Ladder-frame, ready to go the distance.
Japanese carmaker Nissan has finally revealed its new ladder-frame SUV. Dubbed the Terra, this seven-seater is based (rather obviously) on the Navara ute, and is the very first vehicle to be launched by Nissan’s light commercial vehicle (LCV) and frame division, as part of Nissan’s new ‘M.O.V.E. to 2022’ plan.
Nissan claims that one in every six of its cars sold is a body-on-frame vehicle, and as such, they’re looking to maximise the company’s potential in this regard. They intend to increase sales by more than 40% in the next four years, and lead the market in body-on-frame SUVs and utes.
There’s an obvious resemblance between the Terra and the Navara, as made clear by its very Navara-like face, which is no bad thing. Everything from the front doors backward are all-new to the Terra, and while we weren’t offered a rear three-quarter shot, we have been given a look at the Terra’s taillights, which are… nice?
Inside, the Terra uses a cabin that’s broadly reminiscent of the Navara, with a smart, car-like design that’s far more cosy and cosseting than most SUVs in this segment.
When the Terra arrives, it will have to face off against other cars in the segment like the Ford Everest, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, and Toyota Fortuner, all heavyweights in the ladder-frame 7-seater SUV class that are well-loved for their on-road and off-road capability. If it retains the same multi-link rear suspension setup as the Navara, it may offer a better on-road ride than the competition, though it’s still far too early to tell.
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