The typical towkay wants a mid-size saloon that’s spacious, comfortable and reliable. The car doesn’t need to look stylish or be equipped with lots of fancy gadgets, but it should deliver a relaxing motoring experience.
Going by its sheer number on our roads, the Toyota Camry is the most popular choice for these bosses. The 2.5-litre model here, which was launched in 2012, not only ticks the right “towkay” boxes, it also offers improved performance compared to the previous model. The Camry’s sharper exterior design is a welcome change, too.
The all-new Nissan Teana, introduced two months ago, has undergone an even more drastic redesign. While the predecessor has a unique look, the latest model resembles its smaller sibling, the Sylphy. The biggest change, however, has happened under the bonnet – the Teana 2.5 is now powered by a 4-cylinder instead of a V6.
Throwing its hat into this contest is the Chevrolet Malibu, which replaces the Epica. Keen to make waves in the Camry segment, the Chevy is nicely equipped and has a dynamic design that features elements borrowed from the sporty Camaro coupe.
Which of these saloons will ultimately end up bossing its two rivals around? Continue reading to discover the outcome of this “towkay tussle”. 
The Chevy Malibu scores plenty of points for its road presence, excellent driveability and nifty standard features on board. But it falls short when it comes to interior space and comfort, two key characteristics that are prized by local towkays.
The ever-popular Camry boasts a lot of lounging room and a creamy ride, but these good attributes are negated by the car’s less-than-refined drivetrain and decidedly average boot space. It could have won this competition hands-down if these issues weren’t present.
Outperforming its two rivals in this “towkay tussle” is the Nissan Teana. It may not have the Camry’s roomy accommodation or the Malibu’s wonderful handling, but it makes up for these shortcomings with its classy design, plush cabin and buttery powertrain. Simply put, it’s the “boss” of the group that would appeal most to bosses.
SPECIFICATIONS
Chevrolet Malibu 2.4 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
TYPE Inline-4, 16-valves
CAPACITY 2384cc
BORE X STROKE 88mm x 98mm
COMPRESSION RATIO 10.4:1
MAX POWER 167bhp at 5800rpm
MAX TORQUE 225Nm at 4600rpm
POWER TO WEIGHT 108.5bhp per tonne
GEARBOX 6-speed automatic
with manual select
DRIVEN WHEELS Front
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 9.7 seconds
TOP SPEED 206km/h
CONSUMPTION 12.8km/L (combined)
CO2 EMISSION 187g/km
SUSPENSION
FRONT MacPherson struts, coil springs
REAR Multi-link, coil springs
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs / Discs
TYRES
TYPE Bridgestone Potenza RE050A
SIZE 245/45 R18
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 4
TRACTION CONTROL ABS with ESC
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 4865mm
WIDTH 1855mm
HEIGHT 1465mm
WHEELBASE 2737mm
KERB WEIGHT 1539kg
TURNING CIRCLE 11.4m
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $169,999
(no CEVS rebate/surcharge)
WARRANTY 5 years/unlimited km
WE SAY
+ Great infotainment, precise steering, competitive pricing
– Lowest efficiency, tightest backseat, least effective air-con
* BEST OF THE THREE IN HANDLING
SPECIFICATIONS
Nissan Teana 2.5 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
TYPE Inline-4, 16-valves
CAPACITY 2488cc
BORE X STROKE 89mm x 100mm
COMPRESSION RATIO 10:1
MAX POWER 173bhp at 6000rpm
MAX TORQUE 234Nm at 4000rpm
POWER TO WEIGHT 114.6bhp per tonne
GEARBOX CVT
DRIVEN WHEELS Front
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 10.1 seconds
TOP SPEED 210km/h
CONSUMPTION 13.3km/L (combined)
CO2 EMISSION 180g/km
SUSPENSION
FRONT MacPherson struts, coil springs
REAR Multi-link, coil springs
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs / Discs
TYRES
TYPE Michelin Primacy LC
SIZE 215/55 R17
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 6
TRACTION CONTROL ABS with VDC
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 4875mm
WIDTH 1830mm
HEIGHT 1490mm
WHEELBASE 2775mm
KERB WEIGHT 1510kg
TURNING CIRCLE 11.4m
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $173,800
(no CEVS rebate/surcharge)
WARRANTY 5 years/unlimited km
WE SAY
+ Cushiest seating, best hi-fi output, smoothest acceleration, classiest styling
– Lowest rear headroom, no CVT manual override, unintuitive infotainment
* BEST OF THE THREE IN REFINEMENT
SPECIFICATIONS
Toyota Camry 2.5 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
TYPE Inline-4, 16-valves
CAPACITY 2494cc
BORE X STROKE 90mm x 98mm
COMPRESSION RATIO 10.4:1
MAX POWER 181bhp at 6000rpm
MAX TORQUE 231Nm at 4100rpm
POWER TO WEIGHT 122.7bhp per tonne
GEARBOX 6-speed automatic
with manual select
DRIVEN WHEELS Front
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 9.7 seconds
TOP SPEED 210km/h
CONSUMPTION 13km/L (combined)
CO2 EMISSION 184g/km
SUSPENSION
FRONT MacPherson struts, coil springs
REAR Torsion beam, coil springs
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs / Discs
TYRES
TYPE Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max
SIZE 215/55 R17
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 4
TRACTION CONTROL ABS
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 4825mm
WIDTH 1825mm
HEIGHT 1470mm
WHEELBASE 2775mm
KERB WEIGHT 1475kg
TURNING CIRCLE 11m
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $181,988
(no CEVS rebate/surcharge)
WARRANTY 5 years/unlimited km
WE SAY
+ Roomiest cabin, most potent powertrain, creamiest ride quality
– Highest sticker price, smallest boot, design is getting dated
* BEST OF THE THREE IN SPACIOUSNESS
