The Ultimate Teana

IF IT had been launched here earlier, the ultimate Nissan Teana —the top-of-the-line 350XV— might have won a category trophy in the 2010-2011 Car of the Year (Coty) Awards. But the Teana 350XV entered the Philippine market in December 2010, which was too late for the Coty testing program. As it happened, the Teana 250XV CVT, which debuted at the 3rd Philippine International Motor Show last August, bagged the Coty Red Rock Travel Special Award “for unsurpassed comfort and stylishness that rivals more expensive vehicles.”

The word “comfort” has always been associated with the Teana, which is said to be the Cefiro’s logical successor as Nissan’s flagship model. Like the Cefiro, the Teana lineup is powered by the VQ V6 engine series that is known for its simplicity, compactness, low friction and responsiveness. The VQ engine has the world’s first hydrogen-free valve lifter coated with diamond-like carbon that reduces surface friction by 40 percent and lessens carbon emission. No wonder the VQ powerplant is the only engine to make it to Ward’s 10 best engines list for 14 consecutive years.

Ace

But an award-winning V6 engine is not the ultimate Teana’s only ace. Its size (the Teana 350XV is longer than the BMW 5 Series) and creature comforts would qualify it for the premium midsize sedan class, what with a twin-glass sunroof, perforated and ventilated leather seats, plush, high-pile carpeting, dual-zone aircon, power-operated ottoman-style leg rest for the front seat passenger, power rear sunshade and an OE audio system with a 6-disc in-dash CD changer and six speakers.

On the other hand, its retail price—P1.998 million—pushes it back into the executive car segment with the 3.5 liter Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord. To pigeonhole the ultimate Teana as belonging to one category or another is a dicey game.

Whatever its rightful category, the Teana 350XV is commonly perceived as a chauffeur-driven car. The rear seat, after all, is well-cushioned and comfy with generous headroom and legroom—passengers can even tuck their feet under the front seats. The backseat accommodations are spacious and pampering enough to please even the most discerning boss. The trunk space measures a class-leading 506 liters

Question

This brings up the question: If Nissan designed the Teana 350XV for chauffeur driving, why have an ottoman-like front seat? Surely, the boss’s wife rides in the back with him, not in front with the chauffeur. So you may conclude that the ottoman leg rest of the front seat is utterly useless—unless, of course, the boss decides to do the driving. Which can happen on weekends and holidays.

If I owned a Teana 350XV, I would tell the chauffeur to take the day off and drive it myself more often because it’s so pleasant to drive with its low-vibration body construction and vehicle speed-sensing power steering. The driver’s seat is power-adjustable eight ways while the front seat, four ways. The normally aspirated VQ35DE engine is basically the same powerplant found in the Murano SUV and, mated to Nissan’s XTtonic CVT (continuous variable transmission) with Adaptive Shift Control, delivers 249 hp@ 6000 rpm and 335 Nm max torque@4400 rpm.

Smooth

Unlike conventional automatic transmission systems that use a set of fixed gears, Xtronic CVT provides a smooth, no-shift-shock gear change that reduces fuel consumption while offering a natural feeling of powerful acceleration. Nissan’s latest evolution of CVT ratios about 30 percent faster than the previous version due to the additional enhancements of electronic control and hydraulic systems and the adoption of a high-performance Automatic Transmission Fluid.

The suspension system consists of McPherson strut in front and multi-link combo at the rear with disc brakes (ventilated ones in front) on all four 17-inch wheels. ABS with EBD and brake assist, Vehicle Dynamic Control, front and side airbags and front parking sensors are standard equipment. The intelligent key allows one-touch locking and unlocking of doors and trunk and, interlinked with the push button ignition, improves anti-theft security.

The buzz words are comfort and smoothness, not high performance although the Teana always has adequate power on tap. After driving a V6 car like the Teana, you don’t feel like driving a four-pot again. This long car handles surprisingly well in negotiating corners at moderate speed and remains taut and composed running fast over bumpy roads. The top speed cited is 210 kph, suitably swift for a car this size and weight. Not really as silent as its 2.5 liter sibling, the 3.5-liter Teana emits a muffled V6 exhaust growl when you hit the Start button and with every prod of the throttle. For car buffs, it’s a delightful sound track.

Upgraded

The levels of driving comfort and operational stability have been upgraded with a rigid body structure built with 980 MPA Ultra Steel with light weight and high tensile strength characteristics similar to a French nuclear submarine’s. A FF-L (front engine, front wheel drive, large) platform equipped with a six pillar/ beams chassis structure design forms a solid security zone to protect the occupants from the shock of a collision.

The interior’s beige color theme with dark wood trim gives an airy and light feeling, a refreshing change from the usual somber black or grey. However, sooner or later the beige leather seats and door panels are sure to get smudged and a bit grimy. This, along with the difficulty of parking such a long car, is about the only drawback I can think of in the ultimate Teana. At P1.998 million, it’s the most sensible, smoothest and most comfortable long-range cruiser for long trips this summer.

TODAY’S BUMPER STICKER DEFINITION: Conference room: A place where everybody talks, nobody listens and everybody disagrees later on.