Nissan Terrano

Nissan Terrano: Which Version to Buy and Why

The Nissan Terrano choice divides into two distinct groups. The first-generation SUV 3-doors, produced from 1986 to 1996, and the second-generation range, produced from 1995 to 2006, offer Gasoline and Diesel engines, mostly AWD, with 4-speed Automatic or 5-speed Manual transmissions.

The Nissan Terrano choice divides into two distinct groups. The first-generation SUV 3-doors, produced from 1986 to 1996, and the second-generation range, produced from 1995 to 2006, offer Gasoline and Diesel engines, mostly AWD, with 4-speed Automatic or 5-speed Manual transmissions. The third-generation SUV 5-doors, listed from 2014 with no stop date measured, changes the formula to Gasoline engines, FWD or AWD, and 4-speed Automatic, 5-speed Manual, or 6-speed Manual gearboxes. Across the five catalogue entries—representing three generations plus two second-generation restylings—the available engines span 1598–3498 cc and 85–241 hp. The best version therefore depends less on the Terrano name than on whether the priority is lower weight and consumption, low-rev Diesel torque, or maximum power.

Nissan Terrano generations: what changed?

The first generation ran from 1986 to 1996 as an SUV 3-doors and contains 13 versions. Its catalogue range includes 2.4 MT, 3.0 MT, 3.0 AT, 2.7 MT, and 2.7 AT variants. Outputs extend from 85 hp in the naturally aspirated Diesel 2.7 MT to 155 hp in the Gasoline 3.0 MT and 3.0 AT. All listed first-generation versions use AWD. Ground clearance is either 195 or 210 mm, while the fuel tank holds 80 litres.

The second generation ran from 1995 to 1999 as an SUV 5-doors with 10 versions. Its choices include 2.4 MT, 2.7 MT, 2.7 AT, 3.2 AT, 3.3 AT, 3.5 MT, and 3.5 AT. Power ranges from 101 to 241 hp. Most versions use AWD, but the 170 hp 3.3 AT is also listed with RWD. Every listed second-generation version has 210 mm of ground clearance.

The second-generation restyling ran from 1999 to 2002 as an SUV 3-doors and contains 13 versions. The 12 shown records cover 2.4 MT, 2.7 MT, 2.7 AT, 3.0 AT, and 3.3 AT. Outputs range from 101 to 170 hp, with AWD used by most versions and RWD offered on one 170 hp 3.3 AT. Fuel tanks hold either 72 or 80 litres.

The second restyling of the second generation ran from 1999 to 2006 as an SUV 3-doors and contains 17 versions, of which 12 are shown. Its engine range broadens from the 118 hp 2.4 MT to the 241 hp 3.5 MT and 3.5 AT. It includes Diesel and Gasoline engines, Manual and Automatic gearboxes, and AWD or—on one 170 hp 3.3 AT—RWD. Ground clearance remains 210 mm.

The third generation is listed from 2014 with no stop date measured. It is an SUV 5-doors with eight versions: 1.6 MT and 2.0 MT or 2.0 AT, differentiated by output and drive where their names repeat. All are naturally aspirated, inline 4-cylinder Gasoline versions with front, transverse engines and 50-litre tanks. FWD versions have 205 mm of clearance; AWD versions have 210 mm.

Nissan Terrano engine specs

Repeated names require close attention because they do not always represent the same specification. The table consolidates identical records but retains separate rows whenever power, displacement, gearbox, or drive differs.

Power density helps separate similarly named choices. The 241 hp 3.5 MT and 3.5 AT produce approximately 68.9 hp per litre, while the third-generation 143 hp 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT produce approximately 71.6 hp per litre. The 114 hp 1.6 MT reaches approximately 71.3 hp per litre. Among the Diesel choices, the 170 hp 3.0 AT produces approximately 57.6 hp per litre and 353 Nm at 1800 rpm.

Nissan Terrano performance and fuel economy

The quickest measured Terrano in the supplied records is the third-generation 135 hp 2.0 MT: 0–100 km/h in 10.4 seconds, with a 177 km/h top speed. The 143 hp 2.0 MT takes 10.7 seconds but reaches 180 km/h, the highest measured speed. Its measured consumption is 10.1 litres per 100 km in the city, 6.4 on the highway, and 7.8 combined.

For lower measured consumption, the third-generation 114 hp 1.6 MT FWD records 9.3 litres per 100 km in the city, 6.3 on the highway, and 7.4 combined. It reaches 100 km/h in 10.9 seconds and 167 km/h. Choosing its AWD counterpart adds 127 kg of kerb weight, raises combined consumption by 0.2 litres per 100 km, and lengthens acceleration by 1.6 seconds; it also adds one transmission speed and 5 mm of clearance.

