Nissan Won't Be Making Any Terra, Navara Until June

Nissan announced the extension of its temporary adjustment to production in Thailand in response to the continuing COVID-19 outbreak and decreased demand in the automotive market.

The suspension of production at Plant 2 in Samut Prakan will be extended from 4th May 2020 until 31st May 2020, while production at Plant 1 in Samut Prakan will continue to be adjusted to meet current demand levels. Adjustments will also be made at associated operations, including engine assembly and stamping.

Nissan continues to follow the advice and guidance of the Thai government and Ministry of Public Health to safeguard the well-being of employees, customers and the community.

“Our goal is to resume normal business operations as soon as possible, but ensuring the safety and well-being of all our employees, their families and Thai society is our priority right now given the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ramesh Narasimhan, the president of Nissan in Thailand.

Nissan Terra, Navara Production Suspended Until May 3

Nissan announced a temporary adjustment to its Thailand production in response to the continuing COVID-19 outbreak and decreased demand in the automotive market.

Following the advice and guidance of the Thai government, Nissan is halting production at Plant 2 in Samut Prakan from today until May 3, 2020, while production in Plant 1 will be adjusted to meet current demand levels. Adjustments will also be made at associated operations, including engine assembly and stamping.

“Our goal is to resume normal business operations as soon as possible, but ensuring the safety and well-being of all our employees, their families and Thai society is our priority right now given the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ramesh Narasimhan, the president of Nissan in Thailand.

Nissan’s plant in Samut Prakan has a combined annual capacity of 370,000 units per year, and exports the Navara and Terra to countries such as the Philippines.

Nissan Philippines Starts 2020 with Discounts on Entire Line-Up

Nissan Philippines is flexing their muscle this 2020 with the “Power Deals” promo. Low downpayment promotions for financing transactions and cash discounts are up for grabs for the entire line-up starting today.

The promotion runs until March 31, 2020 and covers the following Nissan vehicles:

• Nissan Terra: All-in low downpayment of P 63,000 or P 110,000 cash discount
• Nissan Navara: All-in low downpayment of P 84,000 or P 45,000 cash discount
• Nissan Almera: All-in low downpayment of P 18,000 or P 55,000 cash discount
• Nissan Urvan Premium: All-in low downpayment of P 126,000 or P 30,000 cash discount
• Nissan Urvan: All-in low downpayment of P 94,000 or P 104,000 cash discount
• Nissan Sylphy: All-in low downpayment of P 75,000 or P 70,000 cash discount
• Nissan X-Trail: P 65,000 cash discount
• Nissan Juke Nismo: P 10,000 cash discount
• Nissan Patrol: 190,000 cash discount or 0 percent interest for 18 months based on 50 percent downpayment

In order to be eligible for these offers, financing must be done through Nissan Finance (in cooperation with EastWest Bank). Cash buyers or those opting to go for non-Nissan financing makes the cash discount applicable. Moreover, test driving the Terra or Navara, adds a further P 5,000 discount.

For those who want to try the various Nissan vehicles, the Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM) Tour is headed to the following locations until March 2020:

• Alabang Town Center – February 7 to 9, 2020
• Ayala Malls Feliz Pasig – February 21 to 23, 2020
• SM Clark – March 6 to 8, 2020
• Solenad, Nuvali – March 20 to 22, 2020

Experience How Nissan Levels Up Your Drive at These NIM Tour Stops

Nissan’s unique and innovative test drive event, the Nissan Intelligent Mobility Tour heats up the last two months of 2019 with four tour stops this November.

Using interactive displays and projection mapping, experience the technologies that make the Terra, Navara, and Patrol unique in their respective segments. See how Nissan Intelligent Mobility can change the way you drive. See it in action for yourself at the following dates and locations:

• November 8-10, 2019 - Lim Ket Kai Mall (Cagayan de Oro)
• November 14-17, 2019 - Manila Auto Salon (SMX Convention Center, Pasay)
• November 14-17, 2019 - STV Auto Focus Test Drive Festival (MOA Concert Grounds)
• November 22-24, 2019 - SM Lanang (Davao)

Visit the Nissan Philippines website to know more.

Nissan Philippines's "Go Anywhere" Campaign Wants You to Explore

As a way of demonstrating the capabilities of its Nissan Intelligent Mobility features, Nissan Philippines has introduced the “Go Anywhere” campaign to prove to consumers that their vehicles have the power and confidence to travel across locations around the Philippines.

