2022 Nissan Terra Review | Philkotse Philippines

It wasn’t too long ago when Nissan Philippines invited us media people to the regional launch of the all-new, Navara-based Terra. It was in 2018 – wait, was it that long already? Guess I just found another reason to hate this ongoing pandemic.

Anyway, what seems to be a lifetime later, here I am with the refreshed version of the Nissan Terra, in the top-dog VL 4x4 AT trim, lodged in my garage as I write this full review. Launched in the Middle East as the X-Terra but retaining its current nameplate locally (without sounding like a superhero), the 2022 Terra addresses all the pain points that the firstborn carried. This is the main focus of this full review.

Did Nissan Philippines hit a home run with this facelifted model? Read this Nissan Terra full review to find out.

A larger V-motion grille and a sharper overall look

As expected from a mid-cycle model, the 2022 Terra gets a multitude of updates on its front and rear fascia. But the changes aren’t limited to typical nips and tucks – they’re readily visible and give the midsize SUV a prominent new look. I personally like the revised squared-off bumper, which, in combination with the bigger V-motion grille adorned with horizontal slats, gives the Terra a Nissan Patrol-esque appeal: macho and imposing with a tad touch of class.

The updated 2022 Nissan Terra from the side

Another deviation would be the quad-beam LEDs that are also found on the facelifted Nissan Navara, while the fish hook LED DRLs get a sharp redesign to complement the boxy aura. The 18-inch alloys also get a new design with fewer spokes though retaining the turbine blade form. As for the rear, I can’t help but notice its similarity with the Fortuner’s taillights, albeit the Terra’s are bigger in size. If you want your burly SUV to be classy and stylish, you can’t go wrong with refreshed Terra.

Its rear end got updated as well

The main point of refreshed models is to address the things that need an update in the initial model. With the Nissan Terra, the cabin got much of the critique before, suffering from the bulk of hard plastics used.

Check out the new Terra's dashboard

That’s a thing of the past with the all-new model, at least in the top-spec Terra VL trim. The V-Motion shape in the middle of the dashboard has been replaced with a revamped layout that’s adorned with burgundy red leather. The infotainment’s bigger, too, at 9 inches and currently has the best-looking display among midsize SUVs today. I just wish Nissan has put the grab handles on the A-pillar, which is more logical in my opinion.

A peek into the updated Terra's second row

Similar to the refreshed Navara from earlier this year, the Terra also gets the intricately designed seats (power-adjustable for the driver) that are adorned with red leather as well. The tilt-only steering wheel adopts the shape and design of the Navara. Of note, creature space is the same as before, including the dreaded third-row seats and the flat, airy cargo are when the third row isn’t in use.

It still gets loads of cargo space

The 2022 Nissan Terra carries a firstborn stalwart, which is the 360-degree around-view monitor, along with the live-view monitor that displays on the rear-view mirror. The latter’s resolution isn’t that good, though, but at least the Terra’s AVM is among the best I’ve ever tested. Apart from the crispy display, the Terra’s infotainment also comes with the nifty wireless Apple CarPlay. More importantly, it comes with wireless charging capabilities, totally removing the use of cables if you’re an iPhone user.

The Terra's 360-degree around-view monitor in action

There’s also the fact that the Nissan SUV still comes with the simple yet practical second-row tumble buttons for easy third-row ingress and egress, along with rain-sensing wipers. Safety-wise, apart from the AVM and front/rear parking sensors, the Terra fills out the spec sheet with six airbags, stability control, traction control, ISOFIX child seat tethers, lane departure warning, blind-spot detection, tire pressure monitors, hill start assist, and hill descent control.

Cruise control, however, isn’t adaptive, which is something that’s present on its new, albeit, pricier rivals.

The status of the Terra's many warning systems are displayed on this screen on the gauge cluster

As a recap, the 2022 Terra comes with Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility features, namely Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking, Intelligent Driver Alertness, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning, Intelligent Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection and Off-road Monitor, and Intelligent Rear View Mirror.

As with all diesel midsize SUVs, heaving is commonplace when driving the Terra. It adopts the refreshed Navara’s turbocharged 2.5-liter YD25DDTi engine that makes 187 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque – conservative figures compared to segment heavyweights like the Everest and the Fortuner LTD, both crossing the 200 hp and 500 Nm mark.

The 2022 Terra's 2.5-liter inline-4 turbodiesel engine

However, after intensive testing, the Terra wasn’t exactly needing that extra grunt with every step on the accelerator. Sure, low-end torque wasn’t as abrupt and overwhelming as the more powerful rivals, but it worked as expected. The four disc brakes need some adjustment, though, as a good bite needed a heavier foot on the pedal.

What sets the Terra apart from its competitors was its esteemed ride comfort. It didn’t dip and dive easily, while tight curves did employ understandable body roll but at least the heavy SUV didn’t wallow, edging out the competition in terms of ride quality. Steering, on the other hand, was relatively light but still provided notably great road feedback. And yes, the Terra’s NVH insulation wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to completely mute the diesel mill while idling.

A closer look at the Terra's gear shift lever, electronic parking brake button, and other controls

Of note, I didn’t test the Terra’s off-roading chops. But considering previous experiences with it on off-roading activities, it’s highly capable and has the base for an off-roading companion. Without any substantial mechanical updates, I reckon it would be the same this time around.

Despite the relatively smaller engine compared to some segment contenders, the Terra returned not-so-impressive numbers in fuel efficiency during my tests.

Within the city, the Nissan SUV returned 8-11 km/L with the variation depending on the traffic. On highway drives with the cruise control pinned at 90 km/h, I got 15 km/L.

Full disclosure: I am not a huge fan of the midsize SUV segment, especially those sitting atop a pickup truck platform.

But I love the Terra’s newfound Patrol-ish looks, though a tad fewer bits of chrome could have made it look better. The biggest win is found in the cabin where Nissan addressed the pain points of its predecessor. That, and the segment-leading refinement, makes the Terra an attractive SUV.

The Terra's refined cabin and the new exterior design might win you over

More importantly, the price. Nissan Philippines priced the Terra P2,339,000 for this VL 4x4 AT. In comparison with the outgoing model, it’s a hefty jump in pricing but that also comes with the upgrades mentioned in this review.

At the end of the day, the decision is yours, with my verdict here serving as a guide in case the Terra is among your choices of SUVs. As always, a test drive will aid your decision, so make sure to test your target vehicles before signing on that dotted line.