Solid And Sensible: The 2016 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL

The 2016 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL

There are a lot of choices in the midsize family sedan segment.  The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord get most of the attention.  The Ford Fusion is a contender, as well.  But there's one that's in that same class, with enviable sales figures, that just goes about its business without a lot of publicity, and that is the Nissan Altima.

Shifting Into Second: The 2016 Nissan Altima 2.5 SR

The 2016 Nissan Altima 2.5 SR.

The Nissan Altima was the third-best selling mid-size sedan in America in calendar year 2015, behind Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.  But for the first two months of 2016, it's been in second place, outselling the Accord.

That might have something to do with the significantly refreshed 2016 model, which improves on what was already a very good car.

How The 2014 Nissan Altima 3.5 SL Makes Family Sedan Buying Hard

Yes, you will actually want to drive the 2014 Nissan Altima 3.5 SL on roads like this.

Attention new car shoppers....especially mid-size family sedan shoppers.

Do you know how good you have it?

Do you have any idea?

Five years ago this was one of the most bland and boring segments in the industry.  Camry, Accord, Malibu, Fusion, Altima, Mazda 6...some were better than others, but none were inspiring, none were aspirational.
But now, every one of those cars has been re-designed and choosing has become very hard.

In January, we drove the 2.5-liter four-cylinder version of the 2013 Altima...and it landed immediately on TireKicker's Best Cars (see the list in the right-hand column).  In June, the 2013 Honda Accord Touring landed one notch ahead of it. Not really a fair fight, given that the Accord had the V6 (enthusiasts should note that the 2014 Mazda 6, with almost 100 horsepower less and a four-cylinder engine, landed squarely at #5...several slots ahead of both the Altima and Accord).

New Car Review: 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL



The 2013 Nissan Altima.

This is, by all accounts, a watershed year for the family sedan. There's a new Ford Fusion, a new Chevy Malibu, a new Honda Accord, and a new Mazda 6.

Haven't driven any of them yet (Malibu and Accord are due at TireKicker World Headquarters soon).

Sure hope they brought their A game, though. Because there's also a new Nissan Altima. And.......damn (let Will Smith sue).

Now, regular TireKicker readers will recall that we've always thought the Altima was a better car than its sales figures (which aren't bad) indicated.

But this.....

2011 Nissan Altima Review

The 2011 Nissan Altima. Sleek styling that's aging well.

Popular misconception about automotive journalists: We're spoiled by high-end cars. Thinking about it, that might be true about some automotive journalists, but never us. The joy isn't about the price tag, the top speed or the 0-60 time, it's about how well the car does what it was intended to.

And that's why we love the Nissan Altima. This has become the sleeper...the car that is everywhere but no one really notices...until you get back behind the wheel again.

Nearly three years ago, shortly after the launch of TireKicker, we drove the Altima Hybrid...the first hybrid to under-promise and over-deliver in terms of mileage, and do it at about the same price as smaller gas/electric machines.

On the heels of that review, we spent a week in the Nissan Altima 2.5 S...and found that was a terrific family car, too...minus the complexity of the hybrid (which Nissan keeps to a minimum anyway) and at a more reasonable price.

The 2011 Nissan Sentra's slippery shape no doubt helps gas mileage.

So what's changed in two and a half years? Well, there's been a styling refresh, the engine is up by five horsepower (to 175), it feels a bit smoother and sounds a bit quieter than the '09...and Nissan's done a terrific job of holding the line on price, which is up only $520 in two years, to a still reasonable MSRP of $22,060.

Nissan's press fleet folks added the 2.5 S Premium Audio Package (Bose Audio system with 9 speakers, a 4.3" display, rear camera, Bluetooth, USB and SiriusXM) for $1,240, The Convenience Package (8-way power driver's seat, 16-inch alloy wheels to replace the stock steel sixteens, auto on/off headlights, dual illuminated vanity mirror, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and steering wheel-mounted audio controls) for $1,150, the Convenience Plus Package (yes, really...that adds a power moonroof with sunshade, dual zone automatic climate control and manual folding sideview mirrors with integrated turn signals) which was also $1,150.

$175 for floor and trunk mats and $135 for splash guards brought the bottom line to a still-quite-reasonable $26,660 with delivery charges.

The all-business cabin of the 2011 Nissan Altima.