After a “soft launch” in Taal, Batangas with the Patrol Royale, Nissan Philippines assembled their strong Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) line-up—the Navara, Terra, and Patrol Royale for the first time ever to explore the island of Siquijor.

Known for its mystical traditions, Siquijor boasts of untouched beaches, diving cliffs, waterfalls, and caves. During the three-day drive, participants were challenged to reach the greatest number of kilometers in the Philippines’s third smallest province.

Nissan Philippines President and Managing Director Atsushi Najima shares that the Go Anywhere campaign aims to empower adventurers to reach their dream destinations using Nissan’s strong LCV line-up.

With authentic four-wheel drive capabilities and technologies such as the Intelligent Around View Monitor, the Navara, Terra, and Patrol Royale enables more Filipinos to explore the best and most diverse locations across the archipelago in safety and with confidence.

The Nissan Sylphy Tops Out at Just P 972K Now

Nissan Philippines is kicking off its last quarter storm with a bang, giving customers big deals on the Almera, Urvan, Navara, Sylphy, and Terra this entire month of October. With Nissan’s “Go Big” promo, select either all-in low downpayment of just P 23,000 or cash savings as much as P 120,000.

If you don’t mind driving the oldest compact sedan in the market, the Sylphy gets a P 80,000 discount across the board. This means you can score one between P 828,000 to P 972,000—cheaper than most top-trim sub-compact sedans. The same goes for the Almera which now tops out at just P 868,000 net of discounts.

If passenger cars aren’t your thing, the biggest discounts can actually be had on the Terra. The top-trim VL 4x4 in particular drops its price by P 120,000. It’s the same situation with the flagship Patrol Royale which gets the same P 120,000 discount. Even the Navara isn’t impervious to discounts this month. Get anywhere between P 30,000 to P 55,000 cash savings until October 31, 2019.

If cash is an issue, the Nissan Go Big Promo also has all-in low downpayment schemes with discounts applied to the 20 percent downpayment.

Check out this link for the full mechanics.

Nissan Philippines is Adjusting the Specs, Prices of 2019 Terra

Nissan Philippines is refreshing the Terra 7-seater SUV this 2019. Stare if you must, but the changes aren’t found anywhere outside (save one); they are, actually all found inside.

Would-be buyers can spend some time scrolling through the Nissan Philippines website, but in the interest of simplicity, here’s an outline of changes in the 2019 Terra:

• V-motion grille with black inserts.
• Floor ambient lighting is now standard across all grades.
• The flip-down rear entertainment system, which was standard on all grades, is now just available on the 4x2 VL and 4x4 VL grades.
• And speaking of the VL grades, the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system has grown an inch. The new 8-inch Nissan Advanced Touchscreen Display Audio system, also found in the top-grade Navara, maintains most of its functionality (including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), but loses video playback (gains offline GPS though). That job goes to the flip-down rear entertainment system which gets an HDMI input.
• The VE grade also gets the same 8-inch Nissan Advanced Touchscreen Display Audio system, while the base EL variants still maintain the same 6.75-inch touchscreen display audio system.
• The Intelligent Key push-button start/stop, which used to be available on just the VL grades, can now be found in the VE grade as well.

Mechanically, the Terra remains the same and for that, it gets the tried-and-trusted 2.5-liter YD25DDTi engine with 190 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque, mated to either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic. And in case you are wondering, the brakes are still rear drums.

These adjustment in specs also mean an adjustment in the 2019 Terra’s prices. This refreshed version now retails for:

• 2.5 EL 4x2 6 M/T – P 1,504,000 (no change)
• 2.5 EL 4x2 7 A/T – P 1,620,000 (no change)
• 2.5 VE 4x2 7 A/T – P 1,717,000 (+ P 10,000)
• 2.5 VL 4x2 7 A/T – P 1,919,000 (+ P 10,000)
• 2.5 VL 4x4 7 A/T – P 2,146,000 (+ P 40,000)

Hyundai Just Threw Shade at Nissan in Their Latest Web Advert

Whoa, talk about being a straight talker! Hyundai Philippines is using one of the unique traits of the Santa Fe mid-sized SUV to diss the competition, particularly the Nissan Terra. (You can check the screen cap for yourself immediately below, or view the web ad in full below).

In their latest web advert, it shows a hula girl ornament wearing some Kiss-inspired make-up rocking back and forth. Then, this copy comes out: “You can rock all you want, but your ride won’t.” After that, the hula girl transforms into one that’s gently swaying. Eagle-eyed readers will be quick to point out that the dashboard in the “rocking” part is clearly the Nissan Terra, while in the “swaying” part, it’s the Hyundai Santa Fe.

