The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

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We’re a busy lot manning this website. Unlike monthly magazines or newspaper pullouts, daily updates mean that there isn’t much time to organise shootouts. But when the Nissan Teana came along, it was a great opportunity to test the newcomer and compare it with the Japanese D-segment stalwarts – the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

Here’s a slightly different take on the good old triple test: one weekend, three drivers, three opinions. In this 3-in-1, we look at various aspects of the competing cars with the aim of pointing out more than what a solo reviewer normally can.

Read the full report after the jump. Enjoy!

EXTERIOR

Danny says:

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

Concept cars do come to life, but sans the motorshow bling, may not be that captivating after all. I remember being at the Nissan stand at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, looking at the feminine product named Intima concept.

That huge sedan has morphed into the Teana that we see here, relatively intact – the shape, the signature arch, the boot shape, rear lights, and even the dash architecture, they’re all similar to what the design team envisioned. Only the concept’s impractical B-pillarless frame and four-seater layout was deleted.

In the real world, the Teana looks bigger than it really is. We’d never had guessed, but the Teana is 95 mm shorter and slimmer than the Accord. Not only big, but grand as well, which is important in a segment that satisfies the ‘luxury’ needs of the mass market.

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

Style is subjective, but I’m not a fan of the Teana’s looks. The plain front end would be how a larger Sentra will look like if there was such a thing, but the bigger issue is the bulbous rear end of the Nissan. Backpacks aren’t the most elegant of things to carry around.

The other two are familiar views. The Accord is the largest of our trio, but its mass is masked well, while the Camry’s shape is quite timeless. Never fashionable or shouty, the Toyota was elegant when it was launched, and still looks classy today. The mid life facelift in 2009 gave it a sportier face that works well on that comparatively slimline body. Five years down the road, it’ll look the least dated.

Paul says:

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

The Nissan Teana is not the most photogenic car out of the three Japanese barges in this three-way test, but I personally like its clean cut no-frills looks very much, with a big prominent chrome grille up front and sizeable headlamps. The side angle is also very clean, and this is perhaps the Teana’s best angle when you photograph it as it just presents itself as a large and grand-looking sedan, almost American in its looks.

The rear end also looks the most outstanding when parked next to the Accord and Camry – the LED design in the rear tail lamps give it a lot of character, and the Teana can also be very easily mistaken for something pricier than it really is, especially at night.

The xenon HID headlamps are very bright, and when photographing the cars we found that most of the time the camera lens was pretty much overwhelmed by the amount of light hitting it directly. I think Nissan may have angled the Teana’s HID headlamps a little too high for the comfort of other motorists (it’s JPJ approved though), although as a result it casts light further, benefiting the driver.

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

The Teana looks huge and I believe it was a conscious decision by the designers to style the car in such a way that it looks as big and grand as possible. But when parked next to the Accord and Camry, it looked curiously narrow in comparison, and you can actually see the top half of the car get slimmer by curving in from the shoulder line to the roof. The Teana didn’t just look narrow as we found out later when observing the interior.

Joining us from the H-camp is the pre-facelift 8th generation Honda Accord, which will be facelifted sometime this month. It’s got the most aggressive looking design out of the three, which kind of hides how large it looks. When you place it next to the Camry and Teana, it looks the widest as well as the longest. The rear end has the least night-time presence when compared to the Camry and the Teana, which both feature a LED design in their tail lamps.

The facelift is expected to be a very minor one – a new front grille at the front, and some minor changes to the tail lamps, as seen from the US, Thai and Japanese market facelift photos. I wish Honda could have at least added some light bars to the tail lamps to bring the design up to date. The Accord has the most adventurous design, but it seems to be getting a little old.

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

Although there exists a current generation Camry with more radical looks akin to a larger Corolla, our market’s Camry’s exterior design is very safe. What you call a Camry in the US and Japan looks very different. Our Camry is actually derived from the Australian market Toyota Aurion, and you can actually see a very nice example in Naza World with a sporty black interior and a huge and powerful 3.5 litre V6 engine.

While not particularly exciting, I reckon the Camry’s design will be the one that will age the best amongst the three here. It’s also the only one with projector headlamps.

Anthony says:

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

Looks are always a subjective thing, and so it is here. Now, plying the executive sedan path generally means that a design has to look more stoic than daring, if not to offend sensibilities of its intended audience, though emerging shapes in the class are displaying more fluid, flowing lines.

For me, of the trio, preference goes towards the Camry – not the most exciting, of course, but the XV40 looks like its hewn from a solid mass of metal; the lines and flow-through textures work very well, and arguably this is a shape that will retain its appeal best as time goes by. Toyota has its work absolutely cut out in making the next one as proportionately balanced, methinks.

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

The eight-generation Accord, well, never quite worked for me. It is muscular, certainly the boldest form of the three, but somehow seems like it tries too hard in how it interprets rugged and attempts appeal. And though only three years in, it doesn’t seem to be aging well, at least to my eyes.

As for the Teana, it tries to be safe, a little too safe, in my opinion. It’s the sort of outline you give a cursory look at, but don’t really linger to dissect the lines on. The front plays the safe game to a T, but the rear jumps out at you figuratively and litreally, and looks a little too amplified in terms of proportion especially from a rear three-quarter view. Nonetheless, blend-into-the-background looks aren’t always a bad thing; you don’t excite, but you don’t offend either. Well, maybe you can hide that butt a bit better, Ingrid.

INTERIOR

Danny says:

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

The first thing I noticed upon stepping in the Teana was the uncluttered/minimalist layout of the dash. It has the same (or more) functions than the other two, but they’re clustered in a way that makes the dash look sparse. Some will prefer this, others the button fest of the Accord, while most won’t find fault with the conventional Camry interior.

Coming from the Accord, the Teana feels narrow. The letterbox front door pockets are near useless and the centre console is slim. With the cupholders occupied, there isn’t enough space to empty my pocket’s contents. Like the Latio and Sylphy, today’s Nissan sedans aren’t the widest in their class, but they never scrimp on seat size. Speaking of that, the Teana’s seats (powered, with memory on driver’s side) are cushy and comfy. Next to Volvo, I can’t think of any carmaker that does it this way.

The luck of the draw meant that I spent most of the weekend in the Honda. It’s a dark place to be in, and I don’t particularly like the cluttered look, but it’s a conducive environment for faster/harder driving. The seats are firmest here, the lumbar support greatest, and the steering is smaller and quicker too. It’s also the only car here to have paddle shifters.

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

But the Accord is poor in equipment. Shockingly, this RM168k car doesn’t have a multi-info display, so there’s no way of knowing fuel consumption or available range. Personally, this is the biggest issue for me, kit wise. The others also have keyless entry with push button start while the Accord uses the standard key twist.

At the back, the big Honda offers the most legroom and feels the widest. But it’s the Teana’s light colours and well shaped bench that’s the most pleasing to the passenger. The Camry feels the coziest in the back, but it’s not what we would call cramped. The Teana is the winner in this aspect and we’re pretty sure your family will agree at the showroom.

Paul says:

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

The Nissan Teana easily has the best seats of the lot. We had all three cars lined up together and tested each of the seats one by one and I felt there was a marked difference on how the Teana’s seats felt, especially when it came to the rear seats.

However, the Teana’s front seats did not have much side support, as I found out later when it was time to trash the cars around a little around the bends. The Accord had decent side support and even though Camry isn’t much of a driver’s car, there was still something at the sides to lean against.

The Accord is one huge sedan on the inside. You can really take note of this while sitting in the rear seats looking towards the front, and legroom was in abundance, easily the best amongst the three cars. The Accord was also the widest, so you may want to take note of this if you plan to frequently fit three people in the rear.

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

I’m very particular about car interiors – I believe it’s far more important than the exteriors in the long run as that’s where you’ll be experiencing the car the most as the owner. So I’m going to point out some issues I found. We start with the Teana. Firstly, the interior is the narrowest of the lot. As a result, the two front passengers may sometimes find their elbows touching if you’re both large.

The door cards also seem to be quite thick, but this is presumably to create a more substantial space for door-mounted arm rests, which were quite good. The door card pocket storage is pretty much useless; it’s too small to store anything other than a couple of flyers or a folder of A4 papers and it can be a tight squeeze getting your fingers in there to maneuver it around to get anything. The only storage you have is the two cupholders aft of the gear lever. I couldn’t really find anywhere to keep my Smart Tag. There’s a small area in front of the gear lever but it isn’t really a container – there’s no side support there so things tend to fly off during corners.

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

The thickness of the door card also made it quite a tight fit to reach the electric seat adjuster controls – thankfully the memory function buttons are mounted higher up on the doorcard near the power window controls. The position of the engine start-stop button is also perfect, and it glows with a nice amber in the dark.

While the Teana felt narrow, interior length was quite excellent, closer to that of the Accord’s rather than the shorter Camry’s. Rear passengers get ample legroom and there’s substantial space to tuck your feet under the front seats. I had an issue with the rear center arm rest though – I felt that it was very low – too low to be of any use as an arm rest for me. This isn’t even a problem with personal preference – you can actually see that the rear door arm rests are much higher than the center seat armrest.

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

As you can see from the image above, the arm rest is of average thickness, yet it lies flat on the rear seats. Here lies the problem – the arm rest mounting point should have been mounted higher. The arm rest would end up shorter in terms of horizontal length when folded down, but this would allow a higher overall arm rest height, at least matching the arm rest height of the comfy one on the door.

