Nissan Terrano 1995-2002 used car review
The Nissan Terrano is a spacious family off-road vehicle.
The Nissan Terrano is a spacious family off-road vehicle. The powerful diesel engine is loud and the car does not handle well.
The Nissan Terrano is the Japanese-import cousin of the Nissan Pathfinder. The model was traditionally based on the Navara ute, though this generation had a unique technical design - a car-like monocoque chassis combined with ute mechanicals. That meant it was lighter and had the potential to handle better than its predecessor.
Inside and out
While other generations of the Terrano/Pathfinder share the visual design of the Navara, this version is an entirely separate model and has its own look. The front features a long, narrow chrome grille that wraps into the headlights and a chrome bumper top. The sides feature plastic body cladding and the rear door handles are blended high into the side. The door opens upwards but you need to swing the spare tyre out of the way of a gate to do it.
The Terrano’s interior feels very spacious with a seating position more like a car than a traditional SUV - your legs stretch forward rather than down. The interior plastics and surfaces feel very robust and durable.
Our review vehicle features an optional leather-wrapped Momo-branded sports steering wheel, common on higher-end import versions. The instruments are basic and easy to read. The stereo is split into two units: a basic radio and tape unit, and a separate CD player. You will need a band expander to receive local stations.
At the top of the windscreen is a panel for a digital compass and temperature read-out. The front seats are very comfortable, well sculpted and offer lots of support. The rear seat should handle three adults comfortably and legroom is good. The rear backrest can be angled for more passenger comfort.
With the rear seats up, the boot has 434 litres of luggage space. The area is large and square and will carry up to six large cases. Fold the second row forward for a massive 1,670 litres of space.
On the road
Three engines were available in the Japanese-market Terrano: a 3.3-litre six-cylinder petrol engine, and 2.7-litre and 3.2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engines. Our review vehicle features the latter. It produces 110kW and 333Nm, both high numbers for a diesel of this age. Performance from the engine is reasonable although it is very loud and unrefined with lots of vibration, particularly when it idles.
The way the car handles is also a little rough. The ride is soft and bouncy with lots of body roll. It feels top-heavy and, though not unsafe, it is not a car for taking corners quickly. The steering is vague and quite heavy. The brakes are excellent and stop the car well.
Conversely, the Terrano is very at home when off the road. It has good ground clearance and excellent axle articulation for travel on uneven surfaces. The four-wheel drive system is controlled by a dial in front of the transmission: 2WD for on the road, AUTO for slippery surfaces only where the transmission decides where to send power, and LOCK to split power evenly between the front and rear axles.
A low-range transfer case allows the vehicle to crawl over tricky ground. This is selected with a second gear shifter.
Additional front and rear mirrors also help to see the ends of the car. There is a small blind spot directly behind the car so if you frequently park around children, we would recommend you add a reversing camera. You can buy units to fit yourself from $50 or have a professional do it from $200.
The tow rating for the Terrano is surprisingly small. In standard form, it will pull 750kg unbraked (a medium-size garden trailer), and only 1,200kg braked (a small trailer boat). With a heavy-duty towing kit this rises to 2,200kg, a medium-sized trailer boat. Look for an information plate on the tow bar to find the specific rating for your vehicle.
Safety
RightCar lists our 1997 Terrano with a four-star Used Car Safety Rating based on real-world crash results. This Regulus model features driver and passenger airbags and antilock braking. They are not standard on the entry-level Urban and R3MR models.
The centre rear passenger gets a lap-only type belt, which offers less protection than a full shoulder-type. There are no ISOFIX child seat mounts.
Reliability
The biggest issue with the Terrano today is its age - most are 20 years old or more. The engine uses a gear system instead of a timing chain or cam belt, and this will not need regular replacement.
Both sizes of diesel engine show common issues as they age and wear. Chief amongst them is a failure of the injector pump. It is an extremely difficult and expensive procedure to replace the pump, given its position inside the engine itself. A pump failure can also cause an engine to “diesel” itself with fuel entering the crankcase. That causes unintended pressurised combustion and a runaway engine. It will cause catastrophic failure and require a replacement engine at a cost from $2,500.