The ad also comes with this blurb, “There’s a time for rockin’, and there’s a time for refinement. With the Hyundai Santa Fe’s rattle-free monocoque body that stays smooth and suave for your everyday terrain, the only thing that’ll rock is your taste in music.”

We certainly have no beef against pick-up based passenger vehicles (PPVs) such as the Terra, but given most Filipino buyers go for it mainly for its rugged construction and durability, you do have to give kudos to Hyundai for transforming one of the Santa Fe’s perceived weaknesses into an advantage.

2019 SsangYong Rexton 4x4 vs 2019 Nissan Terra VL 4x4

When SsangYong unveiled its 7-seater Rexton SUV, interestingly enough they dedicated one slide to its market positioning. With the mid-sized 7-seater SUV segment proving to be the market shaper in the local scene, the Korean automaker opted to compete in segments that represent the biggest bulk of sales. Third largest or 16 percent of sales belong to SUVs priced between P 2 to P 2.250 million, and this is where the top-dog Rexton, the 4x4 finds itself in.

Equally late to the 7-seater SUV game is the Terra. Despite being a clearly lucrative segment, Nissan bided their time, played it safe, and launched their own offering just last year (though honestly, it feels longer). Still, it’s managed to make strides, helping catapult the Japanese carmaker to number three in overall sales locally.

With two new entrants, which one deserves the attention and which one can be labeled: too late the hero. Stick around and find out.

Exterior

Right off the bat, it’s very clear that SsangYong and Nissan took two very different directions when styling their SUV. With the Terra being based off the Navara pickup, the overall vibe is somewhat utilitarian and rugged. With the high-looking stance, large fender gaps, and side step boards, it quickly communicates its go anywhere capability. Nonetheless, it’s not exactly the most head-turning SUV out there (it wasn’t a head-turner when it was launched last year either), but the simple, straightforward design is agreeable to everyone. Therefore, think of the Terra as a blank canvas that’s easily modifiable to each owner’s tastes.

With no pick-up based passenger vehicle or PPV in Korea, SsangYong looked west for the Rexton’s design direction. Squint hard enough and there are strong hints of American-style SUVs here from the general silhouette, slab-sided body, low-profile rubber, and doors that run all the way down the sill. And despite the questionable design of past Rextons or SsangYongs for that matter, this one’s actually pretty handsome. Park it next to any other PPV and it can stand tall and proud. It’s peppered with design cues from its smaller brother, the Tivoli XLV, minus any of the oddities.

Winner: SsangYong Rexton

Interior

The Terra’s Plain Jane design could have been forgiven if only they produced an SUV with a cabin worthy of a P 2.1-million price tag. Sadly, that’s not the case. Climbing aboard (made extra hard because there are no grab handles on the driver’s side) means taking a trip back to ten years ago or when the first-generation PPVs came out. There’s not an ounce of style in here, just a straightforward execution. There are no soft plastics here, too. Knock on the dashboard, the door panels, the center console—they’re all hard to the touch. It’s a shame because the build quality is actually pretty solid and there are been genuine efforts to spruce things up from the full-featured infotainment system and plush brown leather seats.

On the other hand, the Rexton continues to school the Terra with its stellar interior execution. Visually it already satisfies with its horizontal control motif, quilted leather seats, and abundance of piano black accents. Then it simply takes the whole SUV experience to the next level. Open the door and the driver’s seat automatically slides backward for easy entry (and there’s actually a roof-mounted grab handle too). A welcome chime, along with some fancy gauge animation from the programmable 7-inch high-res LCD screen embedded in the instrument cluster greets the driver. Then he discovers the ventilated seats, moon roof, and a whole lot more. This here feels like the absolute opposite of utilitarian. Having said that, the Rexton’s not entirely infallible. There are still some plasticky bits, but there are few and far between.

Winner: SsangYong Rexton

Space and Practicality

Dimensionally, almost nothing separates the Terra and the Rexton: the former is longer overall and taller, while the latter is wider with a longer wheelbase. True enough, they end up pretty even in real life. With the extra width and wheelbase, along with the more supportive seats (across all three rows, actually), the SsangYong’s better when the head count’s limited to five. However, because the second row doesn’t slide and tumbling them to get to the third row is a cumbersome three-step affair, the utility of the third row is quite limited. While the rearmost seats have a better pitch compared to the Nissan’s, the occupants here will find their hairdos tussled by the headliner while keeping their knees up throughout any trip.

