Greetings, fellow readers and auto enthusiasts. This is where you’ll find the latest and most riveting information from the Nepali auto-world every week. And to start things off, we bring to your attention the Nissan Ter­rano, which has finally arrived in Nepal. Let’s get the show rolling with a little general market informa­tion. Pioneer Moto Corp is now the sole authorized distribu­tors of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. in Nepal. It hasn’t been long since the dealership changed hands from the Dugar Brothers & Sons Pvt. Ltd., which is proba­bly why there are many people who still don’t know about it. Now that we have that snippet of market knowledge out of the way, let’s dive right in.

Mechanically, the Nissan Terrano is identical to the Renault Duster. In fact, Nissan rebadged the Duster to fill a void in their product portfolio, cleverly slipping into the vastly popular and competitive Com­pact SUV segment. However, it does come with significant cos­metic changes to the front and rear, and many have agreed that it is the more handsome of the two siblings.

 

Exterior and Design

 

Up front, a honeycombed grille divided into three parts by vertical chrome slats are flanked by boxy twin-barrel head lamps. It assumes a wide stance, which adds to the burly demeanor of the Terrano and it looks more like a proper SUV compared to its competitors in the market. Truth be told, its small stature is probably the only thing that doesn’t give it the street cred to strut with the SUVs. Adding a spare tire to the boot lid would have further helped the case.

More noticeable changes compared to the Duster can be observed in the rear that gets redesigned tail lamps and sheet metal changes. The side profile remains pretty much unchanged.

 

 Interior and Styling

 

It’s a spacious affair inside the Terrano’s cabin. There is plenty of legroom and shoul­der room for all passengers, even if you’re on the bigger side of the size spectrum. You can comfortably accommodate three people in the rear pas­senger seat.

Fit and finish of the interiors are also good, but not incred­ible. It doesn’t exude premi­um quality but you wouldn’t exactly deem it shoddy either. The seven-inch touch screen infotainment system works great; it would have been even better if it were angled slightly upward for easier access. The climate-control knobs do what they’re supposed to and the controls for the audio and tele­phony are mounted onto the steering column. While we’re in this vicini­ty, it’s worth quipping that a chunkier steering wheel would have added to the SUV-ish appeal of the Terrano.

Moving on, the soft touch dashboard gets a two-tone treatment with a black upper half and a brown lower half. The leather seats are very com­fortable and provide plenty of support, the foldable armrest for the driver seat being a very welcome addition to the entire driving experience.

Also, the large boot is big enough for a family’s luggage compartment needs for a weekend getaway.

 

Ride and Handling

 

Up until now, the Nissan Terrano has earned pleasing marks in terms of the exterior designs and the interior styl­ing. Performance then, takes it to the next level. You get two engine options—a 1.6 liter four-cylinder petrol motor or a 1.5 liter diesel (we were behind the wheels of the latter). On the tarmac, the Terrano performs well. Delivering a respectable 85PS @3750rpm and 200Nm @ 1750 and decked out with features like ABS, EBD (Elec­tronic Brakeforce Distribution) with BA (Braking Assistance) it is a pleasure to drive.

Thanks to its smooth revving engine, the Nissan Terrano covers ground well. Howev­er, for best results, you will want to build up the revs past 2000rpm as the lag will bother you if you’re on the inclines or lugging around in second or third gear. There is min­imal body roll and you can easily hit triple digits on the speedometer in the Bhakta­pur Highway stretch (we of course didn’t try that because of the speed regulations, and we’d suggest you didn’t either; we’re just saying that if you wanted to, you could.). You’re rarely ever left feeling a lack of power. That being said, it isn’t a speedster either; nor does it claim to be.

Where it truly excels in though, is when you’re faced with undulating road surfaces, which are aplenty in Nepal. The Nissan Terrano soaks up the bumps splendidly and it performed brilliantly when put against massive potholes and rough terrain. Boasting of a 205mm ground clearance, it undertook minor offroading duties with ease. And in its price segment, there are few other vehicles that do the job of flattening rough roads as well as the Terrano.

Overall, Nissan have nailed the suspension’s ride and han­dling balance, making the Ter­rano a great car to drive.

 

The verdict

 

Let’s look at the critical points here. Is it an ultra-pre­mium offering from the Nis­san roster chock filled with frills and bangs? No. Never­theless, at this price segment it offers a whole lot, especially in terms of the driving experi­ence and robustness. A tiny bit of lag aside, the Terrano is an absolute all-rounder, capable of on-road and mild off-road prowess. And, it doesn’t look all that bad either.

However, it is coming into a segment with cut-throat com­petition and it is arriving pret­ty late. That means it has to be ready to lock horns with the likes of the Renault Duster, Ford Ecosport, Suzuki Brez­za, and the soon to come Tata Nexon. It does have the Nissan badge playing to its advantage, which is a huge plus in our market that is loyal to Japa­nese manufacturers. But is it leverage enough for Pio­neer Moto Corp to tri­umph? That is yet to be seen.