Nissan Altima Review

2009 Nissan Altima 3.5 SL Sedan Shown

The Nissan Altima has been on sale for almost 15 years and has now settled into the rare role of a practical five-passenger family sedan with handling and performance that appeals to the enthusiast. There have been four generations of Altimas, with the newest one introduced in 2007 and on sale now. The sedan has more recently been squarely aimed at traditional segment leaders, and as such it has quickly matured in terms of features, finesse and power.

Family sedans have never been more capable across the board than they are today, and competition in this segment is consequently fiercer than ever. Yet the current Nissan Altima manages to distinguish itself by offering ample yet refined power, especially with the optional V6, along with perhaps the sportiest handling of any family sedan. It also boasts a pleasant interior that's leaps and bounds ahead of its low-grade predecessors. The addition of a coupe model should broaden the Altima's appeal and make it even more competitive with the Accord and Camry, which have long offered coupe variants. Families -- or really anyone -- in search of practical yet lively daily transportation should give the Altima a hard look.

Current Nissan Altima

The Nissan Altima provides the kind of style and performance one would have expected years ago from its now-big brother, the Maxima sedan. In recent years, strong styling has been one of Nissan's characteristics, and the Altima's svelte sheet metal continues this trend. The Altima impresses under the hood as well, with zesty acceleration from the base 2.5-liter engine and downright prodigious thrust from the optional 3.5-liter V6. (A limited-production four-cylinder hybrid model with Toyota-sourced technology is also available in some states.) Transmission choices are a six-speed manual or a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The latter is one of the best examples of its breed; the former, however, is to be avoided unless you absolutely must shift your own gears, as its rubbery feel and remarkably imprecise throws are only fit for the most automatic-averse consumers.

In reviews of the fourth-generation Altima, we've mostly praised the power and handling of both the four-cylinder and V6 models, although the enthusiast-oriented SE model's sport-tuned suspension can be a little stiff on rough surfaces. We clocked a CVT-equipped Altima SE V6 from zero to 60 mph in just 6.6 seconds, an excellent showing for a family sedan -- and one that might make the decision to go without a manual shifter a little easier. Meanwhile, the base car with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder performs well enough that it will probably make some consumers think twice about whether a V6 is necessary.

Underneath that sleek skin, the Nissan Altima's overall length has been reduced about 2 inches as compared to the previous model, which has resulted in slightly less front and rear legroom. In the sedan, there's still enough room for four 6-foot adults to be carried in reasonable comfort, at least for a moderate distance, but legroom is just average, and headroom is tight. The interior layout, however, is much improved over the previous-generation Altima and is now near the head of the family sedan class in terms of both design and material quality.

The Altima coupe drives much like the sedan, as one might expect, but it adds unique styling, sportier suspension tuning and more aggressively bolstered seats. Its dimensions are also down a bit from the sedan's -- combined with the coupe's rakish roof line, this means markedly less passenger room for coupe buyers, though it's still a good bit roomier than dedicated sport coupes.

One thing to consider is pricing. While the least expensive Altima starts at just under $19,000, a desire for V6 power and a free hand with the options list could leave you with a price tag of $30,000 or more for a new Altima. At that price point, one could also start considering some purpose-built sport sedans from more prestigious luxury automakers.

Past Nissan Altima Models

It took awhile for the Nissan Altima family sedan, introduced in 1993, to establish itself in the marketplace and the hearts of enthusiasts. The first two generations, powered by a relatively peppy 150-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, weren't flops -- but neither were they the blockbusters Nissan was hoping for. We found the second-generation Altima, which was sold for the 1998-2001 model years, to be a decent handler but too bland in its overall design.

A big upgrade came with the third generation. The redesigned 2002 Altima was about 6 inches longer and had a new suspension and stronger body. At the time, it was one of the most powerful family sedans available, as it came with either a 175-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or a 240-hp 3.5-liter V6. All models were offered with a manual or automatic transmission. The interior was widely criticized for looking cheap but the Altima had a particularly lively feel for a front-wheel-drive family sedan. Our editors concluded that the Altima had gone from wallflower to genuinely desirable sedan overnight. For the serious driving enthusiast, the 2005-'06 Altima SE-R was the way to go. This specialized model came with a firmer suspension, a bit more power and an exclusive six-speed manual transmission whose slick operation was a cut above Nissan's norm.

The third- and current-generation Nissan Altimas are the most desirable from a used car shopper's perspective. They hold great appeal for people who need a midsize sedan but put a premium on responsive handling and an entertaining driving experience. At the same time, even less enthusiastic drivers will appreciate the increased passenger and trunk space in these newer Altimas, as well as their attractive styling and competitive powertrains.

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* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.