The Altima is one of those cars that becomes your faithful travelling companion...over time you find it just plain fits...there's nothing that it does poorly or even so-so. 23 miles per gallon in the city, 32 in the highway doesn't strain the relationship either.

The midsize family sedan field is a crowded one. But a car this good for between $22,000 and $26,000, with that kind of mileage makes this not just a must for a test-drive, but a reason to start your short list of finalists in advance.

Nissan Altima 2.5 S Review

Tempted by the Nissan Altima Hybrid (as I was), but looking to skip the tech and save a few bucks?

Well, the Altima 2.5 S is one heck of a deal. All the Altima goodness that I've been telling you about in both the Hybrid and Coupe models, but with a 2.5 liter 16-valve four-cylinder under the hood. 170 horsepower routed through a continuously variable transmission. Way beyond adequate performance and amenities and some seriously stingy results in terms of mileage. The EPA says 23 city/31 highway, just missing TireKicker's Top Ten Fuel Savers...and we saw a real-world combined 27 miles per gallon in our week with the car.

And the price is right...base $21,540...loading it up with luxuries like leather, a moonroof, Bluetooth and an upgraded Bose audio system still only pushed the bottom line to a very reasonable $25,800.

With Accord, Malibu and Fusion in the mix, there are a lot of strong family sedans to choose from...the Altima belongs on absolutely everyone's list.

Nissan Altima Coupe 3.5 SE Review

Always admired the rakish good looks of the Infiniti G37 Coupe but wished the price were a little lower?

Nissan's been listening. The Nissan Altima Coupe has a lot of the same attitude and style for a chunk less change. Yes, you give up 60 horsepower, but only 12 pounds per feet of torque, so the off-the-line thrills are in the ballpark. And let's be honest...270 horsepower in a car this size is nothing to sneeze at. And there's a bunch of good stuff in the SE trim level...18 inch alumnium wheels, 8-way power driver's seat, a power moonroof, an AM/FM/CD audio system with six speakers and a bunch more for a starting price of $26,390...nine grand less than the Infiniti G Coupe.

In fact, the Altima Coupe SE is so complete the one I tested had only two options...floor and trunk mats ($175) and Vehicle Dynamic Control ($600). Total price, including destination charges, $27,780. Not too shabby. Mileage is decent, too...EPA says 19 city, 26 highway. Very much worth a look and a test drive.

Nissan Altima Hybrid Review

In the past decade or so, I've probably driven 20 or more hybrids...ten of them Toyota Priuses. But the Nissan Altima Hybrid is the only one where someone stopped me...in traffic...wanting to talk about it.

We were at a stoplight and he and his wife motioned furiously for me to roll down the window. I thought maybe I had a flat...or a fire. Nope. They noticed the rather discreet "hybrid" badge on the trunk. It was a short red light, so a short conversation.

Until the next red light...when he had more questions. It took two more stoplights (by then I'd just left the window down) for him to get to the big question:

"What kinda mileage you getting?"

I blew his mind. I told him the truth. 35 in the city.

I think he may have driven straight to the nearest Nissan dealer. If I were in the market, I might do the same thing. The Altima Hybrid is the lowest-hype, least-gimmicky hybrid out there. If there wasn't a badge on the trunk and a discreet energy management display, you'd think you were driving a regular Altima sedan.

The window sticker showed an EPA estimated 35 city/33 highway. So I figured I might get 30 or 32 if I babied it. And then, because the car is so...normal...I drove it like any other car (yes, I play a Prius like a video game, trying to squeeze the mpg number ever higher).

Son of a gun. It got 35. And I wasn't being careful.

For most people, an Altima is about the right size for a sedan...so the hybrid option makes a ton of sense...improving the gasoline version's mileage by 35%...and at a reasonable price.

The sticker starts at $25,070. Loaded with leather, heated power seats, Bluetooth, A Bose 9-speaker AM/FM/XM/6-CD/mp3 audio system, rear passenger air conditioning vents and more, the bottom line was $30,375.

Yes, it's more expensive than the gasoline version comparably equipped...but not a lot more. And it's in line with prices for a well-equipped sedan. And you can spend that much on a loaded Prius, which is a much smaller car. Nissan's hit a serious bulls-eye here. Let's hope people (like that guy in traffic) notice.