Nissan Altima 360 review
The Nissan Altima has been sold since 1993 as a four-door sedan, first as a compact and now, in its fourth generation, as a midsize four-door sedan and two-door coupe. Restyled for 2007, the Altima continues as a more stylish alternative to middle-of-the-road midsize sedans like the popular Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, as well as the up-and-coming Hyundai Sonata and domestic competitors like the Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu. Base Altima sedans start at $19,900, and the limited-volume Nissan Altima Hybrid sedan costs $26,780, albeit with quite a number of options bundled in that cost extra on non-hybrid models.
The 1993-1997 and 1998-2001 Altimas were compact sedans powered by four-cylinder engines, offering a five-speed manual gearbox or four-speed automatic transmission. They were the successor to the Stanza sedan, and did well for Nissan against the Toyota Corolla. In 2002, the third generation Altima was the first of a new wave of dramatically styled Nissan models when it launched, drawing great acclaim for its distinctive lines. That 2002-2006 model offered a 2.5-liter four and a 3.5-liter V-6, with standard five-speed manuals or automatics (four-speed for the four, five-speed for the V-6). The sportiest SE-R model included not only the 250-horsepower V-6, but also revised suspension settings, 18-inch wheels and tires, and some styling flourishes to set the car apart from standard Altimas.
Redesigned in 2007, the Nissan Altima was mildly refreshed for the 2010 model year with a new grille along with both new interior materials and an expanded list of options. Engine options continue to include a four and a V-6, in this case a 175-hp, 2.5-liter four or a powerful 275-hp, 3.5-liter V-6. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is standard on the sedan and coupe, with a six-speed manual offered on the coupe only. The Altima Hybrid pairs a specially tuned, 162-hp version of the 2.5-liter four to an adapted version of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system, producing gas mileage rated at 35 mpg city, 33 mpg highway. Note that the Altima Hybrid is only available in a handful of Northeastern and Pacific Coast states, however.
