The battle for your hard-earned dollars in the midsize sedan category has just ramped up with the release of the 2013 Nissan Altima. The only features the completely redesigned (exterior and interior) four-door sedan shares with the previous car is the length of its wheelbase and the two existing engines.
The new Altima has a decidedly more upscale look - closer to the firm's flagship Maxima - without a bump in price. It's part of Nissan's strategy of offering consumers a premium feel on a modest budget.
Prices are about the same, and less in some cases, than last year - but with more standard features.
I drove an Altima 2.5 SL, the top-of-the line model with the 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine. A 3.5-litre V-6 engine is also available as an option.
The engine displacement is the same as last year, but the 2.5 four is now equipped with variable-valve timing for both the intake and exhaust, which increases horsepower to 182 (from 175 last year). Despite the increase in power, Nissan still claims class-leading fuel economy, with 5.0 litres per 100 km on the highway and 7.4 in the city.
The highway fuel economy is simply eye-popping - it's lower than for a Toyota Camry equipped with a hybrid drivetrain. Only a Volkswagen Jetta with a diesel engine is more thrifty, with a rating of 4.7.
By showing it can achieve better-than-hybrid economy without having to resort to costly gasolineelectric hybrid technology,
Nissan has quietly raised the bar in the mid-sized sedan market. Competitors will have to come up with their own magic under the hood if they want to keep up with Nissan.
Some credit needs to be given to Nissan's use of a CVT (continuously variable transmission) in the Altima. This type of transmission has proven to be the best for fuel economy because it allows an engine to run at its most efficient revolutions-per-minute range at various vehicle speeds. Nissan claims the CVT is responsible for 15 per cent better economy in the fourcylinder model.
It's the only transmission available in the Altima - the manual transmission is no longer offered.
While the transmission had a sport mode, there are no steering-wheel paddles with manual mode on 2.5-litre-equipped Altimas.
It comes standard on vehicles equipped with the 3.5-litre engine.
A manual mode on the transmission would have made it more sporty. On a CVT-equipped car, the transmission doesn't downshift as there are no gears.
A manual mode would give the driver a sensation of controlling the car's rpm, which is more entertaining for drivers with an enthusiast bent. With the manual mode, drivers can select between seven pre-programmed ratios that act like regular transmission gears.
That's too bad, because Nissan also tweaked the Altima's suspension and steering feel. Nobody is going to mistake this for a BMW, but the new Altima's handling has improved in the redesign.
People more interested in the interior won't be disappointed. Quality is evident with more soft-touch materials. People with ample girth will be happy to note the wide, supportive and comfortable eightway adjustable front seats. The SL comes with heated leather-trimmed seats.
Headroom is decent, even with the power sunroof in the SL package.
Other niceties in the SL package include xenon headlamps, a remote start for those winter days, a premium Bose sound system and - my personal favourite - a heated steering wheel.
The Altima comes with a seven-inch in-dash monitor that incorporates a back-up camera. An optional $1,100 Technology package adds niceties such as navigation, blind-spot, cross-traffic and lane departure warning systems.
Overall interior room is about the same as in the outgoing model. That means rear headroom is at a premium and legroom average - but not out of line compared to its competitors, which include the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and the Mazda 6.
Cargo volume is an ample 436 litres, but there is no grab handle for the trunk lid, a curious omission on a well-equipped vehicle.
A lighter body, more efficient engine and automatic transmission all help make the 2013 Altima tops in fuel efficiency in its class. Although the CVT probably won't set enthusiasts' hearts on fire, the refinements in the new Altima should merit a hard look by consumers choosing between contenders in the tightly contested midsize sedan category.
THE SPEC SHEET
Type: Midsize four-door sedan, front engine, front-wheel-drive
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder, 182 hp, 180 lb.-ft. of torque.
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Dimensions (mm): Length, 4,863; width, 1,830; height, 1,471; wheelbase, 2,775
Curb weight (kg): 1,451
Price (base/as tested) SL Package: $29,598/ $31,393 (includes $1,695 freight and $100 AC tax)
Options: None
Tires: 215/55 R 17 on alloy wheels
Fuel type: Regular
Fuel economy (L/100km): 7.4 city/ 5.0 highway
Warranty: Three years/60,000 km new car and roadside assistance, five years/100,000 km powertrain