The interior color theme of the Teana is rather unique. Nissan obviously picked this to give the cabin a nice airy and bright feel. I personally think it works and I have no complaints about the overall color scheme. I think it’s refreshing compared to the usual grey. But I do feel they should have made it a little more two tone – there’s actually a very nice darker shade used for the top of the dashboard but this isn’t used anywhere else in the cabin. Perhaps the top part of the doorcards and even the steering could be changed to be finished in this darker shade. Or Tan Chong could have just gone for this colour scheme (see linked image), but retain our shade of wood.

The bright beige on the steering wheel looks a little too monotonous and bottom heavy in terms of design. The all-beige steering color choice has already started to show its faults – in a Teana with close to 5,000km of mileage on it, the steering wheel is already starting to look very dirty.

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

Nissan has chosen to sort of compress the areas of the interior with controls down to as little areas as possible, so what you get is lots of beige and wood with concentrated clusters of small buttons. Wherever there isn’t beige, matte faux wood usage on the surfaces is maximised so much to the point that there are only minimal cut outs in the ‘wood’-finisher for the shifter and shift position indicators.

The climate control buttons are mounted high near the multi-function display with small buttons that need some getting used to. Because of the angle that they are mounted at, I felt that you couldn’t really see what button did what easily at a glance as they’re not at a very good eye level, but I think this shouldn’t pose much of a problem over a few weeks of ownership.

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

Another ergonomic issue that I had is the position of the volume control on the steering wheel – the button is quite small and is mounted quite far away from where your thumb would typically be able to reach if you’re grasping the steering wheel in a 3 and 9 o’clock position.

Arm rest issue aside, the Teana’s rear cabin space is simply the best place to be amongst all the three cars. It’s not the biggest but it’s definitely the cosiest. Thumbs up to Nissan for that.

The Accord goes with a completely different colour scheme – it’s all sporty black and grey, with a dark wood design! This kinda goes well with the car’s character actually, though you only get this in the 2.0 VTi-L and 2.4 VTi-L. The basic car gets a beige interior.

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

Cubby holes in the Accord was better than the Teana’s. The door pocket storage was quite usable and there was some extra storage space in front of the gear lever. Some space is sacrificed for a proper handbrake (the Teana and Camry use foot brakes) yet they’ve managed to better the Teana in this aspect.

We had some concerns on how well the Accord’s interior stood the test of time. Our test car was about three years old and you could already see the silver paint peeling off on the piece of plastic near the door armrest. There’s also no multi-info display with average/real time fuel consumption, distance to empty, etc. No keyless entry and push start button either.

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

Our Camry test car was the most well appointed, with a 6-inch colour LCD 2-DIN player with Garmin GPS and reverse camera, but even that is an optional feature priced at about RM4,500. The GPS doesn’t allow you to key in addresses while you’re driving, by the way. The standard integrated head unit only has AUX input. A unique feature is the Plasmacluster air conditioner which is supposed to clean up your air. I didn’t feel much of a difference, but Anthony said it helped with the lingering smell of cigarette smoke on his clothes.

The Teana has AUX-in at least, but other than that it’s the usual case of large LCD screens in the interior that look like they could have a nice big colour screen installed, but instead are only filled with monochrome screens displaying large calculator-like fonts.

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

We don’t understand why these expensive D-segment cars sometimes offer so little in terms of standard multimedia features when even a car like the Perodua Myvi has Bluetooth and USB input. Even the Proton Exora has Bluetooth capabilities with steering wheel controls for telephony functions.

In terms of overall design and ergonomics, it’s hard to find fault with the Camry, other than the shiny brown wood, which looks a little tacky. Buttons and knobs are all very intuitive to find and use, and the Camry’s interior is by far the most convenient. The area between the two front seats has been maximised with two storage areas, and there are even two power sockets at the front – one at the usual cigarette lighter location below the radio, and another in one of the storage areas in between the front seats. The door pockets are more usable than the Teana’s too.

I like the additional passenger seat angle and slider controls that are easily accessible for the driver. There’s also a unique feature where you can even control the Plasmacluster air conditioner from the steering wheel, so the reason for you to take your hands off your steering wheel while driving are minimal. Everything is just very well sorted out.

Anthony says:

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

Space should be a bit of a given for cars of this nature, and happily all three have ample enough to offer inside. At the back, the Accord, which has the largest cabin (and indeed, the largest car of the lot), takes the gong.

Even with a black interior, its volumetric scope is undeniable. Get into the back and you get a cavernous fore-aft perspective, and the front has oodles of space too. Its dashboard layout is certainly the most aggressive of the three – you either love the futuristic rocket-ship presentation, or you don’t.

Meanwhile, the Camry also has good dimensional acreage, second in terms of space offered at the back. Of course, while the Teana may be the smallest of the lot, it doesn’t feel cramped, and it actually has the best rear seats – they’re cosier than the Camry’s and the Accord’s.

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

Storage-wise, from a driver’s point of view, the Camry has got the best spread of the trio – never face a quandary where to plonk your keys, phone and other what-not items with this one. The Accord rolls in a neat second, even with a levered handbrake taking up space. As for the Teana, it could have offered more in the way of cubby-holes (and that door side pocket won’t hold anything significant).

As for dashboard presentation, the Camry again has the broadest appeal of the three; it doesn’t look expensive, but has a refined, plush feel about it that the other two don’t have about them. It’s also the easiest to work around, visually.

The Teana’s dash layout – which follows on that in the Murano – takes some getting used to; nothing wrong with the central console screen’s legibility and visual acuity ease, height-wise, but the rest of the instrumentation is a bit trickier. Angled as they are, the climate control buttons are a bit difficult to view at eye level (well, maybe not if you’re 6ft 4); likewise, the audio buttons. Still, if you own one, this point shouldn’t be a contention after a while.

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

Meanwhile, the creamy beige shade chosen undoubtedly brightens the Teana’s cabin, and thus lends it more sense of spaciousness, but some elements look like they won’t face hard usage well. Take the steering wheel, for example. The leather wrap on it was already getting a bit skanky, and this on a car with only 6k on the odometer, so you can imagine it after 60k.

So, the honour of having the best cabin goes to the Camry. Indeed, we had trouble picking up faults or items lacking in the Toyota. It really is that well-thought out, save perhaps in one little area. Access to the push-start button, which is hidden away on the left behind the steering wheel, could be better. The Teana’s, sitting right on the edge of the dashboard, is perfectly placed (and it’s a way cooler-looking item). Speaking of push-start and keyless go, the Accord’s ignition key is now looking decidedly tired, and chances are the soon-to-arrive mid-term facelift won’t have it too.

PERFORMANCE

Danny says:

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

Everyone in this office loves the Teana’s creamy V6 sound and grunt, me included, but I have a thing for the Accord’s K-series engine. Rev loving like only a Honda four-cylinder (or an Alfa Twin Spark) can, the Accord’s 180 PS motor grabs an energy bar when it passes 4,000 rpm and powers on to the red line with gusto. The raw mechanical scream is also unique. While you’re enjoying this, many other four pots are either fading away or begging for mechanical sympathy by vibrating.

It’s easy to deceive these days when it comes to gearboxes, just put in a minimum of six forward ratios (more is better) even if the car doesn’t need it and your product will be hailed as technologically superior. Not sure about you, but if forced to choose one, I’d rather have quality over quantity. The Accord’s five-speed auto is a good example of ‘just right’. It’s so slick that there wasn’t a situation where it was caught off guard, thinking twice or hesitating. So good was the telepathy, the shift paddles were left alone for the most part.

I covered over 400 km of midnight country road driving in the Honda, and it left me with no doubt that it’s the best driver’s car of this group. The biggest car here feels like the smallest to drive. Quick and light steering with decent feel, good body control, grippy chassis and the abovementioned drivetrain combine for an engaging drive. The ride is never too firm or harsh on this 17-inch wheeled 2.4 either, so it’s the best package in my view.

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

If there’s a complaint, it’s the higher than normal road roar and tyre noise from the Honda, exposed by the comfort-oriented Teana and Camry. The Nissan isn’t just very plush riding, it handled surprisingly well. To be honest, I approached the Teana expecting a super soft, wallowy boat, but it proved me wrong. Yes, the steering wheel needed bigger turns and the tyres don’t major on grip, but the Teana’s composure when driving hard is impressive. The CVT isn’t the best tool for our blast up the hills, but the Nissan was quick, as our diesel-powered Mercedes-Benz photography car can testify.

The Teana is very pleasant in city driving. Nissan’s Xtronic CVT is very responsive and is a far cry from the early CVTs introduced to Malaysians. Common booby traps such as pot holes, scarred surfaces and highway expansion joints are damped nicely, a skill that’s not as common in this class as you think.

The Camry’s roadholding was the opposite of impressive. It rained the whole weekend, and the Toyota was all over the place the few sectors I drove it. Fast sweepers on the Karak highway revealed the Camry’s low limits. It wasn’t helped by the glassy feel of the steering, which gives you very little idea of how much the tyres have in reserve. It ends up as the least confidence-inspiring car to drive here.

Paul says:

The Nissan Teana is the clear winner here, which is no surprise given that the V6 engine has the largest cubic capacity of all the three cars. It makes 182 PS at 6,000 rpm and 228 Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm, which on paper doesn’t stray far from the Accord’s 180 PS at 6,500 rpm and 222 Nm of torque at 4,300 rpm, or the Camry’s 167 PS and 224 Nm at 4,000 rpm.

CVT transmission puts the V6 in just the right powerband all the time and the Teana pulls away significantly strongly than the Accord or the Camry, while keeping its revs around the 3,000 to 4,000 rpm range. The V6 sounds silky smooth and most people would probably never want to go back to a four-cylinder after driving a car with one. A four-pot somehow feels a little downmarket when you compare it a V6.

