Nissan Altima
An Antidote for Ennui |
By Rick Newman
|
Nits: Antilock brakes are an option on the base model. They should be standard. This is important, relatively cheap safety technology. There's no excuse for leaving it off a mainstream, midmarket family car.
G forces: The base-level four-cylinder engine rates an impressive 175 horsepower, and both transmissions–either a six-speed manual or a continuously variable automatic–are designed to maximize power and efficiency. The optional 270-horsepower V-6 is one of the most powerful in its class. The Altima's crisp, stable handling complements the voracious power.
Gizmology: Refinements include a sliding center armrest and a cupholder console with a lid, for a slightly cleaner look. The dash is clean and unpretentious, with controls that are plain but feel solid.
Kidmarks: The back seat isn't cavernous, but there's plenty of room for kids. There are four cupholders and overhead reading lights, with a decent-size trunk.
Hot or not: Hot. The design evokes forward motion, with a touch of the Z car in the swept roofline.
Pain at the pump: Modest. The four-cylinder rates a thrifty 26 mpg/city to 35 mpg/highway. The V-6 ranges from 21 mpg/city to 29 mpg/highway. Details: www.fueleconomy.gov.
Crash course: Earns 10 stars out of 10 on the government's frontal crash test, nine out of 10 on the side-impact test, and four out of five on rollover resistance. Details: http://safercar.gov/NCAP/Cars/4147.html
Standard safety gear: Advanced frontal air bags, side-impact air bags, side-curtain air bags.
Price points: Base prices range from $20,415 to $29,015. Price as tested: $30,215. (Prices include delivery fees.)
More info: www.nissanusa.com/altima/
|
$20,415 – 29,015
21 mpg/city – 35 mpg/highway
Model year tested: 2007
The first strong impression I had after sliding into the new Altima was that the parking lot attendants loved it. Sure, go ahead and snicker, but these guys know cars. They park some of the finest rides around and salivate over the specs and curves—and they were salivating over mine. The parking lot was my first stop after getting into the Altima, and three attendants gathered round when I pulled in. "Hey, check it out," they hooted. "The new Altima! Is that the 3.5?" one of them asked me.
I hadn't done my homework yet. I didn't even know. "Yeah," I faked.
"It's sweet, huh?"
"Yeah."
Hey, granted, it's not a Carrera GT. But can you imagine anybody ogling the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord or Ford Fusion like this? Don't think so. That's the trick Nissan has pulled off with the new Altima—it has managed to build some excitement into a midmarket sedan.
By the time I hit the open road, I had done my homework–and I thoroughly agreed with the attendants. The Altima was sweet. The 270-horsepower V-6 engine was a tiger, but more than that, the car had an all-around zesty feel that held up no matter how hard I pushed it. On curves, the chassis was stiff and stable and the steering held firm, with minimal bite from the front-drive wheels. It was a satisfying cruiser, too, with a big feel at highway speeds. Most people who buy the Altima won't be looking for a sports car, but the ability to rev it up every now and then is a nice antidote to the humdrum. Whether in your car or in your life.
I was driving the more expensive SE trim line, but there is much to like in the base model as well, which starts at around $20,000. The standard engine is a feisty, 175-horsepower four-cylinder, with a standard six-speed manual transmission. The optional automatic is an advanced continuously variable transmission, or CVT, which provides smoother, more efficient acceleration than typical automatics. Electric ignition is standard–you don't have to enter a key; you just push a button, as long as the key fob is somewhere in the car.
Car buffs will have long arguments over which is better–the Camry, the Accord, or the Altima. That's a pointless discussion. The Camry probably offers more interior refinement, and the Accord may have more appealing electronics. Others, like the Fusion or the Hyundai Sonata, might seem like a better value. (Or not–car buffs never stop arguing.) Bottom line: There are many sound cars in this crowded segment, and the Altima is fresh and lively on top of that. Sweet.
 See the auto review archive.
|
