... In fact, it’s a while since I have driven any car, since I’m marooned away from private transport here at university, but if my memory is sturdy enough, I’ll be able to deliver to you a detailed critique on the Nissan Terrano.
The title of this review is a "hilarious" ... Read review
4 X 4, Crossover SUV - Four Wheel Drive (4x4) - 6 Speed Manual Gearbox - 2184 cc - Max Speed: 112 mph - 136 bhp - Diesel - Available Trims: SE, Sport, SVE, T-Spec
Hatchback - Front (FWD) - 5 Speed Manual, 4 Speed Automatic, 5 Speed Manual Gearbox - 1240 cc - Max Speed: 104, 96 mph - 80, 65 bhp - Petrol - Available Trims: E, Sport, Tekna, Visia, Acenta, SE, S
Advantages: Power and torque Disadvantages: Styling, handling and diesel rattle
...a detailed critique on the Nissan Terrano.
The title of this review is a "hilarious" pun designed to focus on the fact that this car is quite monstrous, but in many ways a dinosaur too. My driving experience comes from the many times I have used my uncles Terrano on the rugged roads of North Donegal. I admit that it is the only off-roader I have ever driven so you will not get any comparisons with RAV4’s or Freelanders ... ...height of anti-coolness, the traditional Nissan grille and badge, it’s like a big fat momma.
Inside things don’t improve too much either. I’ve never known a Nissan to have a stylish interior and the cheap looking light grey plastics in this machine do nothing for the front dash. The plastics are at least hard wearing and the build is good. It would need to be, because the rattles in a car like this would drive you ... more
It’s been a while since I drove this car. In fact, it’s a while since I have driven any car, since I’m marooned away from private transport here at university, but if my memory is sturdy enough, I’ll be able to deliver to you a detailed critique on the Nissan Terrano.
The title of this review is a "hilarious" pun designed to focus on the fact that this car is quite monstrous, but in many ways a dinosaur too. My driving experience comes from the many times I have used my uncles Terrano on the rugged roads of North Donegal. I admit that it is the only off-roader I have ever driven so you will not get any comparisons with RAV4’s or Freelanders here.
The first thing you’ll notice about the Terrano is its size. It’s not as big as the cruisers preferred for the school run, but for someone who’s used to driving the low down cruiser, the VW Passat, this is a big car. Like all SUV’s, it’s pretty ugly in my opinion. I’m not sure if anyone finds this sort of look attractive, but beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. The only SUV of any note in this department is the Honda HR-V. With its big tyres covered by huge grotesque wheel arches and the added embarrassment of the height of anti-coolness, the traditional Nissan grille and badge, it’s like a big fat momma.
Inside things don’t improve too much either. I’ve never known a Nissan to have a stylish interior and the cheap looking light grey plastics in this machine do nothing for the front dash. The plastics are at least hard wearing and the build is good. It would need to be, because the rattles in a car like this would drive you mad. In a car this size there is obviously acres of room and despite the inconvenience of the three-door’s sliding seats there is at least plenty of room for passengers in the rear. Front and back there is ample head and legroom. It’s simply massive.
Have you ever sat in a lorry and loved the novelty of peering down at the ground so far away from those upright seats, well welcome to the Nissan Terrano. The view from the driver and passenger seat gives you an excellent visual range, but there is no car-like driving environment here. This machine fakes nothing; it has no pretensions towards driving like a car.
You may be wondering what it is like on the road. Well it’s like a big blue breezeblock, dwarfing everything it passes. Bt seriously, this is where the first title reference comes into play. This car is like a big angry monster. The 2.7 litre TDi engine growls like nothing else. This was the first diesel car I ever drove and it threw me straight into the deep end. From the moment you turn the key, you know it’s a diesel ("gurgle, gurgle, gurgle").
After remembering to wait before the diesel light goes off (very important) you may have to shout to the person beside you to engage in conversation. Like most diesels, this car has little low-down punch. But at around 3500 rpm the turbo kicks in and you can feel it then. It is in the upper reaches of the rev-range that this SUV begins to unleash its monstrous strength. I’m sure there is plenty of low-down torque to get you moving in a rut, but I haven’t taken this car off the beaten track, so I don’t know. In fact I haven’t a clue if this car is capable of tackling the rough stuff. It feels like it can and the magazines seem to agree and considering its composure on the road it would need to.
This is where the dinosaur reference of the title comes into play because while groups like Mercedes, VW and Peugeot / Citroen continue to refine and improve diesel technology, this engine is rooted in the dark ages. The Japanese manufacturers don’t tend to make diesels at all, but while Nissan’s offering is admirable, it is coarse and a little rattler. The whole body frame shudders as you apply more and more pressure to the accelerator.
This machine does not handle particularly well, its power seems to overwhelm the road itself and the steering is too light. The ride is far too soft and spongy for me, but the sheer power of the machine and the feeling of invincibility and strength are intriguing. In a way it makes me a better driver. Because of its height it shouldn’t be pushed into corners, if I were to be involved in an accident it would be the other person who comes off a whole lot worse. The responsibility added in driving a machine likes this increases your awareness of your own limits and of other road users.