Toyota’s 2.4 litre engine doesn’t make much power, but the driveability is quite good for the kind of driving it does as there’s a good amount of torque in the mid-range. It kinda runs out of steam in the higher RPMs although it remains refined. The Accord’s 2.4 litre engine makes a lot of power on paper but curiously it’s a little lazy in the low revs – you really need to pile on the revs for it to pull strongly. The engine in the Accord also sounds louder.

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry’s suspension is completely comfort biased. You can actually just run over bumps like you were driving an SUV and the Camry seems to smoothen out all the bumps and knocks that our Malaysian roads can give it. It also felt the most quiet, although the Teana was very close behind. The Accord on the other hand, had a noticably higher sound level. However, the Accord performed the best during a hill run between the three cars, with the Camry driver having to push the car to about 90% of its capabilities just to keep up.

To be honest, the Camry is completely unsuited to any kind of spirited driving. It’s suspension is very comfort biased and at times a little unsettlingly so, as you can feel the effects of crosswinds much more in a Camry than the Teana or the Accord. But I prefer the Camry’s steering weight to the Accord’s – the Accord had the lightest steering although it had plenty of feel in it, while the Camry’s steering is pretty isolated. Light steerings make a car feel a little nervous and you have to take care to make sure you hold the steering properly at higher speeds, as it just feels too loose.

The Teana’s steering was kind of like the Goldilocks porridge of D-segment steering – it’s got just the right kind of weighting and some good feel as well. The ratio could have been a little quicker though – it felt like you had to turn the steering a little more than usual to change direction. The Teana rolls in for a corner at a nice pitch, and although it doesn’t corner flatly it remains quite steady through the turn, while the Camry is quite floaty. The Teana is a little firmer, although still comfortable. The Accord of course leaves the two cars in the dust when it came to the hill run.

Anthony says:

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

Here’s where things get noticeably broader in scope. The trio exhibit very different characteristics, with the Accord continuing to be the most dynamic of the trio. True, that 2.4 litre lump isn’t the quickest off the line, and only offers its magic when you work it hard, but keep it humming within the power band and it’s a right stonker. It is also the loudest of the three pots when you belt it.

At low to mid-speed levels, and tackling terrain such as Bukit Tinggi, one of the areas we took the cars to, the Honda champs it, with the fast steering and equally adept response from the chassis right at home in these conditions.

The Camry, of course, is pretty much out of its element in the twisties. Going uphill – in wet conditions, mind you – and chasing after Danny in the Teana (which looked fairly comfortable hustling its way up) made for some rather, shall we say, breathtaking moments; I don’t think I’ve ever heard the VSC in a Toyota go off repeatedly as much as then. It’s not something I’m inclined to repeat. Sitting at the very limits is fun, but definitely not in a car like this.

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

But that’s not what the Camry is about. Actually, that’s not really what any of these three cars are about, but it’s nice to know that something like the Accord is there for the enthusiast who wants to let his hair down once in a while, even if he has had to acquire some responsibility – and an executive sedan – along the way. It’ll certainly be intriguing to see how it shapes up against the likes of the Kia Optima, if that one does arrive here with the equivalent of the Oz suspension tune.

Out in the highways and piling on the miles in a straight line, the Camry more than restores its pride. It does remarkably well, actually. The 2AZ-FE has more poke than the Honda pot at low to mid levels, so there’s better immediacy and take-up. The steering does the deaf and mute act in accomplished fashion, and it’s also the quietest of the three cars in terms of road and tyre noise. Simply put, that decoupled steering and soft suspension do a remarkable job of making everything downright compliant and as cushy comfy as can be.

The Accord, ever the boisterous gal, doesn’t just have a raucous, zingy sounding block, it’s loud in other areas as well; compared to the Camry and Teana, it has certainly got far higher levels of tyre and road noise. So, there’s a price to be paid for all that handling and performance. Well, if you end up with a vixen, be prepared for her to also be a screamer when the going gets heavy.

The Teana proved the surprise pick; that 2.5 litre V6 deserves all the plaudits it has earned, and the CVT is smoothly efficient right up the range. I’d expected it to present things closer to the Camry, with soft and wallowy being choice adjectives, but this was far from being the case. Its suspension at low-speed levels is actually the firmest of the lot, but it’s never jarring, and while it doesn’t remain as taut as the Accord does when pushed (or arguably, hold the lines as well), the car keeps its composure very well. There’s a fair amount of pitch, but it is by far more poised than the Camry doing bends in rapid fashion.

CONCLUSION

Danny says:

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

Generally, a D-segment ‘big car’ is bought mostly for image, luxury and comfort, and what I like about the Accord is most probably of no concern to the average punter. Should I be in the market for one of these, it’ll be the Accord for its ability to entertain. Honda is very stingy though; the Accord’s kit list is way below par. We’ll see if the impending minor facelift addresses this.

The best all rounder here is the Nissan Teana. The newcomer is comfortable, as well kitted as the Camry (the Teana is cheaper by RM2k) and better to drive than the market leading Toyota. You’ll also enjoy the luxury of a pedigree V6, the only such engine in a class of four cylinders. Shoppers in this segment have to at least give the Nissan a test drive.

Paul says:

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

To be honest, I had a very hard time picking between the Teana and Camry for this D-segment Japanese car shootout. The Accord just wasn’t a car that had the characteristics I was looking for. I set myself out to be a buyer looking for a nice comfortable A to B runner, someone who already had a fast car for his weekend monkey-business. It was a very close fight – the Teana had lovely seats and the best powertrain combo but the Camry had a very much better thought out and convenient interior.

I only made a firm decision on Sunday night, when I was driving the Camry back from KLIA on the MEX highway. For those of you in the Klang Valley, you’d remember a seriously heavy rain storm in the early night. It was pouring heavily and there was a lot of wind. It wasn’t very pleasant driving in the storm in a car with not much steering feel and a body that was rocking with the heavy winds.

To be honest, I have no idea how the Teana would have tackled that situation, but it made me think of passive safety and things like steering safely around obstacles on the highway. I reckon the Teana could probably do a brake and swerve maneouvre better than the Camry. So, I’d have to go with the Teana.

Anthony says:

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

Spiritually, the Accord is my kinda broad. It’s a real vamp when you consider that the other two list librarian and accountant under vocation (alright, so I’m taking liberties with creative licence here), and its Goth-like nature appeals to the driver in me.

Still, at the risk of slapping myself, I actually ended up liking the Camry more. I can imagine the other half keeling over in response to this if I told her that. “What? Camry? YOU??” would be pretty much it. But when you’re not wanting to get around in a hurry, like over the weekend, the Toyota was actually a (*grits teeth*) great place to be in. I can now begin to see why the XV40 appeals as it does to many.

In all, I thought the Teana was actually the most balanced of the three in terms of overall performance over the various driving conditions. There’s plenty of pep, and it seems adept in all areas. In effect, it sits right in the middle performance-wise, not too soft or lazy, and not too hard or unforgiving. As much as I love the Accord’s precise handling and positioning sense, and the Camry’s magic carpet treatment and unfettered presentation, the Teana’s middle ground treatment strikes the best balance. Not too dull, not too fiery, in essence, just right. Now, if only it managed to get some right clothes and slap some make-up on, you can imagine it’d be the sort of car Goldilocks would be most happy in.

FUEL CONSUMPTION

The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

As we expected, the larger V6 engine ended up being the thirstiest of the three. The test was conducted across mixed driving conditions with the three cars traveling together in a group, including our Mercedes-Benz CDI photography car. The route was to fuel up and meet at the start of the KL-Karak Expressway (from different directions), drive up the winding stretch (moderate speeds), exit at Bukit Tinggi, climb (flat out) and descend the hill (cruise down), and cruise again back to KL, with the finish point at MRR2. All three cars were switched between three drivers.

Not exact science, but here are the results:

  • Camry: 77.1 km, 9.41 litre = 8.2 km per litre
  • Accord: 83.1 km, 9.37 litre = 8.9 km per litre
  • Teana: 86.4 km, 11.46 litre = 7.5 km per litre

We expect the gap between the two 4-cylinder cars and the V6 car to become smaller on a driving cycle that has less “gutsy driving” as compared to ours.

PRICE

  • Honda Accord 2.4 VTi-L – RM172,800
  • Nissan Teana 250 XV – RM173,000
  • Toyota Camry 2.4 V – RM174,990

Photos by Anthony Lim, Charles Leong and Danny Tan.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Analyzer on Mar 15, 2011 at 1:52 am

    Wow, very impressive comprehensive review! Keep it up!

    Would like to see C-segment Japanese shootouts too.

    Unrelated note, RIP to those who perished in the earth quake and tsunami in Japan.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • How come there’s no comparison with the new Hyundai Sonata? Given the kind of waves it has been creating ever since it’s launch, there should be a shootout with the Camry, Accord and Teana.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
      • Japz only… korean will be the next.. i hope… Sonata, Kia optima and……..
        French could go with Pugs 508, Cit C5…..

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
        • Paul Tan on Mar 15, 2011 at 9:35 am

          Don’t worry, all in the works, we can do three at once, this was our first. We intend to dissect and analyze all the cars in our market this way. Provide real value to car buyers rather than doing car of the year which raise questions marks on how the choices were selected.

          We pointed out the pros n cons of all the cars in the story, and ended with what we felt was the best package. However theres also a significant load of facts that will allow the buyer to pick the attributes he is looking for in a car.

          We do hope readers will contribute constructively in the comments of this story to further enhance the value to other potential buyers rather than just saying what essentially translates to “where’s sonata, where’s mazda6” or “your choice is dumb my choice Camry the best”.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
          • Critique on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:04 am

            Well said Paul. Many fail to u/stand that “even” with a 3-way shootout there’s so much to digest. Especially when you layout both the pro’s and the con’s of each car.

