In the joint venture car camp, the most influential besides the German cars are the Japanese joint venture brands, with their fuel-efficient and durable characteristics, Japanese cars have won a large number of fans in the country. With the intensification of competition in the car market, the so-called “Japanese three swords” of Teana, Accord, and Camry make it even harder for people to choose.
On the surface, the Accord completed its upgrade last year, the ninth-generation Camry was launched this year, and the Nissan Teana, the seventh-generation model launched in 2018, was last upgraded in 2022. In April, the Teana introduced the 20th Anniversary Black Gold Edition, enhancing competitiveness through additional features. So, compared to the old rivals Accord and Camry, how does the Teana 20th Anniversary Black Gold Edition stack up? The Teana 20th Anniversary Black Gold Edition has added exclusive logos, giving it more personality. The eleventh-generation Accord boldly adopts a new design language, moving towards a younger and sportier look, breaking away from the classic business style. Similarly, the ninth-generation Camry is also moving towards a sportier direction, offering three different front-end designs for different user preferences.
Unlike the Accord and Camry, the current Teana is the seventh generation model launched in 2018, so the styling is not as radical, still mature and stable. The 20th anniversary Black Gold Edition of the Teana is based on the regular model, with added exclusive black and gold personalized design elements, including a smoked black grille, gold front trim, gold lettering on the rear, making the whole car more unique.
Different people have different aesthetic preferences for vehicle design. The ninth-generation Camry offers three front-end styles to meet different users’ aesthetic needs, while the Teana 20th Anniversary Black Gold Edition is more personalized. The Accord has the advantage in size, while the Teana 20th Anniversary Black Gold Edition has richer comfort features. Comparing sizes, the eleventh-generation Accord in the “Japanese Big Three” has the largest dimensions, with a length of 4980mm and a wheelbase of 2830mm, meaning more spacious interior space. The Teana 20th Anniversary Black Gold Edition is similar in size to the Camry, especially in wheelbase, both at 2825mm.
It is worth mentioning that the Teana 20th Anniversary Black Gold Edition has added front ventilated heating leather seats, further enhancing the comfort of the Nissan “moving sofa.” The Accord and Camry models with the same configuration both have prices exceeding 200,000 yuan (27650$). From this perspective, the advantage of the Teana 20th Anniversary Black Gold Edition is more obvious.
In terms of power, the 20th Anniversary Black Gold Edition of the Teana still uses a 2.0L engine + CVT transmission, which, although not strong in performance, is sufficient for a B-class sedan, with a combined fuel consumption of only 6.41L/100km under WLTC conditions. In comparison, the Accord and Camry offer a more diverse selection of powertrains. The fuel version of the Accord comes standard with a 1.5T engine + CVT transmission, with a combined fuel consumption of 6.6L per 100km under WLTC conditions. The plug-in hybrid version of the Accord uses a plug-in hybrid system composed of a 2.0L engine and electric motor, achieving a pure electric range of 106km under NEDC conditions, with a fuel consumption of 4.88L/100km.
The Camry, currently available in fuel and hybrid versions with a 2.0L engine, will introduce a hybrid version with a 2.5L engine in the future. The fuel version of the Camry with a 2.0L engine has a maximum horsepower of 173Ps and a WLTC combined fuel consumption of 5.81L per hundred kilometers. The hybrid version has a combined fuel consumption of only 4.2L.
In terms of power comparison, the 20th anniversary black gold version of the Teana, although not superior in performance, has considerable fuel economy, and the 2.0L engine is powerful enough, with reliability and stability guaranteed. The Accord has a very obvious advantage in power, and there is also the option of a plug-in hybrid version, but the price of the plug-in hybrid version is relatively high. Finally, there is the Camry, whether it is a fuel version or a hybrid version, the fuel economy is good, and the performance is not bad, with a stronger overall performance in power.
In conclusion, when comparing the “Japanese trio”, each has its own advantages and disadvantages. The choice depends on individual car needs. In terms of price, the Camry, being recently upgraded, has fewer discounts compared to the Accord and Teana. The Teana 20th Anniversary Black Gold Edition offers up to a 70,000 yuan (9680$) discount when trading in an old car, making it more affordable.