(Disclaimer: The car driven was a basic level XL model, not the XV shown in the pics)
Nissan's flagship saloon, Teana, launched in 2007,never succeeded in India. Key factors like high price, confused positioning, poor marketing and step motherly treatment from Nissan limited the potential of this highly competent but massively underrated sedan to just a few hundred numbers.
Now Nissan has made amends and launched an all new model within a few months of its world premiere in China in our shores. being a CBU, again the car is highly priced but Nissan claims that it has addressed the car's weaknesses while improving in its strengths.
Can the new second generation avatar do the trick?
Nissan Teana 2.5 V6 X tronic CVT 6 speed
List Price (Ex showroom, Delhi in Rupees):- VQ 25 DE 250 XL- 21,03,000
- VQ 25 DE 250 XV- 25,40,000
Specifications:- Engine: 2498 cc, 24 valve DOHC V6
- Bore X stroke: 85.0 mm X 73.3 mm
- Max power: 182 ps@6000 RPM
- Max torque: 23.2 kg-m@ 4400 rpm
- Compression Ratio: 9.8:1
- Transmission: 6 speed Xtronic CVT
- Steering: Speed Sensitive Electronically assisted power rack and pinion
- Turning radius: 5.4 mm (250 XL), 5.8 mm (250 XV)
- Front suspension: Independent McPherson Strut
- Rear Suspension: Independent multi-link
- Brakes: 4 channel ABS with EBD and Brake assist
- Front: ventilated discs
- Rear: solid discs
- Wheels: 16” alloy in XL, 17” alloy in XV
- Tyres: 205/60 R16 (XL), 205/55 R17 (XV)
Key equipment: Exterior - Halogen headlamps
- Xenon headlamp with retractable washer*
- Electrical Adjustable & foldable door mirrors
- Turn Indicators on Door Mirrors
- Interior
- Leather Steering Wheel
- Leather and Wood Steering Wheel *
- Multi-fuction (steering wheel) *
- LED indirect Illumination of centre console*
- LED indirect Illumination of front & rear door grip*
Air-Conditioning - Auto air conditioning dual zone
- Rear A/C Vents
- Plasma-cluster air conditioner*
Entertainment - In dash 6 cd changer music system with AUX in
- Mp3 player with 6 speakers
Seats- Leather seats
- Driver seat electrical adjustment
- Front passenger seat electrical adjustment*
- Driver seat lumbar adjustment*
- Ventilated front seats *
- Ottoman seat (front passenger) *
- Memory seat adjustments driver side*
- Comfort & Convenience Intelligent key with push button ignition
- Twin sunroof for panoramic view *
- Cruise control*
- Rear powered Sun shade*
Safety - ABS +EBD +BA
- Dual front air bags
- Side airbags*
- Curtain airbags*
- Vehicle dynamics control (VDC)*
*only available in 250 XV, rest features are standard on both models.
What works:- Classy styling inside and out
- Cozy and comfortable interiors
- Best in class couch like rear seat comfort
- Smooth and matured ride quality
- Plethora of features on XV
- Smooth and Sporty sounding award winning VQ V6 engine
- High quality fit and finish
What needs work:- CVT box feels strained with engine running at high RPMS as a result of rubber band effect
- Horribly overpriced (XV)
- Under equipped XL version for asking price of over 20 lakhs
- Sparse dealer network
- Resale value questionable
- Sloppy handling
- Sluggish low rpm response
- Average audio sound quality
First impressions:- Nissan addresses the previous teana’s core weaknesses with the new version but a high price and confused brand positioning will be a tough sell over other European rivals.
- Sparse dealer network and poor resale values will not help, either.
The look:
Nissan has burned the midnight oil to make sure that its new second generation teana addresses the weaknesses of its previous generation-bland feminine styling.
After 7 years, a fully redesigned version of the Teana (codename: j32)was unveiled at Beijing auto show in 2008 (earlier previewed by the intima concept) and the first impressions suggest that it looks better contoured and proportioned as compared to the dowdy previous gen.
Don’t be fooled by the pics, the car is extremely long in the flesh, longer even the camry, accord, sonata and superb. The long wheelbase generates tremendous space inside and also makes the car look better proportioned than the earlier one.