            Keep up the great work guys !

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
          • kwing on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:43 am

            nice review, next up, Mazda 6, Subaru Legacy, Suzuki kizashi….

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
          • Damien on Mar 15, 2011 at 5:49 pm

            Paul,

            Very nicely reviewed. It’s great info for potential buyers, all in a local context with easy and proper English.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
          • victor on Mar 15, 2011 at 6:28 pm

            Well Done!

            This is the type of comprehensive review that is plain straight forward and relevant to most of us on the street. Most importantly, relevant fact and infor for potential buyers, prior to test driving all any chosen cars – which is the correct thing to do.

            Have very recently read a three-some comparison in one of the monthly auto magazine…. I think the writer has no ideal what he was writing about, literally disasterous.

            But I salute you guys… Good Job! And Keep It Up!

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
          • Anthony Lim (Member) on Mar 15, 2011 at 9:19 pm

            I think you mean three-way or three car, and not threesome comparo. The last would certainly push up the numbers in any auto magazine, anywhere!! :)

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
          • mspfaz on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:21 pm

            Probably you could also include the 3 point summary of pros and cons of each car OR based on stars for performance, ride and handling, refinement, safety and security, behind the wheel, equipment etc…. just a suggestion as it would be easier for the reader to digest the review.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
          • Mpower on Mar 16, 2011 at 11:41 am

            paul, while im being fair to everyone, your review was the best and well described. Thanks paul!

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
          • Coolguyz on Mar 20, 2011 at 7:41 pm

            A comparison between the Japanese and Korean car would be a very good project. The Korean cars are selling well now, I’ve seen a lot of Forte, Sonata and Tucson on the road recently. It would be of a great help for potential car buyers to make up their mind.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
          • cecilia on Jul 04, 2011 at 9:41 pm

            u know that korean cars are the worst japanese cars are better

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
          • oldtimer on Apr 23, 2011 at 11:49 am

            Great review, Paul & the team! Frankly, i’ve been waiting a long time for paultan.org to do this comparison review. Well done indeed!

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Arthur on Mar 15, 2011 at 9:33 am

        bcoz It wasn’t Japanese?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Critique on Mar 15, 2011 at 9:52 am

        All in good time I guess !

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Peter on Mar 15, 2011 at 9:55 am

        In Singapore, There’s Kia K5, Hyundai I45 (aka New sonata)

        This is just my 2 cents….

        Certainly, these are much more worth in terms of value than these Japanese

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
        • ponorogo on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:11 am

          imho, that is spore, but this is malaysia…paul tan just mash up the current biggest market share of the d-segment…

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Agree that Sonata is the power that we need to reckon with now.

        Here is the sales figure for Top 10 non-national vehicles January 2011

        1.Toyota Vios 2531
        2.Honda City 1938
        3.Honda Civic 1748
        4.Toyota Hilux 1637
        5.Nissan Teana 1394
        6.Nissan Grand Livina 902
        7.Mitsubishi Triton 675
        8.Toyota Avanza 595
        9.Hyundai Sonata 532
        10.Isuzu D-Max 491

        *Statistics from Malaysian Automotive Association

        Teana is up there followed by Sonata while Camry and Accord already out of the list. This is really a wake-up call for T & H. they certainly can’t rest on their laurel anymore.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
        • sam620 on Mar 16, 2011 at 1:36 pm

          cos that all are 2010 cars

          and T & H down cos everyone wait for 2011 cars

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Superb reviews Paul, Danny, Anthony!!! More reports like this in the future please :)

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • artworkz on Mar 16, 2011 at 11:21 am

      maybe can add a mondeo n sonata to comparasion

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • pkm23 on Mar 15, 2011 at 1:53 am

    yay at last

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • I see something like split-folding rearseats for Accord and Teana, is that right? Can we carry 7ft surfboards in the trunks?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • huiyoo on Mar 15, 2011 at 2:13 am

    nice review from both of you!! hope you always make this showdown segment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • paranoid on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:53 am

      Both? i really wonder whether u read the reviews…..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
      • Anthony Lim (Member) on Mar 15, 2011 at 12:32 pm

        It’s okay. I am, after all, the invisible man. :)

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
      • armang on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:04 pm

        sometime people make mistake such as typo error or else. dont jump to conclusion that people not read properly or else. i believe you had experience of doing mistake before, and i bet you will feel disturbed when people say something or give unfavorable comment. so, i hope you dont act as editor here.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Nice review !! Hope to see more of this !

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • dodgeviper88 on Mar 15, 2011 at 3:09 am

    For the Camry pricing, does the RM174,900 price includes the built in GPS or it’s an additional RM4,500?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Paul Tan on Mar 15, 2011 at 3:20 am

      It does not.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Ruben on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:07 pm

        paul. what exactly is meant by u cant type in an adress while driving. do i have to stop the car?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
        • ponorogo on Mar 16, 2011 at 9:01 am

          I don’t really now about it in Camry, but from my experience of changing head unit from Kenwood in my friend’s car, there is a wire that connect the head unit to the handbrake. So you have to pull the handbrake before you can operate the touch screen display. Yes, you have to stop the car to operate it…weird right?…but I think that is for our safety….

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • 5D-futurecar designer on Mar 15, 2011 at 4:03 am

    very2 nice review paultan..:) keep it up..later ,maybe u can pit between neo cps,swift sport,and another hot hatch which i cant think of right now n make battle of the hatchback :) thanks

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • shawal on Mar 15, 2011 at 4:38 am

    I liked Honda Accord the most …….until Kia Optima arrived …

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • mystvearn on Mar 15, 2011 at 4:47 am

    I thought Accord had USB connectivity. Pretty sure of it.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • keluangman on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:39 am

      It does. It’s in the center armrest. They just missed it :p

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • The reviewed car they test drive does not have it. H added USB as standard some time later.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
        • turbocaj on Mar 20, 2011 at 6:20 pm

          yup, look at the number plate, it’s the car they used when it was launched… few years old already.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Finally good to see ETCM bringing in the CKD Teana although a few years late. The 2.5L V6 is a good unit and it is the base model being sold here (as Maxima). As you can guess, the mid and range topper is the 3.5L V6 that powers the Murano and the previous 350Z. Its nearest rival are the Accord V6 with the 3.5L V6 and the Toyota Aurion with the 3.5L V6 too. Few years back drove the Cefiro 3.0L and it is one smooth powerful car. The Teana will be best to continues this tradition.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • mmouse on Mar 15, 2011 at 9:24 am

      Huh?? Base model? I thought Teana has 2.0 as well? So what do you call that? Baseless model?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Paul Tan on Mar 15, 2011 at 9:44 am

      The 2.5L is not the base model, there’s a 4-potter 2.0 with the same engine as Sylphy.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • I meant here the Maxima has only the 2.5L as the base model. Elsewhere is a choice of 2.4L or 2.0L as mentioned.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Here is the sales figure for Top 10 non-national vehicles January 2011

      1.Toyota Vios 2531
      2.Honda City 1938
      3.Honda Civic 1748
      4.Toyota Hilux 1637
      5.Nissan Teana 1394
      6.Nissan Grand Livina 902
      7.Mitsubishi Triton 675
      8.Toyota Avanza 595
      9.Hyundai Sonata 532
      10.Isuzu D-Max 491

      *Statistics from Malaysian Automotive Association

      Nissan Teana is up there, followed by Hyundai Sonata while Camry and Accord are not in the list.

      T&H must certainly cannot rest on their laurel anymore.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • ryan ang on Aug 01, 2011 at 6:59 pm

        Many thanks to Anthony Paul & Danny for your unbiased review & all who have commented …am planning changing my current honda accord 2.0 (2006)…from all the reviews critics pros & cons after service, parts & maintenance etc…i will go for CAMRY

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • spyrers on Mar 15, 2011 at 8:24 am

    Nice.. it would have been great if you could include Mazda6 into the comparison.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Paul Tan on Mar 15, 2011 at 8:39 am

      hopefully the next round. there are many things involved in putting these things together, including availability of cars at the same time, and we got 3 people to drive and write only you see… so can do 3 cars at a time.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • nabill on Mar 15, 2011 at 12:13 pm

        paul u have alot of readers , maybe u can hire us to be the fourth tester !
        we wont charge much !

        one thing to mention is that the accord problem with road noise and roar is a common trait in almost all honda cars….highway cruise at around 110km/hr is not as it should be..although ive driven the 2 litre variant , its not sting u call quite…it can be irritation on long hioghway trips…

        as if the floor pan does not have any sound proof materials or any sort of damping….

        anyway looking forward to more test comparisisons of different segments…hopefully it wd be the practical type rather than those magazines that compare a Zonda R vs Ferrari italia 458 vz Merc SLS !!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
        • Ruben on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:18 pm

          i agree with the wind noise thing. my mum’s a singaporean, she has a honda fit 1.3 in singapore. i drove it when i went there. i could barely hear the radio at about 110-120kph. i think its probably due to it being a grey import and i think its a base model in japan. no sound proffing on bonet. like a student car i suppose

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • theanswer on Mar 15, 2011 at 8:26 am

    good job! hopefully we can see more of these kind of comparo. tq.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • armandd on Mar 15, 2011 at 8:35 am

    this is a very well written and comprehensive review. kudos!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Where is the lovely mazda 6??

