One of my favorites among the midsize cars, the Nissan Altima sport sedan, also is turning out to be a hit with consumers.
This car, which got a complete makeover this year, recently was named best premium midsize car in the 2007 Motorist Choice Awards. These awards recognize vehicles that have a combination of the highest customer satisfaction and the lowest cost of ownership, based on rankings of owner satisfaction from AutoPacific and ownership cost and value by IntelliChoice.
The honor was well-deserved, although I would question why the Altima was listed in the “premium” category, since its prices are comparable with those of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, which were not considered premium sedans by the Motorist Choice selection process.
Perhaps what Motorist Choice is trying to say is that the Altima, although priced like a mass-market midsize sedan, actually is a premium product. I can certainly agree with that, because ounce for ounce, it is a lot more compelling than the plain-vanilla Accord or Camry.
As I’ve said before – regarding even the previous generation – the Altima has consistently been one of the best driver-oriented midsize sedans on the market, along with the Mazda6 and Volkswagen Passat.
The previous model was already the fourth-best-selling car in the United States. For 2007, though, Nissan has made the Altima significantly better. The upgrades are numerous, ranging from edgier exterior styling to more power to a new, very refined interior.
In fact, the redesigned interior is more like that of a premium car such a Lexus or Mercedes.
Prices begin at $17,950 (plus $615 freight), which brings you the base four-cylinder engine.
But our test car was the top-of-the-line 3.5 SL, with a V-6 engine and leather interior, and a long list of other standard amenities that definitely pushed this version into the premium class. Although base price of this model is $28,400, options ran the total price tag of our vehicle to $32,085 (including freight), which actually is higher than the starting price of the Lexus IS 250.
Beyond the stylish redesign, Nissan also has virtually eliminated the sometimes annoying torque steer that some owners had complained about on the previous model.
Overall, the steering also has been improved to give it more of a sports car feel, Nissan said. Torque steer is the tendency of front-wheel-drive vehicles to try to turn in the direction of the wheel that’s getting power, and it’s present to some degree in almost every vehicle that has front drive. The more torque (power) that a car has available to send to the drive wheels, the more potential there is for torque steer.
In the previous Altima, the torque steer was noticeable only in the V-6 model because of its additional power over the base four-cylinder. In the redesigned model, power of the V-6 has increased even as torque steer has been reduced.
This engine has 270 horsepower, up 20 from the 2006 model. It’s second only to the 2007 Passat’s 280 horsepower. The redesigned ’07 Camry, at 268 horsepower, is very close, but the Accord’s V-6 has just 244. The Altima’s V-6 puts out 258 foot-pounds of torque.
The base engine is no slouch, It’s a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder, an enhanced version of the engine from last year’s Altima. It’s rated at 175 horsepower and 180 foot-pounds of torque.
This is the second-most-powerful base four-cylinder engine in the midsize class, second only to the 200 horsepower of the turbocharged Passat four-cylinder. In comparison, the Camry’s four-cylinder has 158 horsepower, and the Accord’s 166. A new six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable automatic is available with either engine.
With the manual gearbox, the four-cylinder is rated at 26 miles per gallon in the city and 35 on the highway; with the CVT, the ratings are 26 city/34 highway. For the V-6 with manual, fuel economy is 21 city/29 highway; with the CVT, it’s 22 city/28 highway. (All of these estimates use the 2007 EPA formula; the ratings will be lower using the revised 2008 EPA formula.)
Unlike some of its competitors, the Altima is not a copy of anything, Nissan said. The styling is unique to the car, and it rides on an all-new chassis, which is no longer shared with the more-expensive Maxima.
The exterior is a bit smaller than before, but the interior space remains the same. Nissan said some consumers had complained that the previous model was too big. It was the largest in the class.
The new model is two-and-a-half inches shorter, and the wheelbase is an inch shorter. Height is the same, but the car is 0.3 inches wider than the ’06 model. At 189.8 inches long, it’s just a half-inch longer than the Camry, but 1.3 inches shorter than the Accord.
