New 2013 Nissan Terrano review, test drive

We’ve just driven the new Nissan Terrano SUV, Nissan’s version of the popular Renault Duster. 

 

The Nissan Terrano is the third model in the Renault-Nissan India line-up to receive the badge-engineering treatment. However, this time, it’s Nissan that is tweaking a Renault product rather than the other way around. 

 

Unlike the other two badge-engineered models in the Renault-Nissan stable – the Scala and the Pulse – both of which have got mild tweaks to their exteriors to differentiate them from their Nissan equivalents; Nissan has gone a step further with the Terrano and made significant styling changes, including heavy alterations to the sheet metal. These include redesigned bumpers and lights and a new grille, all of which help the Nissan Terrano look like a proper Nissan. And there’s no doubt that the company has got a winner in the looks department. 

 

The Nissan Terrano’s revised V-shaped bonnet integrates nicely with the new Nissan-family grille. The grille itself looks inspired by the larger Nissan Pathfinder SUV sold internationally. The front bumper and lights are new, and the detailed styling around the fog lamps gives the Nissan Terrano a striking look when viewed head on. Continued..

 

Move to the inside, and you’ll notice that there’s more beige on the Nissan Terrano’s interior than in the Duster; although the base trim is expected to come with all-black interiors. The Nissan comes with a different steering wheel with silver-finish inserts, giving it a slightly more upmarket feel. However, there are no column-mounted controls for the audio system. The central air-con vents are now squared off and the storage space on top of the dash comes with a lid. The audio system is also new and comes with a CD player, aux-in, USB and Bluetooth mobile connectivity as well. Some bits that we didn’t like on the Renault Duster, like the awkwardly placed wing-mirror control knob under the handbrake lever, are unfortunately carried over to the Nissan Terrano. Continued..

 

 

Interior passenger space is similar to the Renault Duster and there is reasonable room for three passengers. Boot space also remains the same as well. 

 

 

In terms of ride, unsurprisingly, the Terrano does brilliantly. It smothers even the biggest of potholes with ease and you don’t have to slow down for rough roads. In fact, the faster you go over rough surfaces, the better the ride.

 

As for handling, the Terrano feels very stable at high speeds and rarely gets out of shape. Even in normal driving, the handling is pretty impressive for a high-riding SUV. There is a bit of body roll due to the soft suspension setup, but it is never too much. And you always feel in control of the car. Also, when you want to have fun, the car’s direct steering is quite rewarding. It’s light enough when you want it to be and weighs up at speed, and this adds to the overall fun.