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • turbocaj on Mar 15, 2011 at 8:39 am

      who cares about c-segment car disguising as d-segment with high price

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • wallstreet on Mar 15, 2011 at 4:15 pm

        Yeah, who cares…Malaysian only know these 3 brands especially H & T. Writers only fulfilling many boring ppl, like you….

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • scouser on Mar 15, 2011 at 4:41 pm

        Stupid fella…have u ever drive it?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • I drove one. It’s an awesome car. I don’t see why u can call it disgusting. Fact that it’s a CBU made it slightly more expensive compared to the rest. And fact is I have a 2 months old Honda Accord in my porch and I seriously think between both of them they can pull off a good fight.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • blackjkx on Mar 15, 2011 at 8:53 am

    Why Passat not invited?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Is Passat a Japanese car?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • tokmoh on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:44 am

      Y u no patience?

      Hmm… There should be another comparo, right Paul? This can be like the establishment vs rebels kinda battle :P

      The establishment represented by these Japanese trios.

      The rebels will be:

      Hyundai Sonata
      Kia Optima
      Mazda 6 (ooh, a japanese went rouge)

      VW Passat
      Ford Mondeo
      Alfa Romeo 159

      Hmm… any else I forgot?

      In any case, my prayer goes to Japan. A tragic natural disaster no one can foresee and prepare. Stay strong, Japan.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • and to make it more fun…throw in a diesel too! (hopefully by that time, sime will bring in the mondeo tdci)…that be an eye opener for most msian (perception abt diesels)

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • chicken tikka on Mar 15, 2011 at 8:56 am

    In a D segment comparison where the buyers are usually price conscious and looking for VFM, u gave the nod to the Teana??? The car that has significantly narrower and smaller cabin and shockingly bad fuel consumption??

    Is this a case of something new and different is better? I think reviewers are always unnecessarily harsh to the Camry because of its ubiquity and familiar visage. Good job the general buying public are wise enough not to listen to Malaysian journalists. They vote with their chequebook and they vote Camry as what best suits their needs.

    Personally, i think the Teana looks hideous and is a definite class below in terms of design and perceived quality. Camry and Accord are neck and neck, Teana well below.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
    • You do mean “vote for you and your colleagues at the Toyota showrooms” right? I think they have been very fair to the Camry, lots of praises.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • keluangman on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:46 am

      I have driven extensively and owned 2 of these cars(i wont tell which though) and my vote for the most refined and comfortable would be the Teana.

      The higher fc is due to v6 engine config. Go n study more la budak hingusan….

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • chicken tikka on Mar 15, 2011 at 2:49 pm

        I know why it has higher FC. In my post, i said it has higher FC, not that i didnt know why it has higher FC.

        Half wit.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
        • reply to chicken tikka on Jun 15, 2011 at 1:29 am

          i think definitely u must be 1 of the toyota salesman…. with the salary u got, for sure u cant get the chance to experience the car like teana 2.5 V6…. haha. go bck ur workplace and continue to drive ur boring , old-man design camry ‘test drive unit’ la… thats probably ur only time can drive car price above 100k…

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
    • Nizam80 on Mar 15, 2011 at 12:35 pm

      I’ll take the Accord and Teana any day of the week compared to the boring Camry.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Ruben on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:25 pm

      and u think foreign journalist r gonna be better. they laugh at the type of cars we find ‘luxury’ here

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Alson on Aug 03, 2011 at 1:56 pm

        This guys are playing marble (guli) in the circle. who can shoot whos out will belongs to them. The circle (our market) is just so big and fit only the guli (models) that’s in it. Hahaha!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • amatku17 on Mar 15, 2011 at 8:57 am

    Very impressive review.
    I’m wondering which one of them have the best sound system?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • redboy on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:27 am

      yes! thats one of the main reason i choose the car as well :)

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Anthony Lim (Member) on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:54 am

      In the test mules, the Camry’s system led the way. But the optional kit adds 4.5k in. Can’t say that the standard fitment unit will be ahead of the Teana’s, which is quite good.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • edperdana on Mar 15, 2011 at 8:58 am

    Excellent review guys.. keep it up been looking for this review..can you do one for the high spec 2.0L models?
    Thanks!

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  • littlefire on Mar 15, 2011 at 9:01 am

    I do hope TC can bring in CKD Subaru Legacy… It really a hit in Japan last year.. Would be fun to add in all those cars in the same category like Mazda 6, Kia Optima & Hyundai Sonata to compare.. But the sad thing is the price… Not much people can afford a RM100K above car to drive…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • how do these 3 cars compare to the Hyundai Sonata or the Mazda 6 given both the Sonata & Mazda 6 have won many awards?

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  • Spongebob on Mar 15, 2011 at 9:06 am

    Best report ever!!!
    Waited since u guys told me tuesday on FB~
    Should be the best report of the year~ ;)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • lchan on Mar 15, 2011 at 9:06 am

    Good review.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Like to see more of this kind of review.
    Keep it up!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • thumbs up for such a good review. looking forward for sonata, optima vs teana (winner) next . :)

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • wolfsburg on Mar 15, 2011 at 9:30 am

    How about the fuel consumption of the Merc?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Paul Tan on Mar 15, 2011 at 9:36 am

      The same route got us about 12km to 13km per liter. Who can beat a diesel la :)

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Spongebob on Mar 15, 2011 at 9:48 am

        Hybrid?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
        • littlefire on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:09 am

          Modern diesel cars already proven to be better FC compare to Petrol engines…

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
          • yeap..diesel are not just good on FC but more powerful!..hmm, why are we still using petrol car?…maybe coz the cheapest available here is the focus

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  • Yezza.. this is a very good review, honest and transparent.
    Laid in a natural style of writing, revealing and thorough (story and pictures).
    Dont have to be toooo technical (like mainstream magz), what you experienced with those cars is just enough to write about.
    How important a review is that influences purchase!
    Not to mention a comparative selection of cars for the review.
    Thumbs up.

    TQ PaulTan.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Patrick See on Mar 15, 2011 at 9:45 am

    Paul – why not include Mazda 6 as well?

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    • nabill on Mar 15, 2011 at 12:20 pm

      why is everyone asking for mazda 6 ??

      this is a practical comparison that reviews market popular D segment cars…refer to monthly sales numbers and see what popular means !

      mazda,sonata are not popular cars for various reasons..

      i understand the mazda 2.5 has alot of following and curiously that somehow doesnt translate to actuall increase in sales number….!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Gavin on Mar 15, 2011 at 2:20 pm

        A lot people talk they want this want that but when the model actually brought in nobody can afford or actually was really waiting to buy one

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      • ponorogo on Mar 15, 2011 at 4:55 pm

        that’s what i thought…paul tan just review the biggest market share of the d-segment…

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      • ponorogo on Mar 15, 2011 at 4:58 pm

        that’s what i thought…paul tan just review the biggest market share of the d-segment…yet people still didn’t understand…put those cars in next report perhaps?…hee~

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
        • put it this way, Paul just picked the top 3 uncle cars. Unfortunately Mazda 6 is not an uncle car…

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  • Great review. Just wished a Mazda6 was included in this as well.

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  • TheGunner on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:07 am

    Excellent review. Covered many points which I thought of. Well done.

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  • what a good job. you have highlighted all the good and bad points with different viewpoints.I have a camry and although I like the lighter upholstery compared to the accord( teana was not available last year) it does tend to be more difficult to keep clean. Can imagine the teana which is an even lighter shade will be worse.
    Agree that the camry is an “uncle” car-quiet,comfortable and reliable with enough power for highway driving but is definitely not suitable for those who like to chuck cars around twisty roads.

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  • squall_shinoda on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:20 am

    Very honest and comprehensive review by Paul, Danny and Anthony, a very good job for all three of you. I hope that in the future there will be more comparison reviews like between cars from other segments, or perhaps between the two national brands.

    Cheers.

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  • redboy on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:24 am

    thumbs up!! great writing of our own market’s car!!! gota salute the effort your team has put into, and as neutral and individual opinion as you all probably can. since different people has different consideration as you have mentioned. Cant wait for the 2nd episode of this article to continue and include the new kids on the block:

    1) Sonata (we obviously seeing more on the road in klang valley) I think Paul you also didnt mentioned the warranty package in the article. Korean cars put up 5 years and I think that is a big consideration for many buyers, since with longer warranty, consumer will be happy to invest into it.
    2) Mazda6 (another same segment)
    3) KIA OPTIMA (this is my most awaited although its have not launched yet, and I think it looks the best from the advertisement)

    again, great work man!!

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  • can’t wait for shootout between vios,city,persona and…. forte!

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    • scgtimk1 on Mar 15, 2011 at 3:09 pm

      Not the same segment.

      Should be :-

      Vios, Saga, City, Accent, 207sedan, Mazda2, Fiesta,Polo etc B-segment

      Altis, Inspira, Lancer, Forte, Avante, Civic, Cruze, Sylphy, Focus, Golf etc C-segment

      Camry, Accord, Teana, Sonata, Optima, Kizashi, Mazda6, Mondeo, Passat etc D-Segment

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  • BMW-More Problem on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:29 am

    Good review paul…..there is no perfect car. all cars have pros and cons…
    Accord was superior in certain aspect compared to Camry and Vis a versa.
    Teana also proved it can mix with the big boys….

    My vote goes for……I dont know …

    I like the accord but the size, wind noise and lack fo features puts me off. I love the engine & transmission and handling.

    I like everything about the camry but the handling puts me off.

    I like the teana for being all rounder. But just worried by resale value.

    Anyway the new Camry is around the corner and apparently is a all new chassis and design. Maybe this time they have improved on the shortfall.

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  • anwar on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:32 am

    Paul, Danny and Anthony should be our TOP GEAR MALAYSIA host!…..

