Nissan Terrano Long Term Report — The Nissan Terrano has just celebrated its first anniversary and we are happy to have it in our fleet

Nissan Terrano Long Term Review

The refined styling, potent engine and excellent suspension makes the Nissan Terrano a desirable SUV for our roads

The SUV segment is booming in India and there’s no doubt about that but at the affordable end of this segment, there is a big confusion for buyers. There are the big brute Mahindra brothers on offer – Scorpio and XUV500 fighting against the cult Tata Safari Storme and at the lower end there is the Ford EcoSport and pseudo crossovers such as the Toyota Etios Cross, Fiat Avventura, etc. Some people hesitate to consider the Indian badges while some don’t find true SUV character in the latter. Well, the Nissan Terrano recently got added to our long term fleet and we can definitely say that we have found the right solution to the tangled mind of customers.

Nissan Terrano Performance Review — The tastefully done exteriors of the Nissan Terrano make its presence felt on the road

The Nissan Terrano is Renault Duster’s cousin and there’s no denying about the fact that it resembles the latter from many angles. However, the more polished styling elements and neat crease lines tend to give the Terrano a premium stance. The inherent Nissan SUV grille dominates the front profile with a sharp headlight cluster and the brawny wheel arches to give the side profile some muscle. Also, the blackened B and C pillars give a nice contrast to the body from the side. The large tail lamps and thick chrome slat lend the tail a complete look. So people seeking for some style and presence in their SUV, problem solved.

Nissan Terrano User Experience — The Terrano offers good driving position for confidence inspiring drivability

While getting into the cabin, you would notice that ingress and egress is effortless in the Nissan Terrano. You neither have to climb nor crouch down, you just walk into the cabin. The interiors are well appointed with grey and beige colour combination with a piano black centre console. Interior styling is decent but the feel of plastics is hard to my liking and the centre console is a fingerprint magnet. The position of ORVM controls is quite cumbersome to use while driving. Air conditioning is quite effective and there’s no need of rear AC vents in the car.

Nissan Terrano Boot Capacity — Flip down the seats and you can fit two mattresses with a couple of suitcases easily

The window switches at the rear are placed in a way that while resting elbows, windows tend to roll down. However, the supportive seats and spacious cabin makes you forget about everything else. The driving position is commanding to a certain extent and controls fall in hand easily. The audio system churns out good acoustics with seamless, easy-to-set Bluetooth connectivity, though steering mounted controls are missing. The huge boot is one of the biggest USPs of the Terrano. You can throw in substantial amount of luggage at the back and the 475-litre boot will gulp it happily. Another problem solved for people who want to buy a SUV with practicality and space.

Nissan Terrano Long Term Experience — The 1.5-litre diesel is silky smooth and offers good punch being frugal at the same time

The 1.5-litre diesel under the hood is quite refined and provides tactile response. We have the 85 PS version of this oil burner, which produces 200 Nm of torque. The engine has virtually no turbo lag and it pulls as soon as you dab the throttle. Really practical for city drivability and powerful enough for highway runs. The low and mid-range is the forte of the 85 PS engine, which lets you shoot the gaps in town effortlessly. The 5-speed gearbox is smooth and changing cogs is an easy task with the light clutch. We are getting 14.5 km/l of mileage in city and 16 km/l on the highway. So you get a good combination of performance and efficiency with the Terrano.

Nissan Terrano Long Term Review — The Terrano’s superb handling makes you forget that you are driving an SUV

Be it broken roads or hairpin bends, the Terrano takes both in its stride like a boss

The suspension of the Nissan Terrano provides a very good ride quality, which you would appreciate on the deadly roads of your city as well as undulating highways of our country. The wide section tyres provide good comfort while the suspension absorbs most of the broken roads, just heavy craters tend to judder the car. With high ground clearance and heavy structure, many SUVs have ugly body roll and poor handling but the Terrano behaves like a hatchback with minimal body roll and excellent handling. It can do some mild off-roading as well with 205 mm of ground clearance. So you get a ride quality of a luxury SUV with a fun-to-drive character, another solution to the big confusion.

Nissan Terrano Handling Review — Good ride and handling balance makes it a happy highway cruiser on Indian soil

Hardly a couple of months’ time and we have driven the Terrano for more than 5000 kms. It is our standard workhorse to ferry around people and loads of luggage. The compact dimensions and responsive engine makes it such a breeze to drive around town without worrying about parking space and negotiating traffic. It can munch miles without any fatigue, thanks to the mature suspension and strong cruising ability. Indeed the perfect solution in this jungle of SUVs, the Nissan Terrano has what it takes and we continue to go a bundle on what I should say – ‘The Real Urban SUV’.