The front with its imposing tri-angular headlights (inspired by previous gen accord and now used in the latest Korean Sonata –also launched today) look pretty striking and give the car loads of character, flanked by the huge chrome grille with 3 horizontal stats with the corporate Nissan logo and a seamlessly contoured bonnet which unfortunately lacks quality gas struts when opened-simply inexcusable in a car this expensive- and merged with a trapezoidal front bumper with chrome inserts and round fog lights with a big air dam round off the design.
The side is no beauty queen but equally classy and has a huge central character waist line which runs from the front to the back and seamlessly merges with the taillights (LED) also look impressive. The design of the bonnet merging with the fender reminds you of the “bangle butt” but is better executed and lends some character to an otherwise drab look.
The rear is again convectional but helped by high mounted LED taillights and loads of chrome to add juice to the design.
Overall the car looks classy and stylish, though not worthy of an award, but better looking than the awkward accord, camry and superb at least.
Under the skin:
The new Nissan Teana uses Nissan’s widely used transverse mounted front engine FWD midsize/ large car platform called the “D” platform that also underpins the current altima and USA only maxima. The suspension setup is pretty simple-independent all round with McPherson Strut at front and multi link at the rear, this setup obviously more comfort oriented for chauffeur driven people rather than spirited driving (USA being the prime target market for this platform followed by Russia and China).
The chassis is more rigid and stiff and is aimed to provide a pillowy ride without sacrificing on stability. Build quality is typically Japanese with the body not feeling solid as the Passat or Superb and the doors do not shut with the satisfying thud, not necessarily a good thing. Surface fit and finish is top class with paint job and interior quality with high grade plastics used.
The inside story:
Open the door and you are greeted by vast expansive interiors with convincing shades of beige and wood, all superbly finished. The XL model has convectional leather upholstery whereas the high end XV gains a combination of plain leather and pebble beige inserts.
The dashboard is superbly designed and houses minimal controls for stereo and HVAC vents, ergonomically superb for both the driver and co-driver who no longer have to vouch or search here and there, all fall easily into hand. The central screen display shows the status of AC temperature (dual zone plasma cluster is standard on XV), radio settings and channel presets. The instrument cluster is crystal clear to read and has all the telltale signs, including a trip computer with a programmable service interval.
The control buttons are pretty nicely finished save for the few steering wheel buttons (for audio and cruise control, standard on XV and not available on XL) which feel pretty cheap. A big plus is the ventilated front seats which pump air through the cushions to keep you fresh after arriving from that hot sunny day, controls for which are located inside the front armrest. Sadly, seat warmers are not available.
Another comfort feature on the XV is that the front passenger seat has an adjustable cushion for proper support to the lower leg at varying angles (called the ottoman seat) which keep your body relaxed on those long trips.
Space up front is superb with acres of legroom and width at your disposal.
A person with 6 feet plus height (also including sardarjis) will feel instantly at home sitting in those seats, so comfy they are. The driving position is also superb with 8 way powered seats with 2 memory settings for the driver and tilt steering (sadly no telescopic ) means that drivers of many dimensions will feel comfortable. Under thigh support is fantastic, so is the lumbar support, adjustable for the driver. Headroom at front is good but could have been better due to limits of coupe-like roof line and half an inch eaten by the sunroof.
However, it’s the rear seat that is the Teana’s trump card. It easily beats the superb and also matches the Merc E class for comfort levels, feels better than your average couch and also acts as a rival to the best seats from a 5 star hotel. The seat base and cushioning are simply outstanding and the angle of inclination is optimized for highest levels of comfort, prime requirements of Russian, Chinese and of course, our markets. The rear AC vents pamper you even further.Boot space at over 500 liters is also pretty big.
Under thigh support is almost perfect and you feel fresh even after long travel hours spent in the car. Simply said, for chauffeur driven professionals who prefer comfort over anything else on a decent budget, this is the car for you. Want more, get the Merc S class.
The stereo is a simple single CD MP3 unit with aux-in jack and sound quality is just about average. Not good for heavy bass. A glaring omission is blue tooth connectivity and USB port for the stereo, many rivals which provide as standard.