The Nissan Teana is a mid-size saloon produced from 2003 and exported as the Nissan Maxima and Nissan Cefiro to certain markets. It replaced the Nissan Bluebird, Laurel and Cefiro and shares a platform with the Maxima, Altima and the Japanese Presage minivan. The nameplate was retired in 2020 and returned in 2025 for China.
Nissan Teana at a glance
| Production | 2003–2020, again from 2025 |
|---|---|
| First generation | J31, from February 2003 |
| Engines | 1,998, 2,349 and 3,498 cc, with automatic gearboxes |
| Trims | 200JK, 230JK, 230JM, 350JM |
| Platform | Nissan FF-L; later shared with the Renault Laguna and Latitude |
| Replaced | Bluebird, Laurel and Cefiro |
| Sold at | Nissan Red Stage in Japan |
| Export names | Maxima in Australia and New Zealand, Cefiro in Asia and Latin America |
| Third generation | from 2013, a rebadged Altima |
| Name origin | a village in Italy |
based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Nissan Teana.
History of the Nissan Teana
J31 (2003)
The J31 Teana was introduced in February 2003 to Japan as a sedan companion to the Murano, both sold at Nissan Red Stage dealers. It replaced the Bluebird and Cefiro in Japan along with the Laurel and sat one level below the Skyline. The interior was designed around a cosseting, homelike feel, with colours and materials inspired by interior design rather than the technological style of most cars of the time, and Japanese buyers could order the CarWings internet-based navigation system. The J31 followed the Maxima J30 chassis numbering, and in most of the world the Teana was Nissan’s largest front-wheel-drive saloon, while the Skyline and Fuga were rear-wheel drive.
Markets and names
Although largely unrelated to the Cefiro line, Nissan sold the Teana under the Cefiro name in Hong Kong, Singapore, Mauritius, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Latin America and the Caribbean, and as the Teana in Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, India, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia and mainland China. It was the Maxima in Australia and New Zealand, where it competed with the Mitsubishi 380 and Toyota Aurion, and reached Europe in 2004 replacing the Maxima QX. The car was built by Dongfeng in mainland China, Yulon in Taiwan, assembled in Karachi as the Cefiro in Pakistan and in Thailand for South-East Asia.
Equipment and later versions
Power came from 1,998, 2,349 or 3,498 cc engines with automatic gearboxes, in 200JK, 230JK, 230JM and 350JM trims, on the Nissan FF-L platform. In December 2005 the Teana gained new headlights and tail lights, chrome bumper trim, larger fog lights, front legrests and new instruments, was slightly shortened, and all engines were matched to the XTronic CVT. From 2007 the platform was shared with the Renault Laguna and Latitude in most of Europe, the Middle East and Africa and, in South-East Asia, with the Renault Samsung SM5. From the third generation in 2013 the Teana became a rebadged North American Altima.
Design and features
- Homelike interior: materials chosen like furniture rather than technology.
- FF-L platform: also used by the Maxima, Altima and Presage.
- Many names: Maxima in Oceania, Cefiro across Asia and Latin America.
- Altima rebadge: from the third generation in 2013.
Nissan Teana versions
- Teana J31 (2003–2008): the first generation.
- Teana 350JM: the top trim with the 3.5-litre V6.
- Nissan Maxima (Oceania): the export name.
- Nissan Cefiro version: the Asia and Latin America name.
- Teana from 2013: the Altima-based generation.
The Teana replaced the Cefiro and Bluebird, was sold as the Maxima in Oceania and later became an Altima. More cars are in the Nissan collection.
Video: Nissan Teana (2014) Тест-драйв
Video by YouTube on YouTube.
Sources
- Nissan Teana, English Wikipedia: J31 launch and interior, engines and trims, markets and names, later generations
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