The Nissan Altima is a mid-size vehicle produced by Nissan, plus is a continuation of the Nissan Bluebird line, that started inside 1957.It has historically been heavier, more effective, plus more luxurious than the Nissan Sentra nevertheless less thus
The Nissan Altima is a mid-size vehicle produced by Nissan, plus is a continuation of the Nissan Bluebird line, that started inside 1957. The Altima basically competes inside the mainstream mid-size sedan class inside the United States against its key rivals, the Toyota Camry plus Honda Accord, managing with become the 2nd best-selling auto inside the United States inside 2011.
It has historically been heavier, more effective, plus more luxurious than the Nissan Sentra nevertheless less thus than the Nissan Maxima. The Altima is only produced inside the United States plus officially available inside North plus South America, together with the Middle East. For additional markets, Nissan sells a connected mid-size sedan called the Nissan Teana which slots involving the Altima plus Maxima inside terms of sizing.
The name "Altima" initially referred with a trim line of the Nissan Laurel mid-size vehicle available inside Central America as well as the Caribbean before 1992. In 1993, Nissan discontinued its much-criticized Stanza, substituting it with all the US-made Altima, when remaining a compact auto. The first Altima rolled off the assembly line about June 15, 1992, because a 1993 model. All Altimas had been integrated Smyrna, Tennessee, till June 2004, whenever Nissan's Canton, Mississippi, plant started producing extra Altimas to satisfy excellent need.
Like the Stanza before it, the authentic Altima was based found on the Nissan Bluebird SSS, though its authentic styling hailed from Nissan's California shape studio inside 1989. Initially, the car's official name was "Stanza Altima," that appears found on the early owners manuals. 1993 models is watched with a sticker reading "Stanza" inside tiny lettering with the left of the ALTIMA emblem found on the torso lid.
All Altima models utilized Nissan's 150 hp KA24DE straight-4 DOHC engine mated with a 5-speed guide or 4-speed automatic with automatic plus 8.4 with manual). Suspension was composed of struts with stabilizer bars at both ends plus was noted for providing stylish, pleasing handling; all wheels were 15-inches. Being among the bigger compact vehicles, the Altima can seat 4 adults very well, though its body was too narrow for five. Trim lines consisted of the stripped XE, mid-line GXE, stylish SE, plus deluxe GLE. Many choices included a gold emblem package, molded mud guards, along with a pin stripe. All models had tiny cup holders beneath the radio along with a little glovebox that were improved inside the 1998 redesign.
The base XE had manual windows. The mid-line GXE had force windows, a energy retracting antenna, pass thru back armrest, digital clock inside dash, plus color paired plastic speaker grilles for the back 6-inch speakers. The XE plus GXE models just had the fixed intermittent wiper switch.
Additionally with the GXE attributes, the SE had a stiffer suspension, fog lights, 3 leg mount back spoiler, side skirts, plus sport seats. It also had 4-wheel disk brakes, that came found on the different trim lines whenever antilock brakes were ordered.
The GLE's enhancements included a digital head-up show, that shown speed inside mph or km/h, turn signals, plus many caution lights about a distinctive mirrored patch prepared into the windshield. The 1989 with 1994 Maxima plus 240SX had synonymous development nevertheless just showed speed. Other qualities included a coin holder built into the fuse panel cover, adjustable lumbar help found on the front seats, automatic digital climate control, keyless entry with alert, floor mats, color paired side mirrors, cornering lights, sunroof, along with a higher-powered six-speaker cassette/CD stereo that included 6X9 back speakers with black metal "active speaker" grilles, metal color paired "active speaker" grilles for the front door speakers, along with a pair of A pillar tweeters all driven by 2 factory amps installed under the back deck. For 1997 it gave up the above inside exchange for standard leather. All SE plus GLE models had alloy wheels plus varying intermittent wipers.
1993 Altimas came with a rosewood colored dash trim plus just had a driver's side airbag combined with automatic shoulder belts. The 1994 Altima gained a darker burl lumber dash trim, a flush mount passenger airbag plus normal seatbelts. 1993 plus 1994 models came with chrome interior door handles standard with an car door lock/unlock feature found on the passenger side. In 1995, the internal door handles were changed with color paired plastic, along with a connect changed where the passenger car door lock/unlock feature was. 1993 plus 1994 models equally had a thin 1 1⁄2 armrest lid, nonetheless, when an optional leather armrest was chosen, it brought the height about regarding four.5 inches. In 1995, all armrest lids were wider plus regarding four.5 inches tall. 1995 additionally brought a modern venetian blind-like grille, new taillights, along with a brand-new 2 leg mount spoiler with a red LED brake light for the SE. Other changes included the reduction of the back speaker grilles for a flat back deck, a cheaper cloth inside, a raised mount passenger airbag, a plastic cover changing the back ashtray, as well as the digital inside dash clock was today optional. 1996 brought brand-new wheel covers for base models. In 1997 the GXE gained a brand-new "Limited Edition" package including alloy wheels, keyless entry, alert, floor mats, along with a Limited Edition sticker about every side close to the front wheels. The most of final-year Altima models were dubbed "1997.5" models, signifying the added crash security required to satisfy 1997 side-impact specifications.
The 2nd generation was an American market-only adaptation, again styled by Nissan's California shape center inside 1995. A new interior brought a revised glovebox plus cup holders, a folding back seat, plus depowered airbags. The Japanese Domestic Markets Nissan Bluebird U14 has different front plus back ends.
While total amount stayed identical at 108 cubic feet, many felt it was distributed greater plus lead to a somewhat roomier-feeling cabin. On the drawback, numerous were allow down by the modern model's plainer styling plus cheapened interior; certain furthermore felt the fuel pedal was today too lightly sprung.
