Nissan Terrano test drive

There are many off-road adventures and legends behind the legendary Terrano, but today it's just another crossover. Or not? We find out where entry is ordered for ordinary cars

Will he come in or not? Having stopped Terrano on a sandy 45-degree rise for a spectacular shot, the photographer and I argued whether the car could move and climb to the very top. I turn on the four-wheel drive, differential lock, transfer the selector to "drive", carefully remove the car from the parking brake and release the brake. Terrano did not roll down, but I still bet a bet: he could not get under way either, limiting himself to a savory spit of dirt from under the wheels.

I wanted to blame the lack of engine power, bad tires or weak four-wheel drive, but it turned out that due to the unevenness of the ground, one wheel almost hung in the air - it was spitting sand, every now and then slowing down the stabilization system. Then a new plan: to slide a little down to a more level place and turn off the ESP - the car, pushing a little, takes the same rise without acceleration.

The steep bend at the very top of Terrano did not bother me at all. The car has a stated good 210 mm ground clearance, and these figures are very similar to the truth. Plus good geometry of bumpers and a short wheelbase, which allows you to drive freely where larger SUVs require a jewelry approach to the choice of trajectory. And also not so sorry for him: the body has practically nothing to attach, since all places of potential contacts are covered with unpainted plastic.

In fact, ESP does not turn off here, but slightly weakens the reins of the traction control system. For overcoming, for example, sandy soils, this is not good, because in deep sand the car simply tries to throw off traction instead of releasing beautiful fountains from under the wheels. But on the move, such places are passed quite confidently, and if Terrano gave up and stopped, there is always the opportunity to go back. And you can do this without looking at the overheating of the clutch and box, since the units here are quite simple and reliable.

Taking into account the fact that there is no diesel in the Terrano range, the combination of a high-torque two-liter engine, "automatic" and all-wheel drive can be called the most convenient for off-road. The younger 1,6 liter in these conditions will not be enough, and the two-liter engine, although it does not hit the thrust shaft, seems to be suitable for the Terrano. In any case, it is quite enough for driving on a 45-degree rise.

Having got used to some imposing reactions to gas, you can drive along the highway quite dynamically without pretending to be the leader in the stream. There is also an exotic Eco mode, but it is here rather for show. With him, Terrano really allows you to save fuel, but only if you can put up with extremely sluggish reactions to gas and leave claims for dynamic driving.

The four-speed "automatic" is well known and today it seems somewhat archaic, but it cannot be denied predictability and consistency. He quickly drops the gear, as soon as the car needs more traction, so everything is simple with overtaking: he pressed down the accelerator a little in advance - and you go on a low one. And off-road, the unit diligently holds the first or second, without frightening by unexpected switches, so there is no point in activating the reduced one in manual mode.

With all-wheel drive, everything is also clear: the clutch works briskly, does not heat up in a series of slippages, and with conditional blocking by moving the selector to the Lock position, it gives a stable moment on the rear axle. Where the wheels have grip, it is enough to use the 4WD mode, and before passing loose soil or dirty slurry, it is better to turn on the lock in advance, just in case.

In general, Terrano is not afraid of off-road conditions, and it would be wrong to consider it a refined version of Renault Duster. It really does look more interesting with its solid radiator grille, designer wheels, oversized headlamps and more elegant sidewalls with a straight curve at the bottom instead of the lurid parabola on the Duster doors. The Terrano has more solid roof rails, and the body pillars are painted black - a matter of taste, but still a little more solid.

Inexpensive interior trim does not make the Terrano stand out for the better, but it is clear that the Japanese at least tried to refine the interior by changing some elements and working with materials. At the end of last year, Terrano was again updated, and the interior of the basic version is now trimmed with Carita corrugated fabric, which was previously used in more expensive versions, and the third Elegance + equipment received a 7-inch media system with a rear-view camera and - for the first time - support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Well, the noble brown metallic, which, alas, gets dirty very quickly off-road, was not in the range of colors before either. And if you need a difference from the Duster with a minus sign, then it is also there: the rear towing eye of the Terrano is covered with a plastic lining, and this is unnecessary action in a situation where you could simply snap the carbine.

Alas, the steering column adjustment for the departure did not appear, although, for example, the VAZ employees on the platform Lada XRAY did this. The chairs are simple and do not have a pronounced profile. And in the sensations of Terrano and Duster it is impossible to distinguish at all: both cars provide mediocre noise isolation, dim dynamics, but they drive without problems at speed over irregularities of any caliber.

Prices for the most current Nissan Terrano 2019 model year start at $ 13. for the simplest front-wheel drive car with a 374 liter engine and a manual transmission. True, unlike its twin Renault brand, the initial Terrano does not look poor and has quite decent equipment. But you should still be guided by at least the Elegance package, in which for an additional $ 1,6. there will be side airbags, heated windshields, cruise control, fog lights and even a remote start system.

The all-wheel drive version costs at least $ 14, and an SUV with a two-liter engine and automatic transmission will cost $ 972, and this is already close to the limit, because even the price of Tekna with leather trim, touch media and beautiful wheels does not exceed $ 16 ... A lot when you look at the cost of the Renault Duster, but the surcharge may seem quite justified, if you initially consider the Terrano a luxury version of the French car.

It is clear that against the background of the twin, the crossover of the Japanese brand does not seem financially attractive, but the emblem still has the main value in it. The image of the Japanese brand works flawlessly, and those who remember well the sturdy Terrano II SUVs from the 1990s will not look at Renault at all. Finally, the Terrano still has a more presentable look, and the one who, by inertia, calls it “Duster”, can be mistaken for a person who is poorly versed in cars.

Body type	Universal
Dimensions (length / width / height), mm	4342/1822/1668
Wheelbase, mm	2674
Curb weight, kg	1394
engine's type	Gasoline, R4
Working volume, cubic meters cm	1998
Power, hp with. at rpm	143 at 5750
Max. torque, Nm at rpm	195 at 4000
Transmission, drive	4-st. Automatic gearbox, full
Maximum speed km / h	174
Acceleration to 100 km / h, from	11,5
Fuel consumption (city / highway / mixed), l	11,3/8,7/7,2
Cargo space, l	408 – 1570 Feet
Price from, $.	16 361