Introduction of regional model means Australia could get one.
Japanese carmaker Nissan unveiled a while ago a new Terra SUV, a body-on-frame family wagon built off the same ladder frame as the Navara ute, for the Chinese market. For them, the car used a petrol mill and was limited to just five seats, decisions made to appeal better to the market there, that isn’t all that hot on diesel.
However, the company unveiled the Terra for Southeast Asia in the Philippines today, packing seven seats and a four-cylinder turbodiesel, which sounds like the sort of thing that would sell really well Down Under. Oddly though, the launch in Manila saw the company announce that the Terra would be launching very soon in markets like Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar, with no mention of Australia. Odd.
“The new Nissan Terra is built on our more than 60-years of SUV heritage, which includes iconic models like the Nissan Patrol. The Nissan Terra design is both tough and practical, reliable for everyday use while also giving our customers the ability to unhook from daily life and undertake adventure.” — Ashwani Gupta, Senior Vice President (Light Commercial Vehicles), Nissan
With the launch in Manila, Nissan is claiming that the Terra offers “best in class cabin space,” as well as an array of intelligent driver aids like lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, Moving Object Detection, and a 360º around-view monitor. The Terra also packs Nissan’s new ‘Smart Rear View Mirror,’ which permits drivers to see out the rear windscreen unobstructed via a camera mounted at the rear.
Motivation is rated at 141kW and 450Nm from a YD25 engine, which despite the lack of a specific size, we’ll hazard a guess is either the 2.3-litre DCi mill we get here (with two turbos), or a 2.5-litre turbodiesel that is available in other markets (and copes better with lower-grade diesel). The Terra is also equipped with things like a 4WD diff-lock system and hill-hold assist. Hill descent control also helps keep the Terra in check when you’re going down steep angles.
With the Philippines launch settled and 5 more markets to follow soon, it’s entirely possible that Nissan Australia may begin lobbying head office to bring the Terra to our market. With seven seats, a turbodiesel mill, and a raft of advanced safety kit that’ll put it in good stead in the segment, they’d be foolish not to at least try.
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