SALES of the Nissan Terrano Van are up by 660 per year on year. And to keep its sales on the up, Nissan is expanding the range from one model to three topped by a new 1 56PS 3.0-litre Di version with a very un-van-like specification.

Both the new Terrano SE vans give owner operators more luxury in their 4x4 workhorse - not least because their van is also the weekend wheels.

The SE will come as less of a shock for ex-company car types now capitalising on the tax advantages of running a van as company provided transport because air conditioning, a CD player, alloy wheels and anti-lock brakes are all standard.

The SE builds on a standard Terrano Van, with part-time 4x4 with low ratio gearbox, and adds:

• Heated/electric door mirrors

• 16” alloy wheels

• ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution

• Passenger airbag

• Remote control central locking with anti-hijack feature

• Ultrasonic and perimetric alarm

• Air conditioning

• Leather steering wheel

• Lumbar/height adjustable driver’s seat

• In dash CD/radio with two extra speakers

The added price is £1,225 making the basic price of a Terrano Van 2.7TD SE, £14,995.

The 3.0Di 1 56P5 engine adds another £850 to this ex-VAT price and turns the Terrano Van into something of a hotrod… in four-wheel drive van terms. Acceleration to 62 mph takes 13.3 seconds, but its 32.1 mpg combined fuel consumption figure is more than reasonable.

This engine also has a 200 kg advantage over the 2.7TD unit.