain - the car's wheels are driven solely by electric power, while the on-board combustion engine is used purely to power the battery feeding the power. But as the flagship of the lineup in Singapore, the X-Trail expands on this principle in novel ways.

For one, a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine lies under the hood - a far more capable generator than the 1.2-litre naturally aspirated engine used in pre-existing e-POWER models. Secondly, it's used to power two electric motors, as opposed to the single one on siblings like the Kicks and Serena.

Apart from unleashing better performance (211bhp and 330Nm of torque to be exact), the two motors residing separately on the front and rear axle manage power delivery and braking to each individual wheel to give a driver more control. It also gives the X-Trail some genuine (if only slight) off-road capabilities, helping it to stand out from its more tarmac-oriented peers.

Naturally, buyers of the X-Trail are likely to spend 99.99% of their time on Singapore's roads instead, and here, the SUV is thoroughly satisfying to live with.

As expected by those output figures, this is a decently brisk machine that masks its weight and size with its pace and all-round visibility respectively (just don't throw it hard around bends). Furthermore, Nissan has arguably been crafting the best interiors among the Japanese carmakers as of late, and the current X-Trail confidently asserts its place as the local flagship. Front occupants are treated to a good amount of digital real-estate; switchgear, swivel knobs and buttons are well-damped; Nappa leather is even offered as an add-on.

Above all, however, the X-Trail is a potent package for the demographic it's aimed at: Families. That third row might just be for kids, but its versatility as a 5+2 seater is undeniable, and its second row is wonderfully commodious in instances you only need to ferry five.