Production Nissan Terrano Spotted on the Road for the First Time

Nissan is preparing to expand its SUV lineup by bringing back the Terrano name. A production Nissan Terrano has now been spotted during road testing, and it appears closely related to the plug-in hybrid concept unveiled at the Beijing auto show in April.

The Nissan Terrano first debuted in 1986 as a body-on-frame SUV, although it was sold under different names in some markets. The second-generation model arrived in 1995 and remained in production until the mid-2000s. Nissan later used the Terrano name for crossovers in some markets, but the automaker now appears ready to return the name to its original full-size SUV roots.

Based on the appearance of the test vehicle, the production model will retain the concept's boxy proportions while dropping some of its more extreme off-road styling.

For example, the prototype spotted testing does not appear to have the roof- and hood-mounted auxiliary lights, expedition-style roof rack or large off-road tires featured on the show vehicle.

The technical side of the project is even more interesting. The revived Terrano is expected to be a body-on-frame SUV based on the Chinese Nissan Frontier Pro / Dongfeng Z9 platform. According to reports, Nissan will be responsible for developing the chassis, safety systems and off-road capabilities, while Dongfeng will handle the SUV's hybrid technology.

China will likely be the first market for the plug-in hybrid. Sales are expected to begin there in early 2027. Later, versions with gasoline and hybrid powertrains could reach markets in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Latin America.

The Terrano is not the only Nissan SUV currently heading toward production. Plans to put the Xterra into production were also confirmed this year.

The Xterra will also be a body-on-frame SUV, but it will use the company's own platform. It will enter a highly competitive segment where the Toyota 4Runner, Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco are already established competitors.