Trim lines were the stripped XE, volume-selling GXE, stylish SE, plus luxury-trimmed GLE. The SE is recognized by its body-color grille, fog lights, back spoiler, alloy wheels, plus white-faced gauges. In this generation of Altima, all GLEs had leather seats standard.
20002001 Nissan Altima SE
For 1999 the uplevel cassette/CD stereo got a modern faceplate, GXE plus SE models gained varying intermittent wipers, plus GLEs gained standard alloy wheels.
The most of changes came for the 2000 model year. The engine improved inside energy from 150 with 155 hp with 4 technique sparks, whilst it furthermore improved the 0-60 mph time from 8.7 with 8.4 seconds. Gearing plus final drive ratios were shortened about both transmissions, stabilizer bars were thickened, as well as the steering was firmed up. SE plus GLE models moreover upgraded with 16-inch wheels with lower-profile wheels, brand-new Monroe struts with "acceleration-sensitive strut valving", along with a front strut tower brace for sportier handling. The Altima grew somewhat longer plus got a deeper front grille, one-piece headlamps with turn data, all-red taillights, plus plastic trim found on the decklid. Inside were new front seats with a driver's height adjuster, cup holders for the back seat, revised seat fabric, a brand-new instrument panel with digital odometers, a modern back window antenna, as well as the keyless entry fob today included a torso launch. Side airbags were newly standard about GLE plus accessible about GXE plus SE. For 2001, the Altima GXE again gained a Limited Edition package: energy driver's seat, keyless entry with alert, plus floor mats.
The third-generation Altima debuted for the 2002 model year. It was the initially mass-market product built about Nissan's unique FF-L platform, that was distinctive with North America plus had no similar model inside Japan. The Asian Nissan Teana is synonymous nevertheless not very identical, slotting involving the Altima plus Maxima inside size; all 3 model lines shared the same platform. The Altima grew tremendously for this generation, because inside amount extended with 118.8 cubic feet. The Altima's inside dimensions even surpassed which of the higher-end 2000-03 Maxima, thus the 2004 Maxima was moved more upscale into the full-size bracket. Additionally largest inside class was the Altima's 20 US gal gas tank. Additionally, the Altima upgraded its back suspension with a multi-link sort as well as its brakes with 4-wheel discs. This was the initial generation to provide a V6 engine.
20032004 models received 2 tone dash color, as well as the 3.5 SE received an upgrade inside horsepower, from 240 hp with 245 hp, though torque stayed the same at 246 pound-feet. 20022004 models with guide gearbox were the lightest of the V6 vehicles. The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine introduced the sedan from 0-60 mph inside only 8.6 seconds, over competitive to people inside its class.
20052006 Altima 2.5S
20052006 Altima SE-R
For 2005 the Altima received a facelift, including a hot front grille, all-red taillights, redesigned inside, plus an optional DVD-based navigation program. The V6 was today rated at 250 hp with torque rated at 249 pound-feet, plus proven 0-60 mph amount of time in merely 6.2 seconds using the 5-speed automatic transmission. Additionally modern was the SE-R model with a 260 hp plus 251 lb·ft of torque adaptation of the V6, a 6-speed guide transmission, upgraded brakes, 18-inch wheels, a suspension even stiffer than which of the 3.5 SE's, along with a high-flow exhaust. Topspeed.com tested the SE-R causing 0-60 mph inside 6.0 seconds.
Reception
The third-generation Altima was perfectly received by the hit, with numerous critics praising the unique design plus additional room, being the most effective plus best-handling family sedans accessible. As the Altima available the performance plus area of the upper-market Maxima inside a cheaper automobile, this greatly reduced Maxima sales however created Nissan competitive inside the mid-size segment for the very first time. While past iterations received good reports, the third-generation Altima was the initial with enjoy considerable achievement, plus it was credited with a turnaround of Nissan's surgery from debt-ridden with amidst the industry's many successful.
Many of the criticism focused found on the interior found inside the 2002-2004 models, that was mentioned for utilizing difficult plus brittle plastics. Many additionally found the steering too light plus or abrupt, as well as the turning round too broad due with its elongated wheelbase. The 2002 had main oil issues plus several dissatisfied owners had with substitute motors. A 6-speed guide is standard, along with a constantly varying transmission changed the conventional automatic because the optional transmission.
The 2007 Altima sports certain more latest innovations inside the marketplace, including, yet not limited with, a standard Smart Key, Bluetooth capability for mobile phones, along with a parking camera. The dashboard has heavier buttons for convenient readability along with a total of 9 cup holders, 3 hidden below the center system, 2 inside the back armrest, plus 1 20-ounce cup holder inside every door. Many hidden compartments have been added plus doubling the glove compartment area with 0.46 cubic feet. For 2008, all Altima models received ABS with electronic brake-force distribution.
Consumerguide.com tested the inline four-cylinder Altima 2.5S w/ CVT with go from 0-60 mph inside 8.5 seconds; the 6-cylinder 3.5 SE model w/ 6-speed guide conducted 0-60 mph inside 5.9 seconds based on the Long Term Road Test by Road plus Track.
There has been speculation which the Altima might shortly substitute the Primera because Nissan's European rival inside the big family vehicle marketplace which is dominated by models including the Ford Mondeo plus Peugeot 407. Nissan has yet with confirm whether this may arise. The Primera remains created at the Sunderland plant inside England, though UK sales ceased inside late 2006 plus an NMUK spokesman warned which its direct successor may not be available inside the UK due with the aged model's fall inside recognition throughout the final year or 2 of its lifetime.