Refreshed 2022 Nissan Terra Now In PH, Starts At P1.649M (With Video)

The 2022 Nissan Terra has finally arrived in the Philippines, making us the second country in the ASEAN region to receive the Japanese automaker’s latest pickup-based SUV. We’ve driven the car for nearly a week now prior to its launch, and you’d be happy to know that we think that the new Terra is now one of the class leaders in the segment.

What you’re looking at is the 4×2 VL, which is one notch below the top trim 4×4 VL. Regardless of which variant you choose, you get a good-looking and elegant SUV that commands attention. The new, enlarged V-Motion grille and redesigned bumpers give the new Terra an authoritative presence. There’s also a new set of quad-LED headlamps and a new 18-inch alloy wheel design. The side profile is largely unchanged, while the rear tailgate has been redesigned to feature a slimmer chrome strip and a new set of LED taillights. The exterior changes are quite extensive, and they’re enough to make us consider the new Terra one of the most handsome in its segment.

If you think the exterior is impressive, wait till you see what’s inside. One of our main criticisms with the previous Terra is its basic and cheap interior. Not the case anymore with the 2022 update. The dashboard has been completely redesigned, and it now has this large expanse of red leather that makes the Terra have one of the most premium interior designs in the class. Even the climate control knobs have a metallic sound when you flick it with your fingernail. The seat design is also new, and the lumbar support of the Zero Gravity Seats is extremely generous, making it also one of the most comfortable in its class.

Complementing the new interior layout are a number of new tech features. The center console has been redesigned in order to accommodate the new electronic parking brake. The new set of screens are also excellent, one of the best in its class even. These are the 7-inch multi-information display between the gauges and the new 9-inch high-resolution touch screen that runs a new generation of the Nissan Connect operating system, which first made its debut in the all-new X-Trail.

The graphics of the infotainment system are sharp and attractive, while the menu structure is easy to understand. Touch responses, however, aren’t as snappy compared to Ford’s SYNC3. New for the 2022 Nissan Terra is wireless Apple CarPlay–a segment first, while Android Auto still uses a wired connection. To complement the wireless Apple CarPlay, there’s a new wireless charger…., while exclusive to the 4×4 VL is an 8-speaker Bose sound system. Based on my experience, however, the new Nissan Terra’s standard 6-speaker sound system is really good. I’d even consider it the best in its class among non-branded audio systems.

Other amenities for the new 2022 Nissan Terra include a rear entertainment system with an HDMI port for the VL variants, a total of five USB ports, two of which are USB Type C, a digital rear view mirror, and one-touch folding and tumbling second-row seats that can be activated by pressing one of the two buttons on the center console.

The new 2022 Nissan Terra is still powered by the same 2.5-liter inline-4 turbo diesel engine as before, which means it produces 190 hp and 450 Nm of torque. This is mated to a 7-speed automatic, driving the rear wheels for the 4×2 variants, or through a 4WD system for the 4×4 VL. The entry-level EL, on the other hand, comes with a 6-speed automatic.

Based on my first impressions, one of the most noticeable improvements I immediately noticed is how much the Nissan Terra has improved in terms of its refinement. One of my criticisms with the previous Terra was its subpar sound insulation. That is not the case with the refreshed model. Road, wind, and engine noise are far less obtrusive.

Prior to today’s press conference, I have no prior knowledge of any technical improvements made to the Terra, except for the new acoustic double layer front and side glass, which I immediately noticed upon rolling down the windows. The new glass significantly reduces wind noise coming from the mirrors. And then upon confirming to Nissan Philippines President Atsushi Najima if there were technical improvements made to the Terra, then my observations towards its significantly improved refinement were true and not just a placebo.  More sound deadening was added to the doors, chassis, and engine bay, and these factors contribute to the improved refinement of the 2022 Nissan Terra.

Handling improvements were also made to the 2022 Nissan Terra. I was not a fan of the previous model’s slow ratio hydraulic steering. It was heavy, and more importantly, drivers need to make a lot of twirling of the wheel in order to make the Terra change directions. Not the case with this new model. The hydraulic steering now has a quicker ratio, putting it on par with other pickup-based SUVs with hydraulic steering.

Additionally, the brakes now have a more confident bite, and this is thanks to the Terra finally having disc brakes at the rear. Along with the slightly revised suspension, the new 2022 Nissan Terra handles much better than the previous model without any compromise in its class-leading ride quality.

The new Nissan Terra was delivered to me with just 28 kilometers in the odometer, so it’s as fresh as any demo car could ever be. It’s most likely the distance from Nissan’s head office until here in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. As such, fuel economy won’t be as good since the engine has not yet been fully broken in. My current fuel economy is at 9.2 km/l, which is not as good as other new SUVs I’ve been driving lately.

As of this writing, the new 2022 Nissan Terra is still with me, so expect a full review to come out in a few days. For now, however, my first impressions of the Nissan Terra have mostly been praises because of how significantly improved this SUV is compared to the previous model. All I can for now is, the competition should definitely watch out, especially considering the Terra’s prices that slightly undercut the competition.

EL 4×2 MT: P1,649,000
VE 4×2 AT: P1,829,000
VL 4×2 AT: P1,999,000
VL 4×4 AT: P2,339,000