Cambodians are asking more of their SUV’s than ever before, on the average day a Cambodian vehicle might be required to haul a tonne of bricks, drop the children off at school, provide a vehicle to get to and from an office job, as well as being the vehicle to take the family to the province, skirting dirt roads and requiring genuine 4WD capabilities.

Luckily for people in the Kingdom, Tan Chong Motor have us covered. As sole and exclusive distributoe of Nissan in Cambodia, they have bet on a sure thing.

When designing their new Terra model SUV, Nissan realised that most mid-sized SUVs on the market sacrificed style for the sake of important four wheel drive and off road capabilities. With the Nissan Terra we have a modern, sleek, streamline mid-sized SUV that sacrifices nothing when it comes to on or off road utilisation.

The cabin of the Terra is opulent and spacious, with the ability to accommodate seven passengers. Stadium style seating in the rear passenger seats, allows for easy monitoring of the rear of the cabin, and just as in the front seats, the second row passengers are well looked after in the form of console and roof mounted air vents, the third row of seating is served by roof mounted vents only, all rows are climate controlled.

In addition, there are bottle and cup holders for all passengers, with the exception of the centre rear seat. The front cabin is also served well with individual bottle and cup holders for driver and front seat passenger.

Everyone has a fold down grab handle; this will no doubt prove very useful for passengers travelling on some of Cambodia’s bumpier provincial roads.

In the front seats of the Terra, passenger and driver sit in the comfort of zero gravity seats. Nissan’s zero gravity seats have been designed to maximise comfort and reduce driver fatigue.

Zero gravity refers to the science of these seats, in as much as when in space, the human body takes on a relaxed posture.

Nissan designed these seats to minimise stress on the body, in an attempt to recreate the neutral, relaxed position the body takes when in zero gravity.

The problem of trying to get in to the third row seats has been handled well with a dedicated one touch remote fold and tumble seat, controlled by a button on the driver’s centre console, the second row seats automatically fold and tumble, making getting small children in to the third row seat easier than ever.

As well as climate control, personal air vents, ample drink storage, the rear passengers also get two individual entertainment systems; each is a 10.25 inch headrest mounted monitor, ensuring the rear passengers will be well entertained on longer family trips.

The technical specifications of the Terra also stand out in its field. It is the only mid-sized SUV in its class that is equipped with 4 wheel Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS).

The ABLS ensures safety and vehicle control in conditions that would have previously been dangerous.

The ABLS system automatically senses loss of traction and wheel spin then automatically applies the brakes to the spinning wheel(s) and redirects power from the spinning wheel(s) to the wheel(s) with the best traction, providing grip that can handle the roughest terrain or get the Terra out of any trouble.

Strength, durability, comfort, and convenience are provided in the Terra via a reinforced, versatile, full ladder frame chassis, a five link coil rear suspension system and a rigid rear wheel axle.

Ensuring that whether off or on road, the Terra’s ride is smooth and effortless. When this is teamed with the zero gravity seats, a day driving to the provinces will prove to be far less tiring than in other mid-sized SUVs.

Hill Start Assist (HSA) is a smart piece of technology that will prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards for a few seconds, enough time for the driver to switch from the brake pedal to the accelerator. When descending in the Terra drivers have the added security of Hill Descent Control (HDC). HDC helps to maintain speed control on any steep downhill areas, leaving the driver to focus on controlling the vehicle via the steering wheel.

In a sensible added extra for a long haul family car, the Terra also has Lane Departure Warning (LDW). LDW will alert the driver if the Terra begins to move outside of its lane, an early warning safety measure that should help to prevent vehicle accidents caused by driver fatigue.

As well as these high tech safety solutionsm Terra is equipped with six SRS airbags, positioned in the front for driver and passenger, side impact airbags and a curtain shield airbag to ensure safety for all three rows of passengers in the Terra. The holy grail of Nissan safety is Nissan’s intelligent mobility, designed to bring safety and convenience to both driver and passengers.

The high tech safety features of the Terra will prove an important selling point with increasingly safety conscious Cambodians, particularly those with families. Plus keyless entry makes getting in a breeze.

Moving Object Detection is employed in the Terra to great effect. Cameras monitor the entire 360 degrees of the vehicle, detecting moving objects around the car and providing visual and audible warnings to the driver in the case of moving objects.

This heightened awareness of the vehicles surroundings gives the driver, and passengers enhanced peace of mind.

The Terra also boasts a 360 degree top view from the Intelligent Around View Monitor i-AVM, this allows the driver to view around the vehicle for ease of maneuverability when at low speed or when parking.

Parking has never been easier than it is in the Terra. It is equipped with four eye rear parking sensors and a reversing camera to ensure you make it into your parking spot, first time, every time.

The Terra also has a follow me home function, enabling the headlights to shine for a certain amount of time after the engine is switched off, allowing the driver to locate the front door of their house, and to unlock the door.

Anti lock braking system, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, vehicle dynamic control, child lock, and finally zone body construction round out the technological aspects of the Terra, an impressive equipment list for any vehicle.

Last but by no means least, is the Terra Engine. It is a 2.5L inline 4 cylinder DOHC variable supercharger with intercooler and a 7 speed auto transmission and the option to switch to manual mode. This engine gives the Terra class leading acceleration.

On or off the highway, the Terra is never lacking in power, the 190 horse power and the 450Nm of torque means that the Terra lives up to Nissan’s tagline ‘go anywhere’, now in the Terra you can.