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  • Great writeup. The Accord’s interior looks very worn and like it’s been through hell and back tho. Teana and Camry test cars looks relatively new, but the cream white steering wheel won’t look good after a few thousand KMs.

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    • Anthony Lim (Member) on Mar 15, 2011 at 12:23 pm

      The Accord probably has; it has more than 56k on the clock, far by highest of the three cars. If memory serves me correctly, this might be one of the original test mules from the point of its launch. Might even have been on the media drive back from the East Coast then.

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    • Danny Tan (Member) on Mar 15, 2011 at 12:59 pm

      That’s right. That unit is one of the first few Accords in Malaysia.

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    • TheGunner on Mar 15, 2011 at 1:50 pm

      I’ve seen WRF 4127 in so many magazine and website pages I’ve lost count.

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  • redboy on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:39 am

    from the video, is it going uphill of the Teana? since it keeps in high rev at 80km/h.
    Its cool to include more of this, since it probably give an idea how the car revs and gear changing sequence…in short, very cool!

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  • Ash Menon on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:46 am

    Excellent review, Paul, Danny, Anthony. I like how each of you attempted to approach this piece thinking like a D-segment driver, but also giving it a personal twist from each of you.

    Hopefully you’ll set up some sort of voting system where we get to vote for the next shootout!

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    • tokmoh on Mar 15, 2011 at 12:17 pm

      Aye, dude. The way its meant to be reviewed: from the PoV of its target market :)

      Hmm… yea, Paul, perhaps you can add a vote in this post too. I’d vote for the Nissan too, although it’s certainly a bit hard, considering brand plays a very powerful role in selection in this category. Toyota would’ve win without even beginning to compare from this perspective, but I reckon a Nissan would connect with its drivers better.

      The Toyota is just the kinda car for people who couldn’t bother test driving and immediately purchase it on brand alone. The kinda people you don’t talk car with, but certainly the most accomplished of these three. Conservative old farts whose interests are more into education, investing, real estates, self-development books, and classical music (Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Tchaikovsky etc) maybe.

      The Honda is for the more adventurous, outgoing people. Generally younger than average Camry owners. Hmm… I dunno why I picture an MLM salesman as the typical owner of Accord… or a cocky, spoilt son working at his dad’s company.

      The Nissan is the more sophisticated choice, a guy with good balance of both personalities. A bit hard for me to read them, I guess they’re very low-profile, analytical, who appreciates all that life has to offer and the virtue of being prudent. I feel they’re the most net-savvy of these three categories of people. Hmm… I don’t know what kinda career these people have.

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      • Non sense…Simply irrelevant..summed up…

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      • Someone on Mar 15, 2011 at 1:22 pm

        You’re wrong right there. I can’t speak for the Honda and the Nissan, but my father owns a Camry, and he certainly went for a test drive, considered them all, and made a a choice. And he isn’t the least conservative.

        I’m not defending any car here; just pointing out that stereotypes are never accurate.

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      • tokmoh on Mar 15, 2011 at 2:08 pm

        Good, I have sparked some butthurt responses :P

        It’s just my opinion, it’s not absolute. I’m just reading the personality the people who owns those cars have based on my assumptions. At least that much I have in mind, if ever I’m the one doing the testing like Danny, Paul and Anthony as a basis to review those cars. So I don’t think my opinion is irrelevant. Your comment is, Lahm, what say you about these cars?

        And Someone, would I be wrong to assume second hand value is among the considerations your dad makes in getting the Camry? Fuh fuh fuh…

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        • Critique on Mar 15, 2011 at 4:14 pm

          Well then, I’m of the opinion that you should expand your horizons just a tad bit more so that your assumptions will at least reflect some depth !

          If you’re gonna be critical, make it constructive.

          It’s just my opinion, it’s not absolute!

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          • tokmoh on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:02 pm

            Depth? Is there such need to provide depth in describing simple, predictable personalities? I stand with my opinion that the personalities I describe is true for most, but not all of the typical Toyota and Honda owners. And you think I’m wrong in that because I need to “expand my horizons just a tad bit more”?

            Lol, so what do you think does the Toyota and Honda brand stand for? Just what kinda personality those owners have?

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          • Critique on Mar 16, 2011 at 10:01 am

            You’re correct ! Simpletons don’t need depth. After all much more easier to stereotype right?

            Anyways, you have a wonderfully simple and stereotypical day ahead ! :)

            btw, I’m here to read about the cars, not so much the character of their users. :)

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      • Ash Menon on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:50 pm

        Actually, I meant as in choose the cars that get tested in the next shootout, not choose the winner. Something like, the PT team sets the price point (say 80k to 100k) and we get to nominate and vote for cars that qualify within those ranges.

        Apologies if my phrasing misled you.

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      • clutch basah on Mar 23, 2011 at 5:03 pm

        You’re talking bull* dude.. I’ve test drove both Camry and Accord before deciding on the later. Never considered Teana due its ugly backside and penis shaped front.

        The conclusion was quite simple.. Camry has strong points on comfort with huge disparity on road handling. Whilst Accord’s driving dynamic is enjoyable and technologically advanced compared to Camry’s 4 speeder and crappy suspension. Believe me it feels just like driving a much bigger Civic.. nimble, torquey and all..

        Agree with claims that Accord’s NVH level is not a plus but I must say that was the only letdown and it wasn’t that obvious, just exaggerations to me.

        Never liked that sissy looking creamy colored woody interior thus Accord’s dark black cabin suits me just fine. Teana’s interior? OMG talking about overrated.

        Just got my Accord right after Chinese New Year and I know I’ve made the right choice.

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  • Paul,

    Out of curiosity….may i know what’s the fuel consumption of the Mercedes-Benz CDI photography car compared to all this petrols Japs car. And also hows the Benz performance going up the hills compared to those petrols?

    thanks

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    • Harvinder Sidhu (Member) on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:21 am

      It’s a 2003 W211 E270 CDI and it’s a different animal all together and it’s not really fair to compare it with the other three cars. It has adjustable air suspension which can adapt well to sportier driving.

      It’s also an Avantgarde spec which has sportier suspension bits (i.e bushes etc). So it was better around the bends. Plus it has 174hp and 425Nm of torque. It returned between 12-13 kilometers per liter thanks to the diesel engine.

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      • Hi Harvinder,

        Thanks for the reply…..yeap, diesel is the way to go…more power and less fuel usage. Based on this, who says Camry is frugal…it cannot beat a merc on fc..hehehee (albiet a diesel)

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      • redboy on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:41 pm

        the interesting question is…how much this car selling in the market now, and will people choose this over the 3 Japanese? :)

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      • pumpkin76 on Mar 16, 2011 at 12:13 pm

        It’s also an Avantgarde spec which has sportier suspension bits (i.e bushes etc).

        Harv…. you mean “bushings”…. :P

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  • Great job, guys! Would have been better if the Mazda 6 2.5 was included – my current favourite.

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  • justice on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:51 am

    yeah..good job paultan.org.
    i hope those n upcoming reviews n comparison will help/guide us to buy our next car.
    Thanks

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  • Fritz on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:15 am

    One of the best car comparison write out and test I ever see. Keep it up and it really helps buyers to understand more about the car and not just looking at the spec sheets and “uncle aunty” saying.

    Thumbs up!

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  • ksthong on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:17 am

    Paul / Danny / Anthony,

    What about Mazda 6 against the trio? What do you think it will stand against them?

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    • Anthony Lim (Member) on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:59 am

      Can’t say until a head-to-head comes about. What I can say is that I personally think the first-generation Mazda6 drives and handles better than the newer one does. The suspension on that one was extremely well sorted out, and it now feels duller. But perhaps that’s just me.

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      • Tezza on Mar 16, 2011 at 3:36 pm

        Is it the same case as the Lexus IS Series? The feelsome and handling level between old and the new one?

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  • windchaser on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:41 am

    great effort to arrange such a insight comparison among top 3 demanding model in D segment. Views from each independent experts are really knowledgeable.
    It really give consumer a great references when they shops for the D segment car in accordance with personal requirements. I am frequent follower of this blog..

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  • berry on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:49 am

    I think Paultan.org should publish their own magazine ^^

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  • jflee169 on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:50 am

    Good review! Wish to see more for other makes.
    Just my personal suggestion, it would be great to write about after sale service i.e. competency of Service Center, availability of spare parts etc in the future.

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  • bongek on Mar 15, 2011 at 12:03 pm

    ermm…when the authors create loooonnggg comment….that mean the reader should make less comment ….. :P

    so can we talk about power window?

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  • William on Mar 15, 2011 at 12:12 pm

    Really hope that BBC could hire Paul Tan, Danny Tan and Anthony Lim as their Top Gear Malaysia host haha !! Or maybe the next series of ‘Driven’ plan the show like Top gear!! 30 minutes for ‘Driven’ is too short for a automotive show

    This review really looks like the Top gear UK where 3 host testing each car!! : )

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  • Highly recommended to include Proton Perdana as well.

    “Only the mediocre are at their best all the time eg.Proton.”

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  • zanggief on Mar 15, 2011 at 12:25 pm

    Gentlemen, this is very nice review. Let’s hope to have more of this review come across. This is pretty useful on decision making time.

    It should covered more Japanese like Mazda 6…or vs Korean Sonata and soon to here new Optima…

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  • jazzer on Mar 15, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    paul…
    go review sonata as well..
    just between sonata and accord..
    really eager waiting for it

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  • TECHNETIUM on Mar 15, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    Hi Paul,
    Why don come out with a Standard Rating System, something like giving Stars on every comparison fields?
    Something like Summary..for all the review after the drive..

