Terra: Nissan’s new SUV
“OVER 60 years of SUV heritage went into the development of the Nissan Terra,” said Ramesh Narasimhan, President and Managing Director of Nissan Philippines.
The Terra is Nissan’s newest true (read: noncrossover SUV), a descendant of the famous “Patrol”— Nissan’s tough off-road icon originally designed for police and military use.
While Nissan could have used successful predecessors (such as the Patrol or the Navara) as a base and made minor modifications, it purposely took several years to design and develop the Terra to make it a distinct SUV with a personality of its own. According to Narasimhan, the new Nissan Terra provides a “no-compromise package” and is designed to give its driver the confidence to go on exceptional urban and outdoor adventures. The Terra is Nissan’s first SUV in the mid-size segment in the Philippines.
The new Nissan Terra was unveiled in a special event held last May 28 at West Aeropark in Clark Global City, Pampanga. This was no ordinary launch in the Philippines. The event was a regional premier which gave Southeast Asia and Australia a first glimpse of the Terra.
In attendance were members of both local and international media and Nissan’s top executives from abroad (such as Yatuka Sanada, Regional Senior VP and Head of Asia and Oceania; Vincent Wijnen, Head of Marketing and Sales for Asia and Oceania; Ashwani Gupta, Senior VP of Light Commercial Vehicle).
As guests from around the Philippines and abroad poured in to Clark just to attend the launch, the Terra made the trip worthwhile.
The Terra is an ingenious combination of robust exterior design, advanced driving technology, and spacious interiors that can seat up to seven people.
The front of the vehicle is defined by a V-motion grille that gives a streamlined look from the front, and a sleek roofline that flows from the front fender to the rear.
Nissan’s newest model is equipped with a YD25 diesel engine with 190 hp. A reinforced chassis, five-link coil spring rear suspension system, and rigid rear-wheel axle combine to ensure the Terra’s strength and durability, while giving a comfortable ride. 18-inch alloy wheels and a ground clearance of 225mm gives the
Terra an ideal height for offroad driving. Its 4WD-DIFF lock system coupled with Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist give drivers more control in rough conditions.
Characteristic of its “nocompromise package”, the Terra is both tough and intelligent. It is armed with Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies such as Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning and Intelligent Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection.
An exceptional feature of the Terra is its ability to give drivers a “360 degree view” of their surroundings. The “Smart Rear View Mirror” serves both as a mirror and a screen to view images from a camera mounted at the Terra’s back. This innovative feature allows the driver to see what’s behind the Terra even if the luggage compartment is filled to the brink (which often happens when SUVs are taken on out-of-town trips with the family).
The Terra offers one of the highest loading capacities and rear space in the midsize SUV segment. Its second row seats can be folded and laid-out through a onetouch remote. The seats are ergonomically designed to provide lumbar support. Part of the entertainment system includes a TV screen that folds down from the second row.
In the years it took to create the Terra, Nissan seems to have taken a holistic approach in creating an SUV that can overcome rough conditions while providing ease and comfort to its passengers. As Narasimhan said, “the new Nissan Terra’s features work together to bring the exceptional to everyday life.”
For all its features, the Nissan Terra comes at an affordable price of P1.499 million for the base model. While customers may already reserve a Terra at any Nissan dealership this June, it will be available in the market starting August 20 this year.