Big car, small heart.Nissan, not so long ago, was on the brink of extinction. Renault walked in and injected some much needed life, energy and money into Japan's second largest manufacturer. Since then, worldwide sales have increased dramatically. From the time Renault became a major shareholder in early 1999, Nissan has redesigned its entire fleet as well as introducing 10 all-new models. The Altima was not much more than a reliable people mover until 2002 when it was decided that Nissan wanted to become competitive in one of the market's largest segments: midsize sedans. It was not long after that, that Nissan made its presence felt: the demand became huge and dealers had a hard time keeping stock. This time around, an automatic 2.5S with the Extra Package is what I tested and it retails for 25 298$. The complete range for Altimas is between 23 798 and 37 098$.
Exterior stylingThe Altima's lines are one of the two reasons why this car has sold so wel
l since its complete reform. The previous generation of the Altima was a bland yet trouble free daily driver. The present version has long fluid curves accented by muscular fenders. The array of available wheels, spoilers and dual exhaust gives this big sedan a sporty edge. The new for 2005 smoked headlights and redesigned front grille are a couple of good indicators that Nissan wants to keep the car fresh and interesting. The SE-R ensemble includes a series of visual cues that include 18" wheels, different larger front and rear bumpers and special colors. The paint application on the tested 2.5S is properly done and panel fit and assembly illicits no negative comments.
Interior stylingThe interior volume is spectacular; larger than a Honda Accord. The rear seats seem like they are a mile away when I looked back in parking manoeuvres. Front headroom without the sunroof is quite good as is the back seat. The front seats are comfortable, more supportive and less awkward when compared to for example the X-Trail or Maxima. The front seat cushion could perhaps be a little longer but it is not a major issue. Front and rear legroom is less of a concern than what Paul Martin had for breakfast this morning.
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The revised dash is clearly inspired by the one found in the present-day Maxima. It has a groove that follows the bottom of the windshield from driver to passenger side; it makes it look like it could be detachable. It is an elegant improvement over the previous one: it makes better use of space and the ergonomics are improved. A detail that I very much like is the many multiple positions for both the fan speeds and the heater. Although I did not count the number of positions, there must have been at least a dozen if not more. One could not ask for more choice. The chrome-rimmed gauges are very nice to look at but they reflect light. I sometimes thought that a warning light had come on while driving. On the down side, interior plastics remain cheap. The assembly process in general seems superior but there is definite room for improvement - it is still nowhere near the likes of an Accord. Lastly, a few rattles could be heard while driving over mildly bumpy roads.