    However, Enjoy reading all this..:)

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  • I personally prefer P407 , even though back legroom is bit tight

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  • David on Mar 15, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    How about Mazda 6?

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  • Great job guys, one of the most interesting review I’ve ever seen!!! Really appreciate it!!! Keep it up the good job!!!

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  • Fitri Shukri Edata on Mar 15, 2011 at 1:47 pm

    For a 30 something guy like me, I’m sticking to my Mazda 6 2.5. :-)

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  • Gavin on Mar 15, 2011 at 2:17 pm

    Nice comparison but i think the Diesel Merc had the best time of all

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  • harry on Mar 15, 2011 at 2:40 pm

    Anthony writes well…. besides to all nice review here! & thanks for aiding my choice.

    The thing is :

    Camry is a more laid back all a round, not much of a comment, but maybe the word Lame.
    Honda is a car with huge presence but literary over of ideas going like Lady Gaga herself.
    Teana is a newbie which deserved some praise but then It is in fact a car with a breath of Fresh Air in this segment!

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  • harry on Mar 15, 2011 at 2:42 pm

    How nice actually if Sonata was in this review together.

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  • wanna hybrid on Mar 15, 2011 at 2:59 pm

    nicely reviewed, Paul + team.. a true Malaysian version of Top Gear trio.. 2 thumbs up to you, guys.. looking forward for more shootouts from you..

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    • Tiadaid on Mar 15, 2011 at 3:05 pm

      Paul, Anthony & Danny are NOT the Top Gear trio. They’re BETTER. To be honest, Top Gear has ceased to be a car review show and is now more of an entertainment show involving cars.

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      • Agreed…Paul Tan’s team is soo much better than those Top Gear shows…currently, i prefer to watch fifth gear.

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  • Paul Tan on Mar 15, 2011 at 3:10 pm

    Hey guys, I’ve added a poll for you to vote which is your favorite. If you are interested, please do so in the voting widget just above the photo galleries.

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    • harry on Mar 15, 2011 at 5:11 pm

      Good idea, try applying it on similar type reviews.

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    • redboy on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:38 pm

      holy cow, its equally square in the poll (35%-33%-31%). however, the on-the-road result does not reflect the poll result. Which means when really putting the $$ down in buying the car is still different then “discussion” in the web.

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  • Wow impressive review !!
    Lets see what Honda, Toyota and Nissan had for their future line up. With all complaints and satisfaction, I hope all of these car manufacture would improve their car in every aspect. Honda had leave all of their design philosophy to the US, Toyota and Nissan I have no idea, but the recent earthquake and tsunami will had an impact unless they follow the footstep of Honda. Speculations were out, but the next gen all new design of Accord and Camry is not as impressive compare to Kia and Hyundai or maybe Euro car manufacture. However, not comparing the luxury and precise workmanship of the euro car manufacture, we still need to live with Japanese automaker. Honda, Toyota, and Nissan might not have the best of every thing , but they are the cars which you could rely the most to travel from point A to point B. Currently the best Honda would be the facelifted Honda Accord Euro ,JDM StepWGN and JDM Odyssey, while Toyota goes with the overall Camry,Altis,Vellfire,Alphard and Prius. For Nissan it is much random, but in Japan it is Nissan Serena. Well after all this, if for Japanese automaker I would preferably go for Honda Accord Euro or notably the next gen Honda Accord which might be coming in 2013 or 2014.

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  • In the 1st place it is not fair when they compare brand new teana and camry with a few years old accord. The accord paint looks a bit dull,the interior not well maintained and the engine dirty too.plus the camry showed with full bodykits but accord not at all.

    eventhough camry got bodykits but still accord looks more sportier and macho.
    teana still looks better if camry showed without bodykits.in conclusion, accord still the best looking japenese d-segment car ever with full bodykits and 18″ sportrims.

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  • Creative Mind on Mar 15, 2011 at 4:37 pm

    Wow! U guys certainly give a superb review. This is the stuff we are looking for, factual and comprehensive details. Boils down to first class work, those guys at top gear could learn a thing or two from paultan… hehe. In many ways, the would be new car owners will certainly appreciate this stuff and help them to come to a conclusion. Btw, any chance of future review on SUV? I am going for SUV soon, perhaps the comparison between Peugeot 3008, mitsubishi asx and nissan x-trial? many thanks in advance

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  • trav_da_man on Mar 15, 2011 at 4:54 pm

    This is the most comprehensive three car shootout review ever done by a local media, even surpass some of our local magazines shootout (top gear malaysia included) and can put those “shameful” car reviews from newspapers to shame.

    Superb job, and maybe we shall wait for the shootout between our ever popular B segments saloons?

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  • kia K5 or Optima is coming in September. From the review in Australia, it is quite impressive.
    BTW, Paul, were you invited for the recent Aussie review?

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    • Paul Tan on Mar 15, 2011 at 5:12 pm

      http://paultan.org/2011/02/02/kia-optima-2-4-gdi-test-drive-report-from-australia/

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  • Maserati on Mar 15, 2011 at 6:04 pm

    Between these 3 ,i would choose neither.

    I have test driven all 3,and i found the Teana to be brilliantly smooth but design is not my cup of tea.

    The camry is typical old man car,does the job well but nothing special

    The Accord design does not suit me.Engine performance is great at high revs only.At low revs,it feels underpowered.

    I would definately take the Mazda 6 2.5 anytime.It might be small in size but its package is just brilliant! Has good looks with a great engine!

    The Sonata 2.4? Hmmm…test drove it ,not even close to any of the above

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    • Your last line shows how biased you are. The previous generation Sonata NF holds up pretty well to the current Camry so when you say that the “Sonata YF is not even close to any of the above”, I know you are blowing hot air.

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      • mikec on Mar 17, 2011 at 3:51 am

        i’m not sure if the Sonata NF holds up well to the Camry.
        There is hardly any Sonata NF on the road but loads of Camrys despite Camry being sold at RM145k and the NF at RM120 or so.

        After 3 years , Camry still retains 70% of its original price whereas the Sonata NF retains only 50%

        The Sonata YF is a more decent challenger

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  • you guys just raised the bench mark of what a real car shootout review should be….well done

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  • NISSAN always the best for me ~

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  • nasurudin on Mar 15, 2011 at 8:06 pm

    KOrean engine just cannot “tahan ” malaysian hot and humidity issue. Most of them will kaput by the time they reach 100 k km. The gear box is another issue. Try get yourself stuck along Jalan Ampang for 1 hour everyday and the Japanese will come out from there reliable and solid, unlike the Korean , overheating ( radiator hose, radiatorleak etc)

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    • redboy on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:33 pm

      have u experience the summer in USA? korean car is sales pick up so much in USA if heat is the problem, the American would have sue the company.

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  • The coming soon peugeot 508 will blow them away!

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    • If onlt the bring in the HDi version…thats will beat the Japs in term of power & fuel econ,…more powerful than those 3 but wt a honda city like FC

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  • JeffLim on Mar 15, 2011 at 9:57 pm

    How about the Acceleration: 0-100km/h? / 50-80km/h (Overtaking). Which of these 3 cars faster?

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  • Ruben on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:13 pm

    i would love the teana to bits if the back wasnt so damn unproportianate and weird (my personal opinion). out of the three i guess i’ll go for the accord with the modulo bodykit (to make look a bit better). out of the whole class on the other hand, i’d probably go for the new peugeot 508 (which the dealer told me is coming soon). i have a 407 and i love driving it. although its abit underpowered

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  • David Chin on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:58 pm

    Marvellous comparison – kudos!

    Which is more than I can say for the recent stuff from Top Gear …

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  • Teana Boy on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:06 pm

    Thanks Paul..Nice review … agree with all the comments among the 3 cars, but my final decision is TEANA…Got my 1st D-segment car in January 2011, till now i feel that my little Teana is quiet and comfy although the size is not as bold as the Accord and the look is not as nice as the Camry…Why i buy Teana ? Answer is value for money lo… :p Hope can meet some Teana owner here to go yamcha too

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  • Jimmy on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:16 pm

    Will only consider Teana if it has TELESCOPIC STEERING, stingy Nissan.

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  • TeanaBoy on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:16 pm

    Thanks Paul, nice review, agreed with all the comments among 3 cars..My final choice is TEANA and i got my 1st D-segment car in January 2011. After 2 months driving this car i could say it is quiet and comfy. (Test drive to feel it) Althouh it’s not as big as the Accord/ as stylish as the Camry, overall Teana is nice and value for money. Hope can meet some Teana owner here too..

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  • transformer on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:20 pm

    Salute to Paul, Danny, Anthony Lim, Charles Leong!

    a very nice review indeed…. good job!

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  • Camry bias on Mar 15, 2011 at 11:56 pm

    Seriouly i drive a camry 2.4v , i also can’t feel the kick in city but only high way, too boring car and too uncle look for me in late 20.

    even 308 turbo is much better than camry, the interior spare for me single man is much better than camry, too disappointed with camry!!!

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  • dondon on Mar 16, 2011 at 12:43 am

    i loved this entry…well reviewed with exterior interior and performance..that’s why i chose this blog…well done paul and team…

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  • Prefer Passat CC!

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  • thanks for the comprehensive report on the 3 cars . 3 cars and already so much reviewed i wonder how will it be when mixed with euro and korean cars will be.

    i wonder if you will do a shootout with ‘smaller’ 2 litter sedans. namely the civic, corolla, mazda 3 (ckd), forte, cruze, inspira/lancer gt, etc…. maybe in the near future? or maybe until the new civic arrives coz all others have been facelifted or still new in the scene like the mazda3

    keep up the good work, motorist in Malaysia needs people like you to ‘enlighten’ us

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  • ezracopters on Mar 16, 2011 at 1:40 am

    wow..congrats

    1. three way review was much more thann i ask for, superb… again kudos to u guys

    2. whilst the writing was good, but maybe next assignment u guys might wanna add some kind of a table things that i like, u dont base of different aspect such as braking, power, interior, exterior, quality, fuel consumption, market share etc..

