Teana: Loud as a whisper

Even when it was the only game in town, back in the late 1980s, Nissan did not scrimp on the features on its executive and luxury sedans. The Nissan Maxima introduced features like power windows and power steering, the first on a local Japanese car. The first Cefiro was a rear-wheel drive six-cylinder sports sedan, while the second-generation Cefiro carried the company’s vaunted VQ V6 engine.

Stepping into those large tire tracks is the latest version of Nissan’s executive sedan. In case you didn’t know, it has been renamed Teana (from the Native American word for “dawn”), and it is now in its second generation. The second generation maintains the organic styling cues of its predecessor. The Teana’s simple, dolphin-like lines wouldn’t look out of place on an Infiniti. It seems that only large Nissan sedans can pull off that particular aubergine shade and look good.

Sitting inside the Teana feels like hanging out in a high-end furniture showroom. The Teana follows the classic luxury formula of leather and wood. What is distinctive is the wood’s matte finish, lending it an upscale atmosphere. The large plank on the passenger side is particularly attractive. The leather also seeks to be different, as it is done in a light shade. The light colors make the cabin feel roomier and airier than it already is. You may want to think twice about the cream-colored hide, though, as it seems to readily show its age. Several years of having kids with all their crayons, food and muddy shoes won’t bode well to retaining that new-car appearance. Thanks to the car’s bulbous, shape, there’s plenty of headroom and legroom for both the front and rear passengers. The top-of-the-line 3.5 liter version features a sunroof.

Buttery smooth

Under the hood is a 2.5-liter V6 engine, good for 185hp and 232Nm. As smooth as inline-fours have become, they are still no match for a properly balanced V6. The revs are buttery smooth all the way to the redline. There’s enough grunt for a 9.6-second run from zero to 100kph.

Another piece of technology unique in the Teana’s class is the continuously variable transmission (CVT). Traditionally, a CVT has smoothness (zero shift shock) and fuel efficiency (wider range of variable ratios) on its side, but against it is the dreaded rubber-band effect-where the engine revs stay fixed at a certain rpm, while the car accelerates. Nissan seems to have solved the rubber-banding problem. The CVT behaves like a very smoother, more responsive automatic. The CVT allows the engine to rev up, much like a conventional automatic, all while maintaining the zero shift-shock effect that CVTs are known for. Stomp on the accelerator and the transmission responds quickly, selecting the proper ratio with no hesitation.

Teana rides on independent struts up front, and multi-link setup at the rear. The Teana is a revelation when it comes to handling. It is perfectly content to cruise with a soft, compliant ride on the highway, but is also competent enough to cling to the pavement when hard cornering is called for.

In today’s fragile economy, luxury is no longer about advertising one’s success. Luxury is something to be enjoyed discreetly, all with a knowing nod. And in this environment, the Teana’s whispered approach to luxury is loud and clear.