Nissan Cefiro Excimo 2.0 – Big Value for Money Saloon
Nissan Cefiro Excimo 2.0 – Big Value for Money Saloon
If you are looking for a large family or executive saloon, the Nissan Cefiro Excimo 2.0 has an interesting package for you to consider. It is one of a few models available in the market that offers a V6, 24 valves (4-valves per cylinder), quad cam, award winning engine that features a lightweight aluminium block (lightweight), delivering 150 Ps at 6,400 rpm, and 179Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. That is sufficient to move the 1470 kg of car around without much fuss, thanks to a set of well-planned gear ratios designed around the 4-speed automatic gearbox that comes standard with the Cefiro.
The VQ20DE engine is an award winning engine from Nissan’s stables, and is well known for its smooth, quiet and vibration-free delivery of power, and this was a fact well borne out during our test session with the car, courtesy of Edaran Tan Chong, the franchise holders for the Nissan brand in Malaysia.
As an executive or family car, the Cefiro is a large and comfortable car that gives you a comfortable and luxurious ride. The inside is well appointed in leather, and the car is equipped with an excellent air-conditioning system. If you keep in mind that this is not a sports car, it is okay, because it does not have heart-stopping zero to hundred acceleration. The 3.0 litre engine does a bit better, offering a better power to weight ratio. Drive it around like it was meant to be driven (like a normal sedan), and the Cefiro 2.0 will serve you well. You might even be quite happy to note that if you do so, you are likely to get some very reasonable fuel consumption, like 450 kilometres from the 70 litre tank before the low fuel indicator comes on. Exuberant driving can reduce this number by as much as 50 percent, so be warned.
The suspension settings deliberately lean to the soft side to appeal to those who want comfort. Rear suspension travel is a little short, though, and may ‘bottom out’ when going over road humps heavily loaded. In terms of handling, the Cefiro gives a good account of itself through the twisty country roads. It will not out handle a sports car, but remains a safe and fun car to drive. Straight-line stability is excellent, thanks to the independent front struts and rear multi-link beam arrangement, augment by a front stabilizer. The Cefiro can cruise at high speeds if you want it to, and can do so with good stability. We found that it is quite comfortable sitting in the region between 140 to 150 kph on the highway.
In terms of looks, the Cefiro has been through a number of facelifts, and the latest one has it looking quite elegant. Since the first time this particular model was launched, the headlights, grille, and tail-lights have been changed. Also new are signal lights built into the wing mirrors. For all the time it has been here, it still stands elegant.
In terms of safety, the Cefiro has 4-wheel disc brakes, ventilated at the front, that work together with an ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), Braking Assist (BA), and twin airbags at the front. The discs are large, and the brakes slow the Cefiro down without any fuss at any time.
The Cefiro is priced at RM159, 553.30 (non-metallic) and RM160,824.90 (metallic) (price on-the-road without insurance). Warranty is 3-years, another plus point, and of course the Cefiro is backed up by Edaran Tan Chong’s very wide network of service workshops.