    3. i do believe since u all did this shootout altogether, maybe u can make a video version of it.. no need to be ala Top Gear (although it woulda been great & entertain more), Fifth Gear ok dahh.. sold the right to any local tv.. im sure it’ll be huge!!

    4. after i read it all, and considering i’ve only fortunate enough to drove the accord.. maybe next time if my friends ask me. i’ll recommend em’ Teana coz at the end of the day, those who fall into D segment car care more about exclusivity & image more than the car itself..well for me..when i saw person drove this car :
    a. Accord : they’re not ur regular bos man, they know how to enjoy life & tough inside. there r still childish and inmature sometimes
    b. Camry : person who always looking forward and enjoy in their comfort zone. dont want no hanky panky @ more like auntie hehe
    c. Teana : hmm judging from the picture, i might thought the person must be someone who little bit mystery, prefer not to reveal their full potential but a very smart guy. @ perhaps maybe they’re just plainly boring!!

    haha

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  • Ini Susah lah on Mar 16, 2011 at 8:52 am

    My view:
    Honda Accord – Interior design is the nicest among 3.
    Nissan Teana – Performance & spec, the best among 3.
    Toyota Camry – Exterior design is the nicest among 3.

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  • waimak on Mar 16, 2011 at 12:37 pm

    I think teana is kind of ’empty’ and overpriced in comparison with accrod and camry.. take a close look at camry and accord when they are on the move and get teana to run along side.. see the difference.. If you get the lower spec teanna, its even worse. TC is ripping us all.. sorry..

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  • Chris on Mar 16, 2011 at 2:17 pm

    Should compare with Korea D-segment too… then ppl will know which one is more value for money..

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  • Teana has the best engine with V6 configuration. You can feel the difference when the engine is idling, there is minimal vibration as compare to the 4-pot Accord and Camry. The torque is also readily available on low rpm i.e. (1200-2000) range, thus making driving effortless.

    During high speed above 100km/h, the advantage of V6 is clear with plenty of power available.

    The CVT maybe slight disadvantaged during the acceleration from full stop, however, once the car is in motion, it beats normal 5 speed transmission. CVT power transmission is continuos, since there is no gear shift, the power loss is very minimal which translates into better efficiency.

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  • fazron80 on Mar 16, 2011 at 11:18 pm

    Try and put Japan vs European D segment review next. How different are they? Put it korean in together for 3 in 1 review like this.

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  • Hyundai Fan on Mar 17, 2011 at 2:23 pm

    Very good review, better than those reviews in car magazines. Hope to see more reviews like that in the near future. Thumb up!

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  • The Fordicator on Mar 18, 2011 at 11:36 pm

    3 bland, awful cars for the dull and play safe crowd. The Alfa 159, Ford Mondeo or Citroen C5 (all similar price range) would run circles around these sorry excuse of an automobile.

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    • Road Thunder on Apr 04, 2011 at 8:19 am

      I agree, but wait till you see your service bill. You’re going to scream.
      And if one part breaks down, you’re gonna scream louder when the service center tells you, sorry, no parts, gotta order. Wait 6 months. Hahaha

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  • Carl Wong on Mar 19, 2011 at 2:16 pm

    Thanks a lot for the review. When it comes to fuel efficiency/economy, the i-VTEC from Honda wins most of the time :].

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  • To me accord wins.

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  • Seriouly i drive a camry 2.0v , i also can’t feel the kick in city but only high way, too boring car and too uncle look for me in late 20.

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  • all 3 will have their own good and bad . very subjective to each individual. tested all 3 for the past 3 weeks at penang show rooms till Kl. Each car tested 5 times for about 1/2 hr each time.

    Finally booked a Accord 2.4 …… best for drivers or put it at least to me . Just luv it.

    Cheers
    Roy @ Ipoh

    P/s very good review .Keep it up! Thanks

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  • Lim Kim Choon on Apr 14, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    I went to see the Nissan Teana for myself. What an ugly cheap looking car it is! I am serious. I went together with my friends from the golf club and all agreed it looked so much better from the photos. The inside is NARROW! No need to be 6 ft tall because I am 5ft 5 ins and my friend is 5ft 4 ins. Our elbows rub each other many times including the salesman, as we test driving!
    How can you compare a v6 engine to a 4 cylinder car? We tested the 4 cylinder Teana and found it to be worse than the Camry!! You also forget to mentioned above that in the Honda Accord, the auto transmission gear changing can be heard! Are you deaf? This is so evident to all my friends which put us off!
    Overall, your review seems quite fair :-)
    I personally like driving the Teana but for looks and comfort, Camry still wins. better still, wait for the new model around the corner! But that means to some people……why not wait for the next Nissan Fuga (Perdana replacement) ! Wait and wait…….

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  • spectator on Apr 15, 2011 at 8:15 pm

    Given the styling influences of the Accord (BMW 5 series) and Camry (Audi A6), it’s no surprise that the Camry is more popular on styling grounds. Just be thankful that despite comical bulging headlights and taillights that didn’t quite manage to spoil this fake A6, Toyota offers this Camry rather than the US/Japan version, which looks less classy and bland.

    The Teana is the surprise winner here because it is the only one designed primarily as a chauffeur driven car for Asia/Russia and yet still dynamically competitive in this trio. One could only guess how Australian-tuned Optima could upset the result if this had been a 4-way test.

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  • Pristine on Apr 16, 2011 at 6:08 pm

    For the comparison of the three cars, I would say that they attract three different categories of owners.

    1. Accord – The young and successful professionals and self-made businessmen. It
    is like driving the BMW of the East. Looking for performance.
    2. Camry – The corporate cars for older executives and older businessmen. It is like
    sitting in the Mercedes of the East. Looking for comfort.
    3. Teana – Mainly attract the young and upcoming contractors and traders. It is like
    in between the BMW and the Mercedes of the East. For show.

    You can now make your choice.

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  • sanpee on Apr 16, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    I also done some studies between the 3 cars when I was trying to find a family car last november/december, just about when Teana launched. Having the tendency toward buying Accord but I was landed at Camry. I like the power of driving Accord offered, but too bad this is a family car and I’m not really a racer on the road. Comfort comes in the first when talking about family cars. Why not Teana then? Well, like most Malaysian, we like to pick one with less risk, especially if you see there are more Camry on the road than Nissan’s car. Nevertheless, the review was so good that it should probably be publish last year.

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    • Kumar on Jun 04, 2011 at 9:32 pm

      Hi,
      Tested all 3 + 1 ( Sonata )2.0 liter. Home run for Accord . Not only fun to drive but it looks very professional.

      Now keep enjoying :)

      Cheers
      Kumar

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  • Kumar on Jun 04, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    Hi,
    Home run for Accord . Not only fun to drive but it looks very professional.

    Now keep enjoying :)

    Cheers
    Kumar

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  • I have chosen Teana and after a month of driving and after first service, my car engine ignition warning light turn on. On low rev, the car was choking. When press on fuel pedal, it seems uncomfortable…with it rev..seems like under power..
    Is this due to electronic prob or engine? It’s cvt v6 engine is best of it’s kind..am I out of lick or what?

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  • Kid Stuff on Jul 03, 2011 at 12:46 pm

    Quote – “HID headlamps a little too high for the comfort of other motorists (it’s JPJ approved though)” – JPJ cannot approve the hid beam angle – they do not have the equipment to check. Even Puspakom can’t check as all their equipment is broken down.

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  • Weekian3861 on Jul 03, 2011 at 12:06 pm

    i am using teana 250. i should say its much better than what i expected.i like the interior the most. the power is good enough. this is the first time i am using nissan.

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  • YS Lee on Jul 18, 2011 at 11:47 am

    In terms of re-sale Value, the Camry would be the car of choice

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  • ryan ang on Aug 01, 2011 at 7:05 pm

    i am current driving a honda accord 2.0(2006), after reading all reviews critics etc….thanks to Danny Paul Anthony & all that have made comments critics & personal experience …i will go for/buy CAMRY

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  • Hi,
    Sometimes i think comparing an old car with these new ones will be fun too. for instant, W124 (legandary bullet proof car) which cost less than 30K with these big shots will be fun to watch.

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  • hafiz on Aug 28, 2011 at 6:35 am

    good review by paultan..keep it up…and hopefully after this will be more comparison about other car segment such as vios vs city vs hyundai….well done guys..

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  • Young punk stereotype on Oct 24, 2011 at 4:06 pm

    Great reviews and very comprehensive… but I want to be a bit cheeky and point out that by your own admission, you three did not choose the car that outdrove the other two and was the roomiest as well…. and also the only one to have an iPod dock, which you did not highlight. You guys are showing your age! :PPPP

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  • buy kinect on Dec 29, 2011 at 11:16 pm

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  • ajisji on May 01, 2012 at 1:02 pm

    paultan, after this, video review!!

    nice, btw.

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  • Danny Singh on Jun 28, 2012 at 11:56 am

    Thanks for the good info. I really will look into getting a Teana soon.Just waiting for the 2013 model.

    Thanks
    Danny

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  • teana on Jul 10, 2012 at 5:07 pm

    Good and fair review, just booked teana 2.5 and will cancell the booking for the other japanese model
    may i ask is the 2013 model a face lift one? tq

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