The most popular car in the Nissan portfolio at least in terms of sales figures, the Altima sedan continues to receive raves from buyers and critics alike. Seventeen years into its lifespan, the car has grown in size and power and offers options for most every buyer.
Nissan bills the latest Altima – refreshed for 2010 but initially introduced back in 2007 – as a sporty offering in the midsize sedan market, especially the range-topping 3.5 SR. Does it love up to those expectations? Let’s have a look.
What is it?
A five-seater sedan, the 3.5 SR is the flagship for the Altima line which now includes a two-door coupe and four-door, five-seat hybrid model.
Back in 1993, the Altima replaced Nissan’s Stanza as its midsize offering aimed directly at the United States and Canada. Like the rest of the segment, it has grown quite a bit since then, but it continues to be hugely popular with buyers across North America.
What’s it up against?
As a sportier offering, the Altima squares off against the Honda Accord sedan, Mazda Mazda6 , Suzuki Kizashi and Ford Fusion , although many buyer are also likely to cross shop the Toyota Camry and Chevrolet Malibu .
Any breakthroughs?
Not really anything we haven’t seen before but the truth is the Altima Sedan 3.5 SR is a well-packaged, well-priced sedan that shows the venerable Japanese firm in fine form for stabs at the competition.
For 2010, it gains some subtle new styling cues and an upgraded audio system.
How does it look?
A contemporary new look with bold creases and side strakes gives the Altima a more styled look than its often conservative competition. Our press unit was equipped with the SR Premium package and Altima Sport Package, which includes a rear spoiler, HID headlamps, fog lamps, and sliding moonroof.
Setting off the front is the traditional Nissan winged grille with large lighting lenses flanking on either side. A large arch joins the long hood and short rear overhang together over the greenhouse, which is a design cue we are seeing more and more. Not just a designer’s impact statement, it helps to make the interior larger from within. Subtle chrome trim surrounds the cabin windows while the spoiler and taillamps tie up the rear into a nicely appearing package.
You’ll have to be a real Altima nerd to pick apart the changes for 2010; look closely and you’ll see a new grille and a few other tweaks.
And on the inside?
Equipped with the 3.5 SR Premium Package, our Altima betters the standard model by adding leather seats and shift knob, a driver’s power lumbar support, heated front seats, Bluetooth hands free phone system, a Bose audio system with 9 speakers, a USB port with iPod connectivity, and a 4.3-inch display with rearview monitor. In the grand scheme of things it is just a touch conservative when compared to its competition. It uses top-shelf materials and manages to hit all the correct marks, it just does it in a rather buttoned down way.
We found the front seats to be a tad soft and unsupportive, but at least the rear offered good room for three reasonably-sized adults.
A leather-wrapped steering wheel and wood-tone finishers (silver trim comes with the available black interior) dress up the interior to a level that is quite refined. The NVH engineers have been working overtime and have managed to bring the sound intrusion from the outside of the car down to negligible levels. The exception to this would be when a driver tries to coax as much power as possible from the CVT transmission, whose whine will sometime become noticeable.
Trunk cargo space is up to 15.3 cubic feet.
But does it go?
With a change in model year comes a change in vehicle designation. Previously known to all as the Altima 3.5 SE, it is now know as the Altima 3.5 SR. With that SR comes a 270-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine, versions of which can be found throughout the Nissan and Infiniti lines. Using CVTC, Nissan’s name for its variable valve timing protocol, it’s good for 258 lb-ft. of torque. This is a tried and true engine that is tuned to provide a throaty growl when you put your foot into it.
Mated to a six-speed continuously variable Xtronic transmission (a CVT to most of us), it doesn’t change gears as much as wind up through them. The better to save fuel, you see. For those of the row it yourself persuasion, you can move the shift lever to a side gate and throw it up or down. Using a high-speed CPU with 700 different shift algorithms stored to perform quicker shifts, it adapts to driving conditions ranging from up and downhill cruising, and from economy, all the way to sport mode.
The suspension parts are actually sporty, too, for what is normally considered a family sedan. Using aluminum parts for weight savings, the front-end kit is hung off the subframe, while an X-type cowl helps add rigidity. With a low fixed position for the engine, and through the use of equal angle halfshafts, the setup almost eliminates torque steer under heavy acceleration.
The rear end is comprised of a multi-link system with separate shocks and springs mounted inline with the center of the rear wheels. A larger than standard stabilizer bar and retuned spring rates and damping give a completely different feel over the suspension found in the four-cylinder model. That you get 17-inch wheels and tires is the bonus. Steering is through a speed-sensitive power assisted rack and pinion setup. In anticipation of a federal requirement, stability control is now standard through the model line.
It had been a while since we were last in an Altima sedan, and the last one was a four-banger at that. So we were totally moved by the oomph shown from the 3.5-liter V6. Literally. The SR was eager off the line and unlike its conservative outward appearance, actually had a sense of playfulness that we really enjoyed. The tuned suspension displayed a defined tightness that helped to keep cornering relatively flat without forgetting that first and foremost it is a family sedan and not a boy racer. Still, it was a ride that was more engaging than those seen in the Altima’s closest competitors.
Why you would buy it:
Your wallet is not 3-Series thick, but you’d still hope for an engaging morning commute.
Why you wouldn’t:
It’s too edgy. Make yours an Accord.
Leftlane’s bottom line:
Nissan’s Altima 3.5 SR sedan offers a fun to drive experience that many of its Japanese rivals can only wish for. While we’re not entirely fans of a CVT, we found the Altima’s to be one of the more livable examples currently produced. With all the proper accoutrements ticked on the order sheet, a buyer could outfit his SR with all the high-end goodies and still have a few bucks left over.
Words and photos by Mark Elias.
2010 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR Sedan sedan base price, $24,520. As tested, $30,165.
Premium Package, $2,380; Sport Package, $2,370; Floor mats, $175; Destination, $720.
Second opinion
A bit long in the tooth, the Altima still offers a classy interior with lots of space and decent power – if you really stab at the throttle – for not much coin. It starts to show its age over freeway expansion joints that reveal a less-than-rock-solid structure, as well as in its somewhat unsettled ride. At least its 2010 update gave it a full-feature audio head unit – a nice touch. Although the Altima is more fun than many of its rivals, it just doesn’t quite offer the family sedan thrills of a Kizashi or a Mazda 6.
- Andrew Ganz
