Range-topping models tend to be the ones that grab the headlines. And with good reason – they're the best representation of the car as it sits on the showroom floor, whether it be in terms of looks, gadgets, performance and, in some cases, road manners as well. Money no object, they're almost unquestionably the one to get.

But of course, "money no object" rarely, if ever, exists. This is particularly true with D-segment models, as the highest trim levels of these cars tend to come uncomfortably close to the RM200k mark, and therefore well out of reach of all but the most well-heeled company car buyers. Below that, lesser models are far less desirable, losing out on much of the toys and, unfortunately, safety equipment.

The new Nissan Teana seems to have bucked this trend, with smaller differences in kit between variants. Only a few feel-good gadgets are reserved for the top-spec 2.5XV (this may also betray the relative paucity of equipment on the range-topping model, but that's a different topic altogether). More importantly, all Teanas come as standard with a full complement of six airbags and stability control.

This particular model we're testing is the mid-range 2.0XL, which features a few must-have items over the base 2.0XE (powered seats, reverse camera, Bluetooth), but still comes in at a cool RM20k under the 2.5XV. Is this actually the sweet spot, then – the Goldilocks of the range, if you like? Read on to find out.

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