Automatic convenience has a measurable cost in the 143 hp AWD pair. The 2.0 AT takes 11.5 seconds to reach 100 km/h versus 10.7 seconds for the 2.0 MT, reaches 174 rather than 180 km/h, and consumes 8.7 rather than 7.8 litres per 100 km combined. The 2.0 AT is 18 kg heavier.

For Diesel torque, the second-restyling 154 hp 3.0 MT supplies 304 Nm at 1600 rpm, accelerates in 13.3 seconds, reaches 170 km/h, and consumes 8.8 litres per 100 km combined. The matching 154 hp 3.0 AT takes 13.6 seconds, reaches 166 km/h, and consumes 9.8 litres per 100 km combined. Acceleration, maximum speed, and consumption for the 170 hp 3.0 AT are not measured in some records.

The first-generation 100 hp 2.7 MT records 18 seconds to 100 km/h, 150 km/h, and 10.3 litres per 100 km combined. For the naturally aspirated 85 hp 2.7 MT, acceleration, maximum speed, and consumption are not measured.

Nissan Terrano dimensions, weight, clearance, and tank size

Exterior length, width, height, and wheel sizes are not measured anywhere in the supplied data. Seating capacity is also not measured. Those omissions mean this catalogue cannot support dimensions in feet, wheel specifications, or claims about the Terrano being a particular number of seats.

The lightest listed Terrano is the third-generation 102 hp 1.6 MT FWD at 1226 kg kerb weight. The heaviest measured example is the 170 hp 3.0 AT Diesel at 1930 kg. The resulting difference is 704 kg. Gross weight ranges from a measured 1700 kg for the 114 hp 1.6 MT FWD to 2580 kg for several earlier versions.

Weight per horsepower reinforces the performance split. The 114 hp 1.6 MT FWD carries approximately 10.9 kg per hp, while its 1375 kg AWD counterpart carries approximately 12.1 kg per hp. The 241 hp 3.5 MT weighs 1760 kg, or approximately 7.3 kg per hp. The first-generation 100 hp 2.7 MT weighs 1670 kg, or 16.7 kg per hp.

Ground clearance is generally 210 mm in the first two generations. Two first-generation 155 hp 3.0 versions have 195 mm. Third-generation FWD versions have 205 mm, while AWD versions have 210 mm. Tank capacity falls from 80 litres on many early versions—and 72 litres on some second-generation variants—to 50 litres throughout the third generation.

Which Nissan Terrano version should you buy?

For the strongest measured balance of acceleration, weight, and consumption, choose the third-generation 114 hp 1.6 MT FWD. At 1248 kg, it is 127 kg lighter than the equivalent 114 hp AWD version, reaches 100 km/h 1.6 seconds sooner, and consumes 0.2 litres per 100 km less combined. The trade-off is FWD, one fewer gearbox speed, and 205 rather than 210 mm of clearance.

For AWD and the best measured top speed, choose the third-generation 143 hp 2.0 MT. It reaches 180 km/h, takes 10.7 seconds to reach 100 km/h, and returns 7.8 litres per 100 km combined. Against the 143 hp 2.0 AT, it is 18 kg lighter, 0.8 seconds quicker, 6 km/h faster, and 0.9 litres per 100 km more economical on the combined measure.

For low-rev Diesel torque with measured economy, the second-restyling 154 hp 3.0 MT is the clearer choice over the 154 hp 3.0 AT. Both deliver 304 Nm at 1600 rpm, but the Manual version is 0.3 seconds quicker to 100 km/h, 4 km/h faster, and uses 1.0 litre per 100 km less combined.

For maximum output, choose the 241 hp 3.5 MT or 3.5 AT. Both provide 353 Nm at 3200 rpm and AWD. The 3.5 MT has a measured 1760 kg kerb weight; kerb weight for the 3.5 AT is not measured. Acceleration, top speed, and fuel consumption are not measured for either version, so the data does not justify calling one faster or more economical.

For an earlier Terrano with lower measured running consumption, the 100 hp first-generation 2.7 MT records 10.3 litres per 100 km combined, versus 14.3 for the 149 hp or 155 hp 3.0 MT records with measured consumption. The 3.0 MT is 6 seconds quicker to 100 km/h and 16 km/h faster than the 100 hp 2.7 MT, but its combined consumption is 4.0 litres per 100 km higher.

No purchase price, engine-oil capacity, oil grade, engine-number location, reliability record, problem record, or reason for discontinuation is measured in the supplied data. Those factors cannot be used to rank these versions. On the available evidence alone, the 114 hp 1.6 MT FWD is the efficiency-led choice, the 143 hp 2.0 MT is the performance-oriented third-generation choice, the 154 hp 3.0 MT is the measured Diesel compromise, and the 241 hp 3.5 MT or 3.5 AT is the maximum-output option.