Nissan TERRANO RANGE
Nissan's Latest Terrano Still Has Much To Offer 4x4 Buyers Seeking Something That Can Really Get Its Hands Dirty. Andy Enright Reports
Its still going! Although some are surprised that, given the success of the all-conquering X-Trail, the rough and ready Terrano model is still on Nissans books, theres a very good reason. A small but loyal core of fans has kept Terrano sales ticking over quite nicely and although it may not last too much longer, a set of revisions to the Terrano range have pruned the excess and left the best bits. With more equipment than ever, the Terrano could be the rough diamond youd never considered.
Nissan have simplified the line up enormously, dropping the slow selling S and Sport trims and persevering with the equipment-stuffed SE and SVE variants. They also make the less than grandiose claim we suspect with tongue firmly in cheek that the Terrano is also the best equipped, seven seating, 4x4 thats able to tow 2.8 tonnes available for less than £21,000. Given that this list of stipulations prunes the playing field down to one contender, the competition isnt too fierce.
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Its still an all-diesel line up with a choice between the 125bhp 2.7-litre TD and the 154bhp 3.0-litre Di engines in either three or five doors. The range opens with the three-door 2.
7TD SE at £17,995, with three-door buyers also getting the option of a 3.0Di SVE for £21,395. Five-door buyers are well catered for with SE versions of the 2.7 and 3.
0-litre engines as well as the 3.0-litre SVE in either manual or automatic forms topping out at £25,495. These prices have been pruned by between £500 and £1,000 over previous Terrano models but the good news doesnt stop there.
Nissan have belatedly realised that fake wood and two-tone paint doesnt really cut the mustard in a sophisticated marketplace and have junked these features.
In come 17-inch six-spoke alloy wheels and a dashboard that features a titanium centre trim. Metallic paint is available in five colours, two of which are new. If you really want the Japanese personal import look, two-tone paint is available as an option on the SVE. Tan interiors have also been given the boot in favour of
smart black.
"Nissan have simplified the Terrano line up enormously"
When this car was originally launched, it was positioned as a more affordable alternative to large 4x4s like
Land Rover's Discovery. Then the bottom fell out of the large 4x4 market and all the goalposts changed. While the Discovery - and rivals like it - was repositioned further upmarket in the luxury sector, the Terrano was left to do battle with a growing band of compact 4x4s led by Land Rover's smaller Freelander. The Nissan was bigger of course - and not that dissimilar to drive - but buyers perceived smaller rivals that also included cars from
Honda,
Toyota and
Suzuki as being fresher and more modern. Hence the most recent series of Terrano updates. There's a smartly revised look both inside and out, plus a heavy dose of the latest technology. Plus of course, you get a bigger car into the bargain for not much more money. The current look is modelled on the recently restyled Navara pick-up not an auspicious start, you might think. Still, it looks quite smart and is still more manoeuvrable than you might think.
Though the last set of nose revisions meant that the Terranos size increased by 25mm in length, its waist is still a slim 1755mm, making this 4x4 trimmer and less of a bind on country lanes than apparently smaller rivals like Land Rovers Freelander. On the move, the hi-tech emphasis continues, this being one of the few affordable 4x4s to be fitted with EBD - Electronic Brake Distribution. EBD is a feature we've seen fitted to luxury cars for some time but it is high-sided 4x4s with their higher centre of gravity that really need it, due to their tendency towards longitudinal pitching. Put simply, it's easy to stamp on the brakes in any car and get it out of shape but it's a lot harder to gather everything together again in a vehicle like this. EBD counters that kind of emergency situation by continuously monitoring the performance of the rear brakes, allocating the maximum amount of force possible during heavy braking. As a result, the Terrano II boasts one of the best braking performances on the 4x4 market, stopping between 5.6 and 8.
2m shorter than its predecessor, depending on conditions. In addition, there's a clever ABS system that cuts out below 8kmh to improve retardation in conditions like deep snow or sand. From SE level up, youll also find side airbags and active front head restraints fitted. All Terranos now feature air conditioning, electric windows and door mirrors, an alarm system, side steps, a CD stereo with wheel mounted audio controls and, in the case of the five-door versions, a removable third row bench
seat. That only leaves full leather trim, heated front seats and a CD autochanger for the SVE flagship.
Like most of its competitors, this Nissan will continue to be bought by those whose priorities lie less with mud-plugging and more with a family vehicle that might occasionally be used for weekends away. You'll find carrying six or seven people in comfort, towing a trailer or transporting two months worth of shopping and a soggy dog all comfortably within the Terrano's abilities. Abilities that the latest round of changes have cast in a fresher, more appealing light. Even for X-Trail target customers, this car may still be worth a look.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Nissan Terrano range
PRICES: £17,995-£25,495 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 12-14
CO2 EMISSIONS: 232-263g/km
PERFORMANCE: [3.0] 0-60mph 13.5s / Max Speed 105mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [3.0 5dr] (urban) 23.9mpg/ (extra urban) 37.2mpg/ (combined) 31.0mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS, EBD
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5-dr] length/width/height 4722/1755/1810 mm
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