The midsize sedan segment is one of the hottest and most competitive segments there is. Cars in this segment are supposed to be practical, comfortable, efficient, and be able to tackle with the needs of a family, among other things. To cater to these demands and an ever-growing audience, Nissan finally introduced the Altima midsize sedan in 1992.
Since its birth in the early ‘90s, the Nissan Altima has continued to grow larger, become more comfortable, efficient, and is now more practical than ever. The new 2019 avatar of the Altima embodies all of these changes and is a hugely popular car in the region. It is not without competition though, and some of the chief players in this segment are the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Chevrolet Malibu, and Kia Optima.
Exterior
Over the years, the design of the Altima has evolved rapidly to keep up with its competition. The new 2019 Nissan Altima features a more fluid design with smooth, shapely contours and lines that emphasize the new car’s improved aerodynamic characteristics.
The front end gets the V-Motion grille which is now a trademark of modern Nissan cars. There’s also a deep-chin bumper that houses an air dam - the latter also getting integrated fog lamps. The low-set, sleek headlamps feature projectors, and sandwiched between the headlamps and the grille are some sharp-looking DRLs.
Along the sides, the flared front wheel arches and the smooth, tidy lines along with that low, squat stance gives this sedan a planted feel. There are dual exhaust pipes at the rear, along with semi-LED wrap-around taillamps and a thick chrome bar in between them. The new Altima comes in at 4.879 meters long, 1.830 meters wide, 1.473 meters in height, and has a wheelbase of 2.775 meters. Boot capacity is an impressive 517 liters, which is far more than its nearest rivals.
Interior
The interior of the new Nissan Altima has enough room for 5 occupants, and is a rather comfortable place to spend time in. However, it is not the most attractive of interiors and definitely lacks the visual drama found in some of its rivals. Despite that, this cabin surely scores points for its practicality, build quality, and seating comfort.
When it comes to special features or conveniences, the Altima isn’t the avant-garde in its segment by any measure. However, it does get dual-zone climate control, a chunky leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, keyless entry and push-button start with remote-start function, cruise control, power sunroof, leather seats with power operation for the driver, and a premium Bose sound system.
Other features include automatic headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, front and rear fog lamps, plus front and rear parking sensors with rearview camera. Safety gadgets include 6 airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, traction and vehicle stability control, ISOFIX points, and a tire pressure monitoring system.
Engine and performance
The new Nissan Altima is available with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, and a 3.5-liter V6 petrol engines. The former makes 182 HP with 244 Nm of torque, whilst the latter develops 270 HP and 340 Nm of torque. Irrespective of which engine you choose, the only transmission option available is a rubbery CVT.
The V6-powered Altima is capable of touching a top speed of 235 km/h, and can hit 100 km/h in about 6.3 seconds. Fuel economy rating is 6.3L/100 km and 8.0L/100 km for the four- and six-cylinder variants, respectively.
Verdict
The new Nissan Altima starts at AED 80,900 for the base version, and costs AED 109,200 for the full-option V6. Insurance premiums range between AED 1,820 to AED 2,457.
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