When it comes to the PPV segment, any buyer would be spoilt for choice. It is one of the most sought-after segments in the country, and any serious automaker has a PPV model. Nissan’s Terra is one of the established nameplates, but it is already quite old when compared to the current crop of PPVs.
Despite this, the brand reaffirms and stands behind the Terra by giving it updates here and there to keep it “updated” and relevant, but are they enough?
Nissan Terra Sport 4×2 Exterior
Table of Contents
Lookwise, the Terra hasn’t really changed much over the years, keeping the same design cues and the same overall familiar boxy and curvy silhouette the Terra has come to be known for. I’d say the Terra has always leaned towards a more classy look compared to a full-on rugged motif, which works even in this Sport variant that adds some blacked-out trim, accompanied by the red body color.
I’d say Nissan has done a good job in still keeping the Terra as a modern-looking PPV, though I’d say the platform design is pretty much maxed out already. I’m not sure how much longer the brand can just keep tweaking the look.
Interior
This is where the age of the Nissan Terra platform shows; the layout and general look of the interior is quite dated despite an updated dashboard panel. Where it shows its true age is the TV screen for the 2nd row passengers, a unit you could almost say is stuck in the mid-2010s.
I have to point out, though, that even if the interior seems older, the materials used are upscale and soft to the touch. Also, I noticed how ergonomic it is, with all you need right where you expect them to be, and the modern headunit does come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Space is where the Terra shines; the body proportions and packaging are much better than the competition. There are no pinch points or weird floor layouts, it is just a straightforward, spacious PPV.
Performance and Safety
Shoving the Terra along is the all-familiar 2.5-liter turbocharged diesel engine that makes 190 PS and 450 Nm of torque, paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission that drives the rear wheels in this 4×2 variant.
Safety is accounted for in the form of the Nissan Intelligent Mobility safety system, which has a whole host of features to make Terra owners and drivers safer on the roads.
Driving Impressions
One glaring difference about the Nissan Terra as compared to its rivals is the ride quality. I have, on multiple occasions and road conditions driven or ridden in the Terra for me to confirm that it is indeed the most comfortable of the bunch, that is due to the suspension and dampers favoring ride quality over cargo load capacity (but not by too much).
This allows drivers and passengers of the Terra to be more relaxed throughout a long journey, especially one that takes you through the weird roads of the metro, out into the uneven expressways, and through the bumpy provinces. The Terra manages to feel solid yet comfortable, which is a feat in itself; most get it wrong by being too stiff or too floppy.
The engine is also still quite a good unit, even if it was probably forged during the years of the Roman Empire and approved by Leonardo Da Vinci (I’m kidding). Age seems not to matter with the Terra’s powerplant, while it is noisier and more “unrefined” compared to the other diesel engines in the segment, performance-wise, it is up there as one of the more capable ones in terms of good on-road and off-road performance.
Overall, when it comes to performing as a primary PPV, the Terra is more than enough, and when the going gets rough, it can take the punches too and punch back when needed, as a true PPV should.
Points for improvement
I have many praises for the Nissan Terra but also quite a few niggles, I think it’s high time that Nissan fully redo the interior. The layout is really showing its age already and could do with a refresh to entice people; most buyers these days hold interior experiences in high regard.
Next is the lack of a true ADAS system. Nissan is one of the frontrunners for semi and autonomous driving technology, but has not offered it to any of its local products apart from the extremely pricey Patrol. In the PPV segment, all of the competition features ADAS with the exception of the Terra.
Price and Verdict
At PHP 2,179,000USD 39,157INR 3,302,928EUR 34,581CNY 284,795, the Nissan Terra Sport 4×2 A/T leans on the pricey side of the segment, but it does remain a true solid choice. It doesn’t boast anything ground-breaking or lure you in with futuristic and otherworldly features. What the Nissan Terra does is let its many years of experience and existence speak for itself, a model tried and tested that has more than enough for the modern PPV owner.
