2018 Nissan Terra Technology and Safety

The 2018 Nissan Terra impressed me in my general review, achieving a solid 4 out of 5 in our overall rating scale. We liked that it drove and handled noticeably better than most of its peers, and it definitely stands out as one of the most attractive looking midsize SUVs on the market today. There were some shortcomings, however, and we’ll talk about them here, but the Terra’s overall package is a good one.

We’ll be tackling technology and safety in the Nissan Terra, putting it through its paces and seeing if there are any points for improvement.

The Terra’s seven-inch Android-based infotainment screen has a good response, but the resolution could be improved. It’s easy to connect a phone via Bluetooth, and plugging it in can activate either Android Auto or Apple CarPlay instantly, so you can run apps like Spotify and Waze in a cinch.

The second row gets a retractable monitor which is essentially a mirror of the infotainment system up front. Unfortunately, it seems sorta tacked on and the resolution is much lower than expected. In any case, you can use it to keep an eye on your music tracks and help with directions from Waze – talk about backseat drivers.

You can cycle the various cameras around the Nissan Terra by activating the smart rearview mirror, then a button press lets you switch from different corners and even a top view with your surroundings; very helpful in parking and off-road situations. Unfortunately, the video feed might be a little too low resolution for some people’s tastes, but it works as intended and the cameras are definitely a unique feature when compared to the Terra’s rivals.

The Nissan Terra has a rotary knob to select 4x4 low or high when the roads end and the mud and ruts begin. Hill start assist, hill descent control, a limited slip differential, and aids like a tire pressure monitoring system and off-road display for angles and power distribution, all add to the already capable powertrain of the Nissan Terra. Speed sensing door locks, automatic headlights with daytime running lights, and cruise control are also standard.

The whole idea of Nissan Intelligent Mobility is a great one, creating layers of safety to prevent accidents from happening in the first place. It’s fantastic to see things like around-view monitors and blind spot indicators entering more segments in the local car industry, and the midsize SUV category has always tried to flaunt the latest safety tech from manufacturers.

The Nissan Terra features blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, stability control, and six airbags. Additionally, you get ISOFIX mounting points for child seats and rear parking sensors.

We just found that activating the around-view monitor was fiddly, having to take an extra step to flip the dimmer on the mirror to get the feed going, then pressing small buttons underneath the mirror’s housing to toggle views. It would have been nice if the system activated automatically when switching to reverse, and if the feed could also be displayed on the larger infotainment screen. In any case, the smart rear view mirror helps if you’re fully loaded with passengers or cargo, since it offers an unobstructed view of what’s behind the vehicle. This, in conjunction with several cameras, make the Nissan Terra the only vehicle in its class that offers exceptional driving and maneuvering visibility.

Hopefully, the next iteration of the Nissan Terra could have adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking, putting it higher up the totem pole of midsize SUVs. But then again, that would affect the price, so there’s that.