I have driven the Terrano in its natural environment, but in a large town I doubt if it would really feel at home. There are no motorways in Donegal, but it certainly wouldn’t feel at home there. This is a farmer-mobile, a machine for the country dweller, not the school run mum. I enjoy driving this monster in its natural environment, but having followed the same road in a BMW M5 I know which monster I’d rather live with. Off-roaders are a novelty to me; it is the saloon that captures my lustful thoughts.
Of course it’s a Nissan and the six year old I drove is a reliable little monster. If you fit the criteria I recommended, you will like this SUV. It isn’t really an SUV anyway, since it’s so unrefined, but you get my meaning I hope. Out of all the Nissan’s I’ve driven, this is strangely my favourite by a wide margin. Funny that! Thanks for reading.
Advantages: Seein me struggling at the wheel Disadvantages: Dosen't make me look that good
...brought it back. The NEW Nissan Terrano is back on sale retailing between £17,000- £24, 500.
Nissan's relaunch of this supposedly great 4x4 has been on sale now since the beggining of April and sales seem fairly constant as I've seen a fair few of these out on the road.
My Dad asked me to look after it for 3 days while he went away to Spain for work. My SEAT Ibiza is having treatment at the moment after a small accident thanks to a Sunday driver, ... ...New Way garage our local Nissan dealer for £22,395. So here I'm left with a powerful 3.0ltr Turbodiesel 4x4! Now its rare to see a young lad like me driving a 4x4, so strange that your more lightly to see Ann Robinson strip for page3 in the Sun! I did feel strange. I could see young lads in their metros and fiestas looking at me strangely!
HANDLING: ¬
I drove this to Leicester and then back the next day. This 4x4 gave me an awkward challenge at ...
chunka 07.05.2002
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Nissan Terrano II Outdoor 2.7 TD
Advantages: low price, comfort of a car, good fuel economy Disadvantages: none found
...have been a Technician for Nissan for 6 years now and until recently had only ever driven the Terrano on tarmac and had not rated it as an off road vehicle....working in a large town I only saw it as a seven seater for taking the kids to school! I am not going to bore you with dimensions and sales banter, but I'm going to tell you how it actually performs off road.
I won a prize to go to Bruntingthorpe proving ground and had the opportunity to drive ... ...gobsmacked at the capabilities of this vehicle and drove around a very testing "assault" course under insruction.
To my amazement I was then invited to go for a solid days driving on a four wheel drive charity event in aid of the Macmillan cancer relief fund. A whole morning was spent putting many four wheel drive vehicles through their paces in quarries, gravel pits and assault courses and I had the pleasure of driving a brand new Terrano all day ...
elmersattic 23.12.2001
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Nissan Terrano II Outdoor 2.7 TD
This is the latest edition from Nissan. Apart from the standard accessories like driver and passenger airbags, ABS brakes, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors to prevent fogs forming, superb air conditioning, electric sunroof and even a CD changer. The engine is enourmously powerful with a 2.7L turbocharged diesel engine. This makes it easily accelerate to the top speed. The space is in the car is simply spacious. You could go for a huge ... ...And it is equipped with plenty of latest high technologies such as the anti hijack central locking that locks the driver's door with one button and other doors with two press to prevent anyone jumping into your car via the pasenger doors. It has also a special coded ignition keys that immediately recognise the driver and played his favourite radio station when the engine is started! Another gadjet is the underseat heating. It is simply the best car ...
pehchiong 14.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Nissan Terrano II Outdoor 2.7 TD
Advantages: Very spacious, nice ride height, nice interior Disadvantages: Very thirsty on short runabout journeys; ours has no air conditioning
We have had this car for 18 months now, and overall are very pleased with it. I only wish we had air conditioning in ours! The interior is nice and plush, lots of toys, electric windows, sunroof etc. The rear seats recline if you don't have the extra two seats in the back. This is nice for very long journeys. Seven seats certainly comes in handy when you have kids and various friends to take out, although you have to pull half of the rear seat forward ... ...have preferred two single seats at the very back that were facing sideways. Although my youngest son likes it the way it is (bench seat) because he can lay down. Did well on fuel during recent trip to Disneyland, Paris. There and back on a tank and a half of diesel! Short runs are not so good though, only about 25 MPG. The ride height is nice, being "above" all the other cars is great. Tends to be a bit sluggish in first gear, but fine when warm. ...
KAYTSD 18.10.2004 (19.10.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Nissan Terrano II Outdoor 2.7 TD
Advantages: Spacious,easy to drive Disadvantages: heavy on diesel for smaller journeys
We've had this car now for 2 years and it's a little gem.Bought it because we were having our fourth child and didn't fancy the other 7 seaters that were on the market at the time.All in all it's a comfortable and affordable vehicle.
There are electric windows back and front but they have locks so it stops the children opening and closing at their pleasure!!The extra seats in the back back as we like to call it are great and big enough for an adult ... ...fitted 3 children in the back and crossed seatbelts over so they are safe...won't be able to when the new law comes into effect I know!But just to give an idea of how spacious it actually is.
It's not as smooth as a car,which you would expect but you quickly forget and get used to it,ours is diesel so the petrol may be alot smoother.
The thing we found very handy is that the back seats all fold down completely flat for transporting large items..we've ...
becbats 30.08.2006
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Nissan Terrano II Outdoor 2.7 TD
