First launched in 1993 and discontinued only in 2006, the model enjoyed long market life in just one generation, with its basic form unchanged, albeit having been significantly updated throughout its lifetime. Nissan's internal designation for this model was R20. It was exported to Japan, where it was called the Mistral, and exclusive to Japanese Nissan dealership network called Nissan Satio Store. The R20 was based on the WD21 Nissan Terrano platform, and came in two body styles differing in wheelbase – a shorter three door and longer five door model. For the market in Britain chiefly, a panel van version of the three door was also made. The vehicle's body, tall compared to most competitors and providing for high ground clearance, was designed by the Italian I.DE.A Institute. Production of the R20 started in Spain in February 1993, and the Terrano II went on sale in Europe in May that year. The Mistral was launched in Japan in June 1994, at first available in the five door version only, the three door Mistral joined in 1995. In 1996, the car was facelifted, gaining round headlights. In Australia, the Terrano II arrived late to the market, going on sale in April 1997. It was available only with a manual transmission; the lack of an automatic option limited its sales potential in that market. In the beginning of 1999, both the JDM model of the Mistral and the Ford Maverick were phased out, while the remaining Terrano II was facelifted again, gaining a new front fascia more in line with contemporary Nissans, as well as an updated interior. In 2002, yet another facelift took place, giving the model the steering wheel from the Nissan Primera P12. Presented in March, at the 72nd Geneva Motor Show, the model was hence marketed as simply "Nissan Terrano" in Europe, the previous Terrano being marketed as Pathfinder. The R20 was sold in Europe until 2006, when production in Spain ceased. It was replaced indirectly by three different models; the Nissan X-Trail, which had been sold alongside it since 2001, the Nissan Pathfinder and the United Kingdom built Qashqai. While the Terrano II had three or five doors and a body-on-frame platform, the Qashqai has five doors and a unibody platform.
Engines
The Mistral had 2.4 petrol KA24E and 2.7 TD turbodiesels at its launch in 1993; from 1996 the petrol engine became injected and the diesel intercooled, with 2.4i and 2.7 TDi replacing the previous models. From 1999 until 2006, a 3.0 TDi DOHC, direct injected, turbodiesel intercooled engine was produced, using a version of the Nissan ZD engine, the ZD30DDTi, that also mounts the bigger and heavier Nissan Patrol. In the Mistral/Terrano, the 3.0 TDi engine provides much more power and fuel efficiency than the 2.7 TD engines.