Outside, the Altima is more sleek and aerodynamic, but the unique headlights and taillights from last year’s model were retained because consumers told Nissan those were among the things they really liked about the old model.
The Altima is on Nissan’s new “D” chassis, which will be used for some other new models as well, including the redesigned Murano crossover utility vehicle coming next year. This architecture offers improved chassis strength, as well as a completely new front suspension and an improved rear suspension, the automaker said.
Among the technical features are a new speed-sensitive power-steering system, improved brakes with four-wheel discs and an optional antilock system; and optional electronic stability control, which is packaged with traction control and the antilock brakes.
The continuously variable transmission does not have the irritating rubber-band feeling of some CVTs, and doesn’t rev the engine up annoyingly when shifting to a higher gear level.
Computer-control adaptive logic keeps the automatic transmission from unnecessarily changing gears while going up or down hills. The transmission has normal, sport and economy modes. It’s also designed to learn the operator’s driving style, so as to match shift points to that style, Nissan said.
Quality and attention to detail are prevalent throughout the cabin, something that has been needed in the Altima for a long time. There are chrome accents, plush padded armrests, and a standard tilt-and-telescoping steering column on all trim levels.
The seats are much more comfortable, with longer cushions and higher backs. Among standard features on all models is an intelligent-key system with pushbutton start, which is usually reserved for luxury cars.
Nine cup or bottle holders are placed strategically throughout the cabin, and there are several covered storage compartments. All audio systems come with an auxiliary jack for an iPod or other music player.
Safety tools include standard front seat-mounted side air bags, as well as roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for both rows of seats. There also are active head restraints up front, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.
Five trim levels are offered: the base 2.5, the 2.5 S, the 2.5 S with SL package, the 3.5 SE and our 3.5 SL. A gasoline-electric hybrid model is offered in California and a few Northeastern states, but is not sold here in Texas.
The 3.5 models – which come with the V-6 engine – begin at $24,000 with the manual gearbox
The 2.5 S with manual transmission starts at $19,800; and with the CVT, $20,300; the 3.5 SE with CVT is $24,500.
While the 3.5 SL comes with almost everything that’s offered, our car also was equipped with the optional Technology Package ($2,000), which added a navigation system with rearview TV monitor, along with XM satellite radio.
Our car also had the optional electronic stability control ($900), which also came with a full-size spare tire.
At a Glance:2007 Nissan Altima
The package: Midsize, four-door, five-passenger, four-cylinder or V-6 powered, front-drive sport sedan.
Highlights: Nissan’s popular midsize sedan entered its next generation for 2007 with revised styling, a much more-refined interior, and a more-powerful V-6 engine, among many improvements.
Negatives: Electronic stability control should be standard, but is a $900 option.
Engine: 2.5-liter inline four cylinder or 3.5-liter V-6.
Transmission: Six-speed manual or continuously variable automatic.
Power/torque: 175 HP/180 foot-pounds (I-4); 280 HP/258 foot-pounds (V-6).
Length: 189.8 inches.
Curb weight: 3,055-3,334 pounds.
Brakes, front/rear: Disc/disc, antilock optional (standard on V-6 models).
Trunk volume: 15.3 cubic feet.
Side air bags: Front seat-mounted, roof-mounted side-curtain for both rows, standard.
Electronic stability control: Optional.
Fuel capacity/type: 20 gallons/unleaded regular (I-4); unleaded premium (V-6).
EPA fuel economy: 21-26 mpg city/28-35 highway (2007 standards).
Major competitors: Volkswagen Passat, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Mazda6, Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Mitsubishi Galant, Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6, Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Subaru Legacy.
Base price range (2007): $17,950-$28,400 plus $615 freight.
Price as tested: $32,085, including freight and options (3.5 SL).
On the Road rating: 9.3 (of a possible 10).
