No Plans for Nissan Terra in Australia

Nissan has started production of its D23 Navara-based Terra wagon in Thailand, with deliveries of the three-row seven-seater set to go to South-East Asian countries in August.

Those countries don’t include Australia, with Nissan’s local arm telling us that, “there are no confirmed plans for the Terra to launch in Australia”.

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The Terra follows the formula of the Isuzu MU-X, Holden Trailblazer, Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest in that it is a wagon built on a ladder frame that is shared with the brands’ one-tonne pick-up. The big difference here is that while all those other vehicles have a bespoke coil spring rear suspension specifically made for the wagon derivative, Nissan Terra retains the coil sprung live axle the Navara uses.

The D23 Navara and the Mercedes-Benz X-Class, which is spun off the same chassis, are unique in the ute segment in that they offer coil springs at the back.

In the countries it is being launched in, the Terra is powered by a 450Nm 2.5-litre YD25 diesel engine similar to what was used in the previous D40 Navara model. The current D23 Navara uses a choice of 2.3-litre diesel engines including a bi-turbo variant that also makes 450Nm.

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Nissan Australia did admit that, “we think it would appeal to the Australian market – especially customers who are looking for a tough, practical and comfortable large SUV.”

Nissan has not had a diesel-fuelled seven-seat 4x4 wagon in its extensive range of SUVs since it discontinued the Y61 Patrol last year. It’s only three-row off -roadable wagon is the Y62 Patrol, which is powered by a petrol V8 engine only; while Australia remains a market that prefers diesels engines in its 4x4 vehicles.

It would be fair to say Nissan Australia wants such a vehicle for this market in its line-up, it’s just a matter of building the business case and getting the latest engine in there to suit us.

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