WASHINGTON — If you didn’t know it, the Nissan Altima is very popular and running very close in sales to the front-runners from Honda and Toyota for the midsize sedan class.
Still, Nissan tweaked its sales leader some without radically changing everything. The Altima starts under $23,000 and this week, we look at the top of the line SL model, with a price of $32,115, and see what it’s all about.
The styling gets a boost with a new front-end look adding a new V-shaped grill that it shares with the updated Pathfinder and Maxima sedan. I do like the look better than the past Altima model. Coming from a family that had Datsun and Nissan models growing up, I’m glad that there’s a bit more curb appeal.
There is a good amount of chrome-colored trim around the windows, the door handles and a large strip on the trunk. The SL trim level also comes with some handsome 17-inch alloy wheels that help brighten the side profile of the car. Overall, the outside is nicely updated, if a bit conservative. It’s best not to rock the boat too much when you sell so many.
Inside the refreshed Altima, it does what a midsize sedan should, and offers a good amount of space for five people. The front leather seats deliver good comfort and have heat. Even the steering wheel is heated. The rear seats are roomy and offer plenty of leg room and decent headroom; maybe not the most in the class, but very usable.
The trim and dash are a mix of soft and some hard touch materials. My wife isn’t a huge fan of the light wood-like trim pieces, which might show dirt easier. My tester had the larger 7-inch touch screen, which helps with the NAV and camera system. The trunk is a good size, but rails do protrude down, so be careful with larger items under their path.
The Altima has a four-cylinder engine standard, and it does a nice job of moving the sedan well. If that’s enough, Nissan also offers a V6 option that should help. The only transmission is a CVT that even has noticeable shifts to make you think it’s a regular automatic.
I managed 29.5 mpg over 315 miles of mixed driving, a bit under the 31 mpg the sticker says, but still pretty good for a sedan. This is a good commuter car that does well on longer trips. I did notice a bit more noise than some of the competition.
Handling is pretty good — not knock-your-socks-off good like a Mazda 6, but not sloppy either. Some added safety features had me taking notice. The intelligent cruise control keeps a safe distance and will slow the car accordingly, and emergency braking makes this a safer midsize sedan.
The Nissan Altima is refreshed to try and take more of the market in the popular midsize sedan class. The added style and some new safety and technology options can only help. With an optional V6 and competitive pricing, the Altima is closing in on the top.
Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review.