While the Nissan Altima’s fate in North America remains up in the air, its Chinese-market twin, the Nissan Teana, is gearing up for a mid-cycle refresh that will keep it in showrooms for years to come. Built by Dongfeng Nissan, the updated Teana takes design inspiration from the brand’s newer electrified sedans, aiming to bring a more contemporary edge to the familiar midsize formula.
The first clear look at the facelifted model comes courtesy of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, whose regulatory filings reveal a bolder front fascia. Darker LED headlights now flank a wider grille with integrated daytime running lights and a new internal pattern, while the reshaped bumper gains a broader lower intake reminiscent of Nissan’s N6 and N7 sedans. The changes help align the Teana’s gasoline-powered styling with the company’s EV design language.
From the side, the silhouette is largely unchanged, though new alloy wheels and a two-tone paint option on select trims lend the sedan a fresher, more upscale presence. At the rear, a darkened full-width LED light bar with illuminated Nissan lettering mirrors the brand’s latest electrified models. The tailgate and bumper have been tidied up, and visible exhaust outlets are now gone entirely.
The facelift also brings a slight size increase, with overall length stretching by 14 mm (0.6 inches) to 4,920 mm (193.7 inches), while width, height, and the 2,825 mm (111.2-inch) wheelbase remain the same. Interior details are still under wraps, but a redesigned dashboard with a digital cockpit and updated tech features is expected.
Under the hood, the top-spec turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine returns with 240 hp (179 kW / 243 PS) sent to the front wheels via Nissan’s Xtronic CVT with eight simulated ratios. Interestingly, filings also reveal a new entry-level engine rated at 142 hp (106 kW / 144 PS), a step down from the current naturally aspirated 2.0-liter’s 154 hp (115 kW / 156 PS). The reasoning behind the drop in output hasn’t been clarified.
The refreshed Teana is set to reach Chinese dealers later this year, with pricing expected to remain close to the current ¥179,800–¥239,800 ($25,000–$33,400) range.
As for the Altima, which shares its bones with the Teana, the North American model last received a facelift in 2022. A second refresh could help extend its life under the current U.S. political climate, which has slowed the push toward electrification. However, lingering rumors suggest the Altima could be retired altogether. Whether Nissan opts to borrow design cues from the Chinese Teana or stick to a separate styling path remains to be seen.
Source: Nissan