The car will be on sale this summer and I expect to see a lot of drivers swapping the old Altima for a new one. What’s more, it would not surprise me if a number of people.
By Frank Washington
NASHVILLE, TN– Standing in the garage here at Nissan’s North American headquarters what stood out about the all new Nissan Altima was that the midsize sedan looked much more sophisticated than the car it replaces.
Amid the dozen or so test cars that were parked, I noted that the lines of the 2013 Nissan Altima were flowing. The car also appeared lower and wider. Still, the foot print of the all new Altima was about the same. In other words, the new Altima had not increased in size; it was an inch longer, one inch lower and one inch wider.
In fact, the car looked like a smaller version of the Nissan Maxima. More important is that the new Altima has Nissan’s design DNA: Rounded fenders, horizontal grille and angled lamps fore and aft.
I learned about the dimensions of the 2013 Altima during the product presentation which started late because one of the shuttles ferrying reporters here from downtown went to the Nissan plant in Smyrna instead of Nissan’s North American headquarters which is in suburban Franklin.
Anyway, the new Altima has two engine choices; a 2.5 liter four cylinder that makes 182 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. The 3.5-liter V6 makes 270 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.
Both engines were mated to the newest generation of Nissan’s continuously variable transmission (CVT). It accounts for 40 percent of the improvement in the new Altima’s fuel economy.
The four cylinder engine gets 27 mpg in city driving and 38 mpg on the highway. The six-cylinder gets 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. Part of the fuel economy improvement is due to weight reduction; the 2013 Nissan Altima is 79 pounds lighter than the model replaces.
We were given a bunch of information. The new Altima is quieter than the car it replaces, Nissan said it is more comfortable because of a new seat design and it is technologically better.
The car’s new communication system has Bluetooth, streaming audio, hands free texting, internet radio and an iPod interface as well as auxiliary and USB jacks. The new trend in automotive communications systems is connectivity; that is running Smartphone apps through the car’s audio system.
The 2013 Altima can be equipped with blind spot warning, land departure warning or moving object detection. The car also has a tire pressure monitoring system.
But its little things like the remote start has a range of 195 feet or the windshield wipers will complete their cycle after the car is shut off that will undoubtedly make consumers appreciate the new Nissan Altima. Or, when putting air in the tires, the Altima will beep its horn when the correct pressure is reached.
But how the car drives will determine whether consumers embrace it. On a relatively short test drive to Lynchburg, home of Jack Daniels, I discovered a few things about the Altima’s driving characteristics.
My test vehicle was quiet; especially its CVT. Nissan has done a lot of work to make the transmission which has no gears operate quietly. Handling was sharp, the car went were I steered it and it tracked well. I didn’t have to make adjustments to keep it centered.
The roads in this part of the country are in great shape. There were no potholes or ruts to speak of; so they were not that much of a test for the Altima’s suspension. However, my test car’s ride was firm without being harsh and the shock absorber compression was minimal after going over one of the numerous swells in this area.
My only quibble was the use of black piano finish in the interior around the center stack. In effect, its black plastic, it looks good but I don’t how a scratch, especially a sizable one will transform its appearance.
Prices start $21,500 for the four-cylinder and $25,360 for the V6. The car will be on sale this summer and I expect to see a lot of drivers swapping the old Altima for a new one. What’s more, it would not surprise me if a number of people switched brands to drive a new Altima.
This was printed in the June 17, 2012 – June 30, 2012 Edition