Funny, because the opposite is true for the Terra. Despite its famed Zero Gravity Seats, it loses to the Rexton in terms of overall comfort, in as far as the first two rows are concerned. Yet, the compromise has increased its flexibility. With second row seats that tumble down with a single lever (or via a button on the center console), getting into the rearmost seats is much easier. It’s also more habitable with acceptable levels of headroom and a floor that’s been scooped out to keep the knees down. Moreover, the second row also slides fore and aft allowing more freedom in maximizing space across all three rows of seats. Oh, and while both have pretty good climate control systems, it must be said that the Terra’s air vents are spread across all three rows on the ceiling, while the Rexton makes do with a console-mounted one on the second row and side-blowing one on the third row.

Moving onto the cargo hold, it’s surprising that neither SUV could provide a completely flat luggage area; requiring a secondary “floor” instead. Visually, it seems the Rexton can hold wider stuff (say, two full-sized luggage side-by-side), while the Terra can hold taller stuff (the same two luggage placed one on top of the other); though the difference doesn’t seem much. Funny though that the SsangYong’s third row folds with one single pull tab while the Nissan takes two.

Winner: TIE

 Performance and Fuel Economy

In the process of engineering the Terra, without a doubt Nissan benchmarked other PPVs. As a result, it’s currently one of the top choices in the segment. Limited by its pickup-based platform which was, mind you, engineered to have a rear coil spring setup from the get-go, it rides well enough, especially when going over larger obstacles like humps and crater-sized potholes. However, it gets easily upset with smaller imperfections, shimming as opposed to gliding through them. Nonetheless, given the typically low ride comfort standards of a PPV, it scores pretty high.

The arrival of the Rexton therefore is very unfortunate for an SUV that’s supposedly the cushiest one around. It easily trounces everyone with a well-tuned suspension that irons out the choppiness typically associated with body-on-frame SUVs. The shock absorber’s rebound stroke could be better tuned, but at least the seats are able to absorb most of the impact. Both have weighty hydraulic-assisted steering, but the SsangYong’s is slightly lighter.

Hand-in-hand with the Rexton’s superb ride is its 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine. It’s down on both horsepower and torque versus the Terra’s 2.5-liter 4-cylinder unit, but not by much. The powerplant feels more responsive while also offering NVH isolation that puts the SsangYong on a whole different level. Whereas the Nissan’s diesel rattle is vocal and the shudders transmitted through the floor and to the pedal box, the Rexton has none of them. However, both SUVs suffer from indecisive 7-speed gearboxes, though at least in the Rexton’s favor, it doesn’t end up lurching the entire vehicle in stop-and-go traffic. With similar weights, power outputs, and amount of forward gears, it’s no surprise that fuel economy between these two are closely matched with the Rexton doing 7.69 km/L at 16 km/h, while the Terra doing 7.14 km/L at a slower 13 km/h average.

Winner: SsangYong Rexton

Value for Money

Utilitarian the Terra may be, but Nissan used this as an opportunity to introduce its Nissan Intelligent Mobility to the mass market. Thus, it takes the lead here with driver assistive tech such as Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning, a camera for the rear-view mirror (Intelligent Rear View Mirror) and a 360-degree camera with Moving Object Detection. It also has tire pressure monitoring and a video monitor for the rear seats. Among the two, it’s also more trail-ready with a locking rear differential and LSD.

As cool as all the tech in the Terra is, can it sway buyers from more traditional forms of luxury offered by the Rexton? Features like larger wheels, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, powered ventilated seats with three-setting memory for the driver, one-touch up/down windows, moon roof, electronic parking brake with auto hold, and a power tailgate are exclusive features on the SsangYong for an additional P 124,000 (P 2,230,000 versus P 2,106,000). This doesn’t even include the Rexton’s all-inclusive 3-year free PMS package that alone saves buyers around P 50,000. Perhaps the only thing going against the SsangYong is its questionable residual value and limited dealer footprint (there’s only one for now). Still, with such a large disparity in features versus price, the Rexton may be a good new car gamble.

Winner: SsangYong Rexton

If the Rexton had not appeared in its current shape, form, and price, the Terra would have kept its position as an easy to love, easy to recommend mid-sized SUV. Its impressive list of driver assist features gives it a slight advantage against the competition let down by its run-of-the-mill design and terribly pedestrian-looking interior. If only the goalpost were placed further than it current is, then the Terra could have been king. As it stands though, Nissan just wanted to be a notch above the competition, and the Terra did so, if only just.