It’s usually a result of inadequate maintenance - older diesel engines like these do not like dirty oil and turbos, seals and oil feed galleries are particularly prone to sludge and block up. The engines are likely to leak oil from a multitude of locations – that might be easier to live with than spending significant money to fix them.
The four-speed automatic is considered a weak point. If the engine revs rise between changes, it could be a sign of imminent failure. In particular, these transmissions do not like the stress and strain of towing. If you plan to pull the boat behind your new truck, we strongly recommend fitting a transmission oil cooler and changing the ATF fluid regularly.
Rear trailing arm bushes wear out with predictably frequent regularity. Although they are available aftermarket to purchase, they are not easy to fit in a home workshop.
Inside the cabin, the electric window regulators can break. You should also check the operation of the air-conditioning, central locking motors and tailgate locking mechanism.
Rust in the floor pan can also become a major issue and repair will be uneconomic in many cases. To check for problems, lift the back seats and peel away the carpet. Check carefully for any sign of rust or bubbles, especially around the rear seat belt anchorage points. Get under the car and inspect the door sill step seams and wheel arches. These are all structural items and evidence of rust can cause a warrant of fitness failure.
Cost of ownership
Nissan recommends the Terrano is serviced every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. The annual service costs up to $500, while a 100,000km service can cost up to $1,300.
RightCar estimates that over 14,000km of driving a year, a Terrano will cost $2,820 for fuel and Road User Charges. The 80-litre fuel tank will cost $116 to fill at $1.45 per litre of diesel and should take you 750km before the fuel light comes on.
A vehicle licence for the Terrano costs $196.55 a year, with the SUV in the second cheapest ACC levy group for non-petrol cars.
Trade Me Insurance estimates cover for a Terrano valued at $9,480 will cost $46.69* per month. That’s $5 cheaper per month than a Toyota Hilux Surf.
Buyers’ guide
The Terrano is available on Trade Me priced from $2,500 to $20,000 for later and lower mileage vehicles. Cars under $5,000 are likely to have significant mechanical faults and are cheap because of that. The most expensive cars are low-mileage freshly imported vehicles.
Variants
- Urban - Features a 2.7-litre diesel engine, driver airbag, electric windows, manual air-conditioning and exterior spare wheel.
- R3MR - Adds alloy wheels, body cladding, side steps, and premium seat fabric.
- G3MR - Features a 3.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine or 3.3-litre six-cylinder petrol engine. Adds passenger airbags, anti-lock brakes and climate control air-conditioning.
- Regulus - Features a 3.2-litre turbocharged diesel or 3.3-litre six-cylinder petrol engine. Adds body kit, premium seat trim (leather optional), fog lights and wood trim.
Timeline
- 1995 Launched globally
- 1999 Receives significant cosmetic facelift inside and out
- 1999 2.7-litre turbocharged diesel engine discontinued
- 2002 No longer sold in Japan
Details
1997 Nissan Terrano Regulus
$7,000 to $17,000 for models which have travelled 70,000 to 120,000km
3.2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged, 110kW/333Nm (claimed)
Four-speed automatic, four-speed automatic
Four-star Used Car Safety Rating
10,000km or twelve months
Full size wheel
10-litres per 100km (claimed)
Diesel
4529mm
1839mm
1801mm - varies by model
750kg (unbraked), 2200kg (braked) with heavy duty towing kit
11.4m
This review covers the Nissan Terrano for model years 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.
Review vehicle supplied by Unique Japan.
*Our insurance estimates are based on a 35-year-old male with no accidents in the last two years, garaging the car in Mission Bay, Auckland. The car is not used for business and will cover 10,000km to 20,000km a year. We estimate with no option add-ons and $500 excess. Customise your estimate at Trade Me Insurance.
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Kyle Cassidy 
NZ Autocar Magazine 