NEW MODEL UPDATE: TERRA

The Terra is a full sized SUV and will seat 7 with rear seats capable of folding down to provide more loading space. The design has typical Nissan cues especially at the front with bold chrome “U” on the front grill and LED lights.

THE growing SUV market closely follows the popular pick-up market in more ways than one. Why not have the two merged into one package. The pick-ups can be extended to include an SUV variant based on the same mechanics.

This has been going on for years and popular examples are the Fortuner (Hilux), Everest (Ford) and now MU-X (Isuzu).

These share their DNA with their stablemate siblings. They are quite robust items and reliable especially given our quality of roads.

The local market is set for stir-up as a Nissan Navara based SUV is poised to come.

The new model coming is to be launched as Terra at the Beijing Auto Show in China later this year.

More on the name later. It will be sold in China on launch and will almost definitely find its way here.

This is going by the success of the Navara based Pathfinder that has neared its end. Safe to say this is the successor, the Pathfinder Nameplate has continued but in a more crossover segment in selected markets.

The Terra is a full sized SUV and will seat 7 with rear seats capable of folding down to provide more loading space.

The design has typical Nissan cues especially at the front with bold chrome “U” on the front grill and LED lights.

These are prominent in new Nissans. The interior is like that of the Navara; large screen, steering wheel and instruments. The full spec sheet is yet to be released though.

The car is likely to be powered by the 2.3 Turbo Diesel engine and might get a petrol in due course.

This will be mated with a 6 speed manual or auto. Also expected is all wheel drive (with possibly low-range).

The name. It would seem the revival of Terrano was being flirted with here.

Being a Terrano driver myself, I would love for the name to be revived through this particular model.

It would be based on a solid reputation and much easier to introduce especially to the African market.

Bear in mind that the Mercedes X-Class shares its platform with the New Navara and that says a big lot about the upcoming Terra.

It has solid fundamentals and will give the Fortuner and Everest a good run for their money.