The mid-size SUV market in Vietnam has long been dominated by diesel engine vehicles, including popular names like the Ford Everest, Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, and Isuzu MU-X. Despite the option of petrol engines, the majority of Vietnamese people still choose diesel engine vehicles in order to maximize cost savings.
As someone who works in the construction industry and frequently travels between provinces and cities, Mr. Dat (31 years old, Hanoi) chose the Nissan Terra, a petrol-powered SUV, instead of a diesel engine vehicle. We had a conversation with Mr. Dat about his reasons for choosing the Nissan Terra and his experiences with the vehicle.
Hello, Mr. Dat! Can you tell us which number vehicle the Nissan Terra is for you?
This is my second vehicle. The first one was a 2018 Kia Cerato, which I bought brand new. The Terra is a used vehicle that I bought from a friend in 2020 (for 950 million VND). Currently, the odometer reading is nearly 70,000 km.
The Nissan Terra is an SUV with a petrol engine, which is not as fuel-efficient as diesel engines for long trips and has higher fuel costs. How does the Terra perform in your experience?
After using the vehicle, I found that it is not significantly more expensive compared to the 2.7 petrol engine of the Toyota Fortuner. When I bought the Terra, I accepted the fact that it would consume more fuel, with monthly fuel costs of over 3 million VND. However, one advantage is that the vehicle has sturdy construction. I even rate it higher than the Ford Everest in terms of stability. The car weighs over 2 tons, but it runs smoothly and produces less noise.
The interior of this vehicle is not impressive, with poor finishing and a lack of modern technology. The steering wheel adjustment mechanism is limited (only telescoping), and the hydraulic power steering can be tiring when driving in the city, while the Toyota Fortuner has variable hydraulic power steering and the Everest has electric power steering. However, when driving on the highway, the hydraulic power steering gives me a better sense of control when changing lanes at high speeds.
I have traveled to many places in the North, and the vehicle performs well on different road conditions. The engine runs reliably, but I haven’t had the chance to travel from North to South yet. However, I think that wouldn’t be an issue with the Nissan Terra.
What factors did you consider before buying this Terra vehicle specifically, and used vehicles in general?
When looking at used vehicles, I paid attention to the condition of the vehicle at that time, such as external wear and tear, and the interior condition. After that, I took the vehicle to an external workshop to check the engine, transmission, and chassis. When I saw this vehicle, it had some minor scratches but nothing major.
The mileage of the vehicle is a reference factor, but I still had to rely on the condition of the vehicle at that time. Of course, when inspecting the vehicle, I brought a friend along to ensure peace of mind. When I bought the vehicle, the Terra had the most accessible price on the market.
Why didn’t you choose vehicles like the Mazda CX5, Hyundai SantaFe, or Honda CRV?
The Nissan Terra is a 7-seater SUV with a separate frame design, providing spacious interior space, unlike the Mazda CX5 or Honda CRV, which are typically 5+2 seating configurations and have cramped third-row seats. This is one of the factors why I chose the Nissan Terra. Since I started a family, spaciousness became a priority for me.
In the past, I had the opportunity to drive a Nissan vehicle and was impressed by its durability and smoothness. However, Nissan is not a strong brand in Vietnam, and there are few distributors and service centers in provinces. I have to go back to Hanoi for maintenance services.
The cost of spare parts for Nissan vehicles is higher than other brands, but overall, the quality of components and spare parts is quite good.
Do you have any advice for users who intend to buy a used Nissan Terra?
Firstly, before deciding to buy a Terra, you need to make sure that it suits your needs.
The Nissan Terra itself is a good model. It has many strengths, such as the spacious size, proper 7-seat interior, comfort on long journeys, especially in the driver’s seat. The second-row seats are also very comfortable for passengers. The Nissan Terra is equipped with a quick and convenient button to fold the second-row seats, making it easy for passengers to access the third row. Additionally, the Nissan Terra has multiple storage compartments around the vehicle and up to 4 12V charging ports. The vehicle runs smoothly, comfortably, and reliably at high speeds on the highway.
On the other hand, the vehicle also has some drawbacks that may affect the user experience, mainly due to brand image and operating costs. When choosing the Terra, you have to accept its disadvantages, such as not being a strong brand, low liquidity (resale value), and higher fuel consumption and maintenance costs, including expensive replacement parts and accessories to the extent of being unreasonable.
If you are a technology and car enthusiast, the Terra may not be suitable for you. The interior of the vehicle is too basic compared to other vehicles in the same segment. The safety system of the Nissan Terra only has 2 airbags, and the vehicle lacks advanced features. The built-in Android display system only has basic functions (USB, FM, Youtube, hands-free calls, GMap) and does not have a 4G SIM card slot.
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