Not surprisingly, the most popular Nissan Teana model is the 200XL, which runs on a 2-litre 4-cylinder.
Its 136bhp is adequate for Singapore’s lethargic traffic and increasingly congested roads.
Even the 2.5-litre V6 is more than adequate.
More importantly for the towkay enjoying the car’s Lancia-like luxury is the extra equipment of the V6 Teana, which includes fancy front armchairs with built-in cooling and a power ottoman for the front passenger, xenon headlamps, four airbags and stability control systems.
For the towkay who just wants the “biggest” car in the range, there is the 3.5-litre Teana, powered by a 251bhp V6 that clocks 7.6 seconds from standstill to 100km/h – a full two seconds quicker than the smaller unit.
Within the local Nissan range, only the 350Z roadster and the new 370Z coupe are faster than the 3.5 in the century sprint.
But do not assume that the Teana has suddenly turned into a sporty drive with that big V6 under the bonnet.
The car’s suspension is still soft and the lightweight steering continues to be about as communicative as a Nintendo game console.
Even the brake pedal feels a little spongy underfoot, although the actual braking is strong.
Fierce, too, is the performance, a constant torrent of acceleration orchestrated by one of the most agreeable CVTs in the business.
With the throttle open wide, the transmission is tuned to keep the eager engine humming at around 4000rpm, where there’s a good balance between noise and effect.
In classic CVT fashion, the tachometer needle doesn’t move much, as the speedometer accumulates serious numbers quickly.
The lively performance, however, exacerbates the Teana’s boat-like handling.
Other than that larger V6, the top Teana’s extra equipment over the 2.5-litre version is limited to a twin-pane electric sunroof, two more airbags and a 6-speed manual override for the otherwise unchanged gearbox.
For the $13,000 premium they are charging, Nissan should have also specified 18-inch rims (both the 2.5 and 3.5 use 17s), a special shade of leather and a more accomplished audio system to help the Teana range-topper turn more heads.
Teana’s 3.5-litre V6 is strong and butter-smooth.
2009 Nissan Teana 3.5 (A)
ENGINE 3498cc, 24-valves, V6
MAX POWER 251bhp at 6000rpm
MAX TORQUE 326Nm at 4400rpm
GEARBOX CVT
0-100KM/H 7.6 seconds
TOP SPEED 210km/h
CONSUMPTION Not available
PRICE INCL. COE $123,500
