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*Includes basic vehicle, £15,845; metallic paint, £250; aluminium side steps, 1456.
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Page 39
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Both Nissan and Isuzu have recently updated their 4)4 van ranges to include high output 3.o-litre turbo-diesels.
Colin Barnett and Kevin Swallow have been experiencing the benefits of ample torque.
t seems not a month goes by without Nissan adding to or updating its fleet range. Its deal with Renault/Vauxhall to market the Trafic/Vivaro-based Primastar, the 3.5-tonne Master badged as Interstar, and now the Kubistar, formerly Kangoo, has strengthened its appeal to its current customers, but this latest update is one of its very own.
The Nissan Terrano II, a solid-performing 4x4 van, got a cosmetic revamp in spring 2002 but now its TD 2.7-litre 125hp indirect injection diesel has gained a bigger brother— the 3.o-litre Di SE. There is an 8 okg penalty for the bigger engine but, considering the load space is only 1.65m3, it shouldn't have too much effect.
The new SE level means the van comes with air conditioning, a CD player, alloy wheels and anti-lock brakes as standard, which Nissan feels will satisfy owner-operators' wish for improved luxury, as well as company car drivers capitalising on tax advantages by running a van rather than a car.
The four-cylinder 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel has a true i5ihp peak power at 3, Go orpm with 304Nm maximum torque at t600rpm, mated to a five-speed overdrive transmission with a new, longer 3.9:1 final drive. The rear door hinges from the nearside to 90°, giving access to a payload and load space big enough for luggage or site equipment.
Despite the traffic jams on the test route, the average speeds around our Kent route— and especially on the two hill climbs—are more than equal to many of the smaller CDVs CM has tested. Its 35.2mpg is pretty handy too and should improve as the engine gets more miles under its belt
The new engine, a very "un-van like specifi
cation" according to the press release, is exactly that. It has power to a fault and matches anything on the road to the speed limit from a standing start. In fact, you spend more time holding it in check.
Handling is perfectly adequate, although manoevring in tight situations proved harder than we expected. The five-speed overdrive transmission is nicely balanced and you always know where you are in the gearbox.
Sometimes the gears do feel too far apart for quicker changes, but anything that encourages a relaxed environment can't be bad.
What cab space there is behind the steering wheel belies the short wheelbase. There is good legroom for the lanky, and enough space behind the driver so that you can drop the seat back to a 45'angle. The dash is well laid out with no real guesswork needed to find any switches. Nissan has fitted a metal bulkhead, which also has a handy locking box for valuables. It may not be completely burglar-proof but anyone trying to get at what's inside will have their work cut out.
The impression that the Terrano is actually much bigger than it is comes from the inabil ity to see the vehicle's boundaries, the end of the bonnet and the rear bumper and, because of its height, much of the road to the side. This is most apparent when trying to park: but after plenty of practice, we actually found that we had more room on all four sides than
we thought.
The Terrano is a specific vehicle for a niche market, but its overall performance would do any commercial vehicle proud. Its engine is very strong for its weight, the interior is roomy and it looks every inch the part. Its fuel figure for such a low-mileage example is pretty handy and will improve with age. Its lack of payload and near-side hinged rear door might create a few problems for loading but a full three-tonne braked trailer weight should alleviate those problems.