Nissan Teana 3.5. No alternative found.

Nissan Teana 3.5. No Alternative Found

This time we got our hands on a Teana already familiar from the previous test, but with a serious upgrade. On the right side of the trunk lid, V6 is again indicated, but under the hood now hides a 3.5-liter displacement. The test car, as usual, is in the top Premium trim, meaning the cabin has almost everything you could wish for, except a TV. The only significant addition in the options list is a glass roof with two sunroofs, but only one of them opens. Rear passengers will have to admire the sky exclusively through the glass.

Office on Wheels

This time we were unlucky with the color: in the documents it is listed as "lilac," but in reality it is some faded dark gray. Next to the white car with a black glass roof standing in the showroom, our specimen clearly loses – the white one looks far more impressive and would not yield to some Mercedes. The interior is also now black. If the light cream version gave a feeling of warmth and coziness, the black one turns the interior into a strict office on wheels. Even the panoramic roof on a clear day does not save – the atmosphere inside seems a bit gloomy.

Still Far from Infiniti

Under the hood of the Nissan Teana 3.5 is an engine producing 249 hp. Acceleration to 100 km/h takes 7.2 seconds. For a business sedan, this is not a record, but it is impressive. The same displacement engine is installed on Infiniti models, but it is a completely different engine. Thanks to different settings and torque redistribution, the Infiniti M-class engine develops 280 horsepower, and the G-class – as much as 303. What a significant difference!

The continuously variable transmission obediently follows accelerator pedal presses, reacting to the slightest movements of the right foot. Acceleration is light and smooth, without rev hangs or jerks. The manual mode with fixed steps, as on the old 3.5-liter Teana, is no longer here.

But a sport mode has appeared, which is activated by the left button on the gear selector. In it, the CVT keeps revs higher and allows active engine braking. If the 2.5-liter version did not reach sportiness, then with the 3.5-liter engine the Teana turns into a real sports car. And the deliberate reduction in power from 303 to 249 hp is nothing more than a marketing ploy to reduce taxes.

At high speeds, the car is a pleasure. The steering wheel with adaptive power steering becomes heavier as speed increases. True, in corners, because of this, bumps are transmitted to it more sharply, but this is still a Teana, not a G37. Although attempts to turn an Infiniti into a respectable Nissan are already noticeable – just look inside the cabin.

Sleep Well, Gentlemen Businessmen

Last time, when talking about the 2.5-liter version, we mentioned the comfortable rear headrests but forgot about such a detail as the ottoman. The front passenger seat has an electric drive for the Ottoman leg support. One light touch of the button – and the seat turns almost into a bed, with an additional cushion extending from below. True, unlike the previous version, back and knee massage is now unavailable – this function was abandoned. But even without it, the seat is so comfortable that you can sleep in it peacefully, especially if you turn off the music. Complete silence reigns in the cabin, and only the sound of the exhaust reminds you that you are in a car.

By the way, it seemed to us that the 3.5-liter Teana became not only faster but also noticeably quieter inside. We did not conduct any measurements; perhaps it is just an impression. It remains a mystery why the speedometer is marked up to 260 km/h if the maximum speed is limited to 210 km/h. The fuel question is also unclear: why does the V6 2.5 run on 92-octane, while the V6 3.5 requires only 95? In America, it is the opposite – the more powerful the engine, the lower the octane it needs. And in dynamics, this version did not seem too impressive to us. The difference with the 2.5-liter car is, of course, there, but in practice you hardly feel it.

We Vote for the Two and a Half

Therefore, we are all for the 2.5-liter engine – you will not find a better price-to-quality ratio in this class. And as for the 3.5-liter Teana, let us compare it with the Toyota Camry, which has a 277-horsepower engine. The Camry can be bought for 1,090,000 rubles – almost 90 thousand cheaper than the Teana. But several important nuances should be considered. With the Toyota Camry, you will not get a dozen options that the Teana has. In addition, the Camry, according to last year's results, entered the top three most stolen cars. With the Teana, so far (touch wood!) you can sleep peacefully. However, Nissan people are not going to enter a big battle – their annual plan is about 15 thousand cars.

Continuing the money topic, we note that the Teana 3.5 is offered in three fixed trims at prices of 1,108,500 rubles, 1,179,700 rubles, and 1,233,400 rubles. Choosing the second option for 1,179,700, you will not get the glass roof with sunroof and the phone. For the first price, in addition to the phone and roof, you will also be deprived of the ionizer with deodorizing element in the climate control, DVD player, and navigation. Think about which of these you really need when choosing a car. We have already talked about the shortcomings of navigation and DVD when describing the top version with the 2.5-liter engine.

By the way, if you are seriously thinking about buying a Teana, we advise you to hurry. Starting next year, the car, like the X-Trail, will be assembled near St. Petersburg. The price may become a little lower, but whether exports from Japan will continue is a big question.

And still, it is a pity that in such a fairly large car, the designers did not find a place for a small bottle of water.

We Feel Sorry for the "Blonde"

And we also feel very sorry for the female navigator, who, despite her pleasant voice, often makes mistakes, does not know many streets familiar to every native Muscovite, and has great difficulty changing lanes if you are driving your own route. If you follow her "wise" advice, you will face two finish options. Either an accident (because, like many blondes, she brakes terribly). Or, having spent a lot of time and driven extra tens of kilometers, you will barely reach the right point.

We thank the representative office of Nissan Motor Rus for providing the car for the test.

Dmitry Shavyrin

Specifications

Source – AUTOMANIA.RU