Nissan Altima 2013 Review - International

Nissan’s Altima has been a staple in markets such as North America and the Middle East, but the company’s Australian subsidiary has thus far not opted to offer the model. However, that’s all about to change, as the midsizer arrives in our market from the second half of next year. Not least of all as the model that will spearhead the brand’s highly publicised return to V8 Supercar racing.

Altima is a ubiquitous vehicle in North America and the Middle East, notching up 560,000 sales annually, making it the company’s best-selling model globally. Essentially a continuation of the Bluebird sedan offered here in the 1990s, the Altima is now in its fifth generation, with the latest variant wearing the designation L33.

As is the norm with most contenders in this segment, generational changes are more a case of steady evolution than wholesale revolution. So it is with the latest Altima, which builds on the core strengths of its predecessor.

Although Nissan Australian spokesman, Peter Fadeyev, would not confirm the local specification or engine offering, in the Middle East and North America Altima is sold with a choice of 2.5-litre four-cylinder and 3.5-litre V6 engines, hooked up to CVTs (continuously variable transmission).

Having driven the Altima’s direct predecessor, it’s clear the biggest gains the new L33 model makes are in the areas of cabin comfort and quality, and in the smoothness and efficiency of its CVT. It also makes a visual leap with styling that brings it in line with its Sunny and Maxima siblings.

The entry-level 2.5-litre engine is largely a carryover unit, but the latest version gains a new intake system and variable valve timing on both exhaust and intake camshafts, boosting power from 131 to 136kW. Torque is unchanged at 244Nm.

The new engine is also 5kg lighter, reducing the amount of weight hanging over the front axle, which brings some ride/handling benefits. Overall vehicle weight has also been reduced by 35kg, bucking the trend of cars getting heavier with each successive generation.

Nissan claims 70 per of the CVT’s internals have been redesigned for the latest version.

CVTs are designed to seamlessly alter the drive ratio to keep the engine in the fattest part of the torque band, but the downside to this is that the constant engine revs result in a monotonous drone that gets annoying after a while. The good news is that the new Altima doesn’t serve up a grating drone. Yes, some CVT characteristics are evident, but you can feel some virtual 'steps' that mimic a conventional automatic when accelerating or decelerating for a corner.

Even in four-cylinder form, the Altima effortlessly makes its way to 140km/h (a common highway velocity in the Middle East) and cruises at this speed in impressive silence. As an added bonus, Nissan claims the revised powertrain offers 15 per cent better fuel economy than the outgoing model.

The 201kW/350Nm 3.5-litre V6 offers appreciably more punch than the four-pot, but the trade-off is in surprisingly wallowy handling. This is presumably the result of its extra weight over the front axle, as well as the car’s typically American-focused marshmallow damper settings. We expect Australian-spec cars to be more firmly suspended.

The V6 model also serves up alarming amounts of understeer if you pitch it into a corner with even moderate entry speed. In contrast, the four-cylinder feels a lot crisper in its responses, even though it’s still well adrift of the Ford Mondeo and Mazda6 in the grip and handling departments.

Where the Altima scores over most of the opposition is in its excellent comfort and refinement levels, which arguably will be more far important criteria for the car’s target market.

It’s also got a much more upmarket cabin than the Camry, Accord, Sonata et al, with good quality trim used throughout and an Infiniti-esque theme to the layout.

The V6 model also scores the same paddle shifters found in various Infiniti models.

Undoubtedly the best aspect of the interior is the ‘Zero Gravity’ front seats, designed with the aid of NASA to provide a "neutral posture". Nissan describes this as: “a relaxed position that the human body takes in a weightless environment”.

It all sounds a bit gimmicky, but I can’t think of any car I’ve sat in with more comfortable pews than the Altima. In fact, I wouldn’t mind having one in front of my television in the living room.

Other notable features for a car in this market segment (albeit only in the up-spec models) include a rear-view camera, Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Moving Object Detection (MOD). The last system warns the driver of objects behind the car when reversing.

Also offered in the premium models are a satnav system with seven-inch screen and nine-speaker BOSE sound system.

Australian specs and pricing will, of course, only be known closer to the mid-2013 loacl launch. For the moment, we can report that in the Middle East the Altima undercuts the Camry and Accord, making it a strong value proposition -- although the Sonata and Kia Optima are even cheaper.

The Altima’s formulaic exterior styling appears a mishmash of Maxima, Accord, Sonata and Camry design elements, and it certainly lacks the panache of the Peter Schreyer-penned Optima. However, in terms of its comfort, refinement, quality cabin ambience and safety-feature quota, the new Nissan is as good as anything else in its segment…

Even if Altima's not the sportiest drive among the midsizers, we can see it quickly attracting a following.

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