Innovative Style
Each year the automotive industry becomes more and more high-tech and the vehicles released reflect the manufacturers seeming obsession with gadgets and technological goodies to make our lives, as drivers and passengers, that much better, and easier. Well, the Altima is no exception; outfitted with an über-futuristic push start button that makes the driver feel as if they've stepped straight onto a set of The Jetsons - and that feel never gets old.
From the integrated dash monitor to the digital temperature read-outs and the rear-mounted reverse camera, this car seems to have it all. However, nature seemed to triumph over technology as the reverse camera was rendered quite useless in the rain; the screen showed a foggy, blurry incoherent image that distracted more than it aided in reversing.
Shift-shift-shift ... Power
At the top of its class, once again, Nissan's CVT proves why it's number one when asked to perform in the Altima. Equipped with a 3.5-litre DOHC 24-valve V6 and brand new Xtronic CVT, the 270 bhp and 258 lb-ft of torque are not lost on the fuel-efficient transmission. The 3.5 SE Altima's sport shift is smooth as butter, thanks to the CVT. Rev matches are perfect and the car glides through it's gears and gives significant power at precisely the right times.
The V6 engine also features an all new controller with adaptive logic; delivering the best shift pattern based on the driving environment and the driver's perceived intentions. And while this may not be noticeable to the average driver, this increased intuition makes sure the car is performing correctly at all times - uphill, downhill, sport, economy, sporty, rough terrain etc.
Handling on the Altima was superb. For a larger sedan, this car maneuvered like a hatch. Perhaps it's due to Nissan's new twin-orifice vehicle-speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion steering system - or maybe it's just that the new Altima's finally got some soul. However, there was also a significant amount of torque steer that made quick take-offs a bit unsteady.
Each year the automotive industry becomes more and more high-tech and the vehicles released reflect the manufacturers seeming obsession with gadgets and technological goodies to make our lives, as drivers and passengers, that much better, and easier. Well, the Altima is no exception; outfitted with an über-futuristic push start button that makes the driver feel as if they've stepped straight onto a set of The Jetsons - and that feel never gets old.
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| The Start-Stop button never gets old. |
From the integrated dash monitor to the digital temperature read-outs and the rear-mounted reverse camera, this car seems to have it all. However, nature seemed to triumph over technology as the reverse camera was rendered quite useless in the rain; the screen showed a foggy, blurry incoherent image that distracted more than it aided in reversing.
Shift-shift-shift ... Power
At the top of its class, once again, Nissan's CVT proves why it's number one when asked to perform in the Altima. Equipped with a 3.5-litre DOHC 24-valve V6 and brand new Xtronic CVT, the 270 bhp and 258 lb-ft of torque are not lost on the fuel-efficient transmission. The 3.5 SE Altima's sport shift is smooth as butter, thanks to the CVT. Rev matches are perfect and the car glides through it's gears and gives significant power at precisely the right times.
The V6 engine also features an all new controller with adaptive logic; delivering the best shift pattern based on the driving environment and the driver's perceived intentions. And while this may not be noticeable to the average driver, this increased intuition makes sure the car is performing correctly at all times - uphill, downhill, sport, economy, sporty, rough terrain etc.
Handling on the Altima was superb. For a larger sedan, this car maneuvered like a hatch. Perhaps it's due to Nissan's new twin-orifice vehicle-speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion steering system - or maybe it's just that the new Altima's finally got some soul. However, there was also a significant amount of torque steer that made quick take-offs a bit unsteady.
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| The Altima's reduced outer dimensions do not affect interior space. |