Nissan has resurrected its Terrano SUV, but it's not the rough-and-rugged off-roader that its predecessor was. Instead, this one is set to tackle the lower end of the softroader market.
The new model's familiar looks are more than coincidental as it's based on the Dacia Duster SUV. Nissan SA currently has no plans to bring the new Terrano to South Africa, however the Renault version of the Duster is reaching our shores early next month.
The new Terrano will be built at Nissan's Oragadam factory in India and it will be positioned above the Dacia/Renault Duster in markets where both are sold.
While it shares its basic body shape and interior lineage with the Dacia, the Nissan has a more muscular front end design that faithfully follows Nissan's design language and bears more than a passing resemblance to the Pathfinder. Notable changes have also been made to the rear end.
Nissan promises a well-appointed, "premium" interior complete with a two-tone dashboard, silver-finished accents and piano black centre console.
Under the bonnet it's essentially as per the Duster, with the Terrano offering a 78kW 1.6-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre turbodiesel with power levels of 63kW and 82kW. The Nissan is likely to offer a choice between front-wheel drive and permanent all-wheel drive.
Nissan's India Operations President Kenichiro Yomura believes that the new Terrano will make a strong statement in the Indian SUV market:
"We are confident that Terrano will appeal both to existing real SUV lovers and consumers looking to graduate to SUVs."