A recent trip to the beach gave me the opportunity to take something new out and get a feel for what’s currently on today’s market. The Nissan Altima has come a long way since its release in 1993 and the fifth edition is a fabulous all around car.
For starters, it’s very useable in size. The interior is spacious both front and rear, seating and steering are adjustable and the gauges offer an easy to read layout. Nissan’s “Advanced Drive-Assist” is easy to use and located in the center of the gauge cluster. The sound system is of quality and of course as most new cars do, the steering wheel includes a variety of controls including radio control, Bluetooth, and more. The only interior complaint I can even come up with is taller back seat passengers may have a little less head room than ideal but other than that, it gets two thumbs up in my book.
Looking at the exterior of the car Nissan has done well. There are aggressive angles all around, this is an exciting car to look at that stands out.
The driving experience is where the Altima really shines. First off, the miles per gallon on our 2.5 S was outstanding as we averaged around 34mpg (Nissan claims 27 city/38 highway) on our trip and I didn’t drive like a grandmother either. The engine is a 182hp 2.5 liter mated to an “Xtronic” CVT transmission. If that sounds new to you, in simple terms, CVT transmissions don’t have a set number of ratios for gearing in the transmission, so you get a ride that simply never shifts providing smooth acceleration.
The CVT transmission works perfectly in the Altima and I’ll tell you why. Other cars in this class and lower end automatic transmissions are a headache. Driving through Georgia back roads, going up and down hills with an automatic, is about as annoying as trying to find a radio station that isn’t country. You get continuous downshifts and up shifts while the car is literally yelling “I have no clue what I’m doing!” With the Altima’s CVT transmission all of that is gone. The car effortlessly climbs hills and manages elevation without seeming like a confused snail.
The overall driving experience is wonderful, in fact, many times I complained that the car was too boring. Sixty miles per hour felt like ten and road noise was practically non-existent. The ride is smooth and handling is sharp and quick. The car itself is not fast, but with the CVT and a decently peppy engine the Altima can pick up and go when needed. The brakes on the Nissan are wonderful and the ABS system works extremely well.
Nissan has a great car here, the 2013 Nissan Altima gets two thumbs up from me and shows you can still buy quality on a budget. The 2013 Altima starts at just $22,860 which isn’t bad considering the machinery you get. If you’re in the market for a new sedan and you’re on a budget, test drive the new Altima today and see what it’s all about.
