| Nissan has re-invented the Altima for the second | | | | are 1.7 inches less legroom in front, but 3.1 inches |
| time in its four generations. | | | | more in the rear, and that's a lot; however, 0.8 |
| The Nissan Altima has been totally redesigned for | | | | inches of rear headroom has been lost. Trunk |
| 2007. It offers more performance, comfort, | | | | space has grown from 15.6 cubic feet to 17.9. |
| safety, economy, and better looks than last | | | | The seats are relatively large. They also have |
| year's model. | | | | power lumbar support and elevate higher, |
| It looks more like the Maxima now. It's a couple | | | | something that most cars do nowadays, as |
| of inches shorter on the outside, but has more | | | | people need a better view of the road, with all |
| room on the inside, including a spacious trunk. | | | | the SUVs out there blocking visibility. |
| Fold-down rear seats allow the trunk to expand | | | | The suspension has been redesigned on the new |
| into the cabin for carrying big long things. | | | | rigid chassis, and it passed this difficult test with |
| The object of the redesign was to bring the feel | | | | flying colors. It's quite firm; there's no swaying in |
| and power of a luxury car to this everyman's | | | | the switchback turns, so the steering stays true. |
| midsize sedan, and Nissan has succeeded, at least | | | | And it wasn't harsh over the jagged parts of the |
| with the Altima model that has the V6 engine and | | | | road. It took some good punches from potholes, |
| all the options, including plush leather. | | | | without flinching. |
| There are still models with a four-cylinder engine, | | | | The electric power steering, speed-sensitive |
| which offer good power and get 26 city and 34 | | | | rack-and-pinion, works well, and because it uses |
| highway miles per gallon. | | | | less power than hydraulic, it improves gas mileage |
| Standard equipment on the 2.5 includes cloth | | | | by a touch. The Altima 3.5SL doesn't quite feel like |
| seats, 16-inch steel wheels, 60/40 split fold-down | | | | a sports sedan, but the handling is fairly nimble. |
| rear seats, power windows, power door locks, | | | | But the real engineering breakthrough might be |
| cruise control, halogen headlamps, electric power | | | | with the CVT, or continuously variable |
| steering, AM/FM/CD with four speakers, vehicle | | | | transmission. This is the fourth generation of this |
| information display, and intelligent key with | | | | transmission design, which doesn't have the |
| push-button starting. Air conditioning does not | | | | separate gears of a standard automatic |
| come standard. | | | | transmission, and Nissan has been a standout in |
| The 2.5S adds air conditioning, a six-speaker sound | | | | this technology. The Sentra's CVT, for example, |
| system, remote keyless entry, power sideview | | | | has just two ranges. But the CVT in the Altima |
| mirrors, and speed-sensitive intermittent wipers, | | | | has a manual mode, which, in effect, makes the |
| among other smaller things. | | | | transmission a six-speed. |
| The 2.5SL uses the continuously variable | | | | We love it because it's true to us. It's totally |
| transmission, and adds leather interior with heated | | | | responsive and obedient. It did things that the |
| front seats and power driver's seat, moonroof, | | | | manual mode in some expensive cars (Mercedes |
| alloy wheels, dual-zone temp controls and rear air | | | | and BMW, to name two) have apparently never |
| conditioning vents, among other smaller things. | | | | dreamed of. It listened to the driver. We |
| In redesigning the Altima, Nissan engineers were | | | | challenged it by upshifting all the way up to sixth |
| assigned to create more cabin space, and given | | | | gear at no more than 30 miles per hour, then |
| one inch less to work with, on account of the | | | | downshifting back down, and it made every shift |
| reduction in wheelbase. They met their goal by | | | | instead of ignoring them, unlikely as they would |
| stretching the distance between A-pillar and | | | | have been under regular driving conditions. |
| C-pillar, thus shortening the cowl and deck. There | | | | |