Sadly, in the game for SUV supremacy, the rule of the Terra is short-lived and the new ruler comes from an unlikely source. The SsangYong Rexton may be the newest kid on the block, but it’s managed to arrive with guns blazing. There may be some uncertainties connected to the brand, and they’re well-founded; but as far as products go, this Korean has successfully upset the Japanese. The Rexton is the mid-sized SUV’s new king. Long live the king.

Winner: SsangYong Rexton

2019 Nissan Terra VL 4x4 vs 2019 SsangYong Rexton 4x4
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Ownership	2019 Nissan Terra VL 4x4	2019 SsangYong Rexton 4x4
Year Introduced	2018	2019
Vehicle Classification	Mid-sized SUV	Mid-sized SUV
The Basics
Body Type	5-door SUV	5-door SUV
Seating	7	7
Engine / Drive	F/4WD, part-time, low	F/4WD, part-time
Under the Hood
Displacement (liters)	2.5	2.2
Aspiration	Turbocharged	Turbocharged
Fuel Delivery	Common Rail Direct Injection	Common Rail Direct Injection
Layout / # of Cylinders	I4	I4
BHP @ rpm	190 @ 3,600	181 @ 4,000
Nm @ rpm	450 @ 2,000	420 @ 1,600-2,600
Fuel / Min. Octane	Diesel	Diesel
Transmission	7 AT	7 AT
Cruise Control	Yes	Yes
Fuel Economy @ Ave. Speed	7.14 km/L @ 13 km/h	7.69 km/L @ 16 km/h
Dimensions and Weights
Length (mm)	4,885	4,850
Width (mm)	1,865	1,960
Height (mm)	1,835	1,800
Wheelbase (mm)	2,850	2,865
Curb Weight (kg)	2,118	2,105
Suspension and Tires
Front Suspension	Independent, Double Wishbone	Independent, Double Wishbone
Rear Suspension	Five-Link, Coil Springs	Five-Link, Coil Springs
Front Brakes	Vented Disc	Vented Disc
Rear Brakes	Drum	Disc
Tires	Bridgestone Dueler H/T 684 II 255/60 R 18 H (f & r)	Hankook Dynapro HP2 255/50 R 20 H (f & r)
Wheels	Alloy	Alloy
Safety Features
Airbags	6	6
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)	Yes	Yes
Traction / Stability Control	Yes	Yes
Front Seatbelt	3-pt ELR with pre-tensioner x 2	3-pt ELR with pre-tensioner x 2
Traction / Stability Control	3-pt ELR x 3 (2nd row), 3-pt ELR x 2 (3rd row)	3-pt ELR x 2 + 2-pt Lapbelt x 1 (2nd row), 3-pt ELR x2 (3rd row)
ISOFIX Child Seat Anchor	Yes	Yes
Parking Sensors	Yes, Rear, with 360-degree camera	Yes, Front & Rear, with Camera
Other Safety Features	Hill Start Assist Hill Descent Control Tire Pressure Monitoring System Lane Departure Warning Blind Spot Warning	Hill Start Assist Hill Descent Control
Exterior Features
Headlights	LED	HID
Fog Lamps	Yes, Front	Yes, Front (LED), Rear
Auto Lights	Yes	Yes
Rain-sensing Wipers	Yes	Yes
Interior Features
Steering Wheel Adjust	Tilt	Tilt/Telescopic
Steering Wheel Material	Leather	Leather
Seating Adjustment (driver)	8-way Electric	8-way Electric, with Memory, Vented
Seating Adjustment (front passenger)	Manual	4-way Electric, Vented
Seating Surface	Leather	Leather
Folding Rear Seat	Yes, 60/40 (2nd row), 50/50 (3rd row)	Yes, 60/40 (2nd row), 50/50 (3rd row)
On-Board Computer	Yes	Yes
Convenience Features
Power Steering	Yes	Yes
Power Door Locks	Yes	Yes
Power Windows	Yes	Yes
Power Mirrors	Yes, with Fold	Yes, with Fold
Climate Control	Automatic, Dual (Front), Manual with Vents (Rear)	Automatic, Dual (Front), Manual with Vents (Rear)
Proximity Key	Yes	Yes
Audio System	Stereo MP3 Aux USB Bluetooth Apple CarPlay Android Auto Rear Monitor	Stereo MP3 USB Bluetooth Apple CarPlay Android Auto
# of Speakers	6	6
Steering Controls	Yes	Yes