How the Nissan Terra can drive through floods

Nissan demonstrating the Terra’s ability to wade through waters 800 millimeters deep.

THE Philippines’ monsoon season peaks in August, recording the highest rainfall rate of around 473 millimeters. In 2018, monsoons affected more than 288,860 families from 21 provinces across the country, according to Nissan, citing data from ReliefWeb, the digital information arm of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. And with rains come floods.

To make sure drivers and their vehicles are not left stranded in floodwater, Nissan shares five driving tips, as well as details on how the Nissan Terra, with its 800-millimeter water-wading ability, allows drivers to cope with the rainy season.

1. Know the maximum wading depth of your vehicle. This height is set for each vehicle depending on where its vulnerable systems are — like the air filter and distributor. Made in and for Southeast Asia, the Terra offers drivers 225 millimeters of ground clearance and the ability to wade in up to 800 millimeters of water.
2. Ease into the water at no faster than 3km/h. This reduces the chance of water entering the engine through the air filter and damaging electrical parts as it creates a “bow wave” in front of the vehicle and a depression in water level around the engine bay. To assist drivers, the Terra’s 2.3-liter twin turbo diesel engine provides them with 190hp and 450Nm, adequate power to navigate submerged terrain.
3. Keep a constant speed and do not release the accelerator. This prevents water from flooding the engine through the exhaust pipe. With features like hill-start assist, the Terra can take on inclines even when water wading, and without rolling backwards from a stop. Hill-start assist holds pressure on the brake for a few seconds, providing enough time to switch from the brake pedal to the accelerator.
4. Proceed one vehicle at a time. This prevents you from being forced to stop in the middle of flooded roads if the vehicle in front stalls. At just over 1.8 meters wide, the Terra offers huge cabin space yet allows drivers to navigate even narrow city streets.
5. After safely crossing a flood, check the vehicle and its engine bay for any signs of debris that could be trapped inside. Emerging from a flooded street, Nissan’s Advanced Drive-Assist Display provides full details of the Terra’s system, from tire pressure to the 4×4 mechanism. The Terra’s Intelligent Rear-View Mirror enables the driver to maintain a clear view of the cabin and the rear of the vehicle via a camera on the hatch.