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Reviews > Car Reviews > Nissan > Nissan Terrano (1993-99) Road Test

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Nissan Terrano (1993-99)

Overall Rating

3 stars

Terrano is closer to Frontera than Discovery in price and abilities. It's inexpensive, roomy enough and lasts well but doesn't feel like a quality car. Cars from mid-1996 are best.

For
  • Spacious and family-friendly
  • Fairly tough with good reliability
  • Cheap to buy, reasonable running costs
Against
  • Outdated and uninspiring to look at
  • Not very refined with a poor ride
  • Interior is low-rent and old-fashioned
Road Test

The Spanish-built Terrano is essentially the same car as Ford's first generation Maverick. It offers a three-door short-wheelbase body or a more popular and practical five-door estate. This is larger than Discovery and comes with two extra rear seats in some models. There's plenty of space in the long-wheelbase cars, making them practical family workhorses. Low equipment levels are a clue to the age of the Terrano design. ABS is only standard on two top models, optional on some others and unavailable on pre-1996 cars. Likewise, a surprising number of Terrano models lack air conditioning. The interior is comfortable enough, though finish and materials are mediocre quality and don't last well. Noise levels are quite high and ride is very firm. Terrano is fairly easy to drive, but steering is not very direct and performance is leisurely. The pre-1996 2.7 TD is underpowered and unrefined - so choose a later TDi.

Need To Know

NCAP: Not tested

Best Models: 2.7 TDi SE 5-door

Worst Models: 2.4 3-door models

Replacement: by current generation Terrano II in late 1999


Alternatives
Nissan Terrano (1993-99)
Star Ratings

Handling

3 stars

Comfort

3 stars

Quality & Reliability

3 stars

Performance

2 stars

Roominess

4 stars

Running Costs

3 stars

Value for Money

3 stars

Stereo/Sat Nav

2 stars
Related Links

Best Buy Loans

Bank of Scotland
8.8% Typical APR
Halifax
8.8% Typical APR

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