The Terrano has been around in one form or another for a long time now - 1993 to be exact. It is the result of a joint venture between Ford and Nissan to ensure both manufacturers had a representative in the immature SUV market. Since then the market has exploded and everyone from Audi to Porsche are getting in on the act. The Terrano is an aging car now; can it still hack it against the upstarts? Or is it no more than an agricultural workhorse? We tried a top of the range SVE to find the answer.

The looks of the Terrano have received an occasional nip and tuck through its life and the big grille is the main point of focus on the latest facelift. It's a big car, especially in five-door format and it looks imposing, big and bold. The advantage of the long wheelbase is a vast interior space. The Terrano is a pukka seven seater with a 3rd row in the back, though using it does rob you of most of the boot space. Still, at least you have the choice. Equipment is also a strong point with air conditioning, CD changer, leather, electric everything and heated seats adding up to an excellent package.

How you feel about driving the Terrano would depend on what you're used to. If your other car is a tractor then the torquey turbo diesel, five-speed manual 'box and switchable four-wheel drive system will seem very nice thank you. If you were expecting a car-like experience then you'll be badly let down. The handling is roly-poly, as you'd expect, but it is secure and predictable and there is plenty of grip (in the dry at least) thanks to the large off-road tyres. The ride is a little on the bouncy side and whilst it does traverse bumps and ridges well it doesn't absorb them; neither is the damping good enough to keep things as smooth as you'd expect in today's market.

The 3-litre diesel is an excellent unit, with a wide spread of torque, and endows the Terrano with a respectable level of performance. Its true forte is motorway cruising where the long legged gearing keeps it relatively quiet, and there is more than enough grunt to maintain speed on the motorway regardless of gradients. The engine itself is economical and relatively refined; it only becomes truly vocal when extended. On the whole it's probably the Terrano's strongest asset. We never tried towing anything but have little doubt that pulling a boat or horsebox wouldn't present the Terrano with any challenge and the 4wd system would ensure that you'd find traction on any surface, from slipway to field. Scanning through the technical specifications, I noticed that it can handle up to 3000kg of braked load, which is very impressive.

The on-road manners were acceptable when the Terrano was new, but by today's standards it feels archaic and crude. The steering is vague and feels somewhat detached from the front wheels, but it is light and makes the Terrano easy to drive for people of any physical stature. Sadly, engaging the 4wd corrupts the steering further and introduces unwelcome vibration. Unfortunately, the limited range of travel on the front seat runners means that anyone over six feet tall may feel a little folded up. The driving position is good though and you a panoramic view of the road thanks to the elevated position; a real boon for seeing over hedges on country lanes.

Taken as a whole the Terrano is a throwback to the nineties when utility vehicles were allowed to be unrefined, noisy and bad to drive. It was the norm, and the Terrano and its sister Maverick did have a place then, but now cars like this have been left behind. If you don't need the towing capability, but must have an off-roader then the answer to your needs can probably be found elsewhere in the Nissan range. The X-Trail for one is a much more civilised offering, and a lot better to drive. A direct replacement for the five-door Terrano is imminent in the form of Nissan's new Pathfinder seen at this year's Paris Motor Show. We look forward to driving it later in 2005. Until then, if your needs are for a rugged, functional off-roader with generous towing abilities, the Terrano is one of your few options.