Nissan
2010 Nissan Altima Sedan 2.5
What it Is: A five-passenger four-door sedan.
Who it's For: Families who need no more than two LATCH points.
What's Hot: Fuel economy, good price, plenty of space.
What's Not: Continuously variable transmission is a little odd.
How It Got Its Score: The Altima gets good fuel economy, doesn't cost much and has plenty of passenger and cargo space, making it very competitive with Toyota and others.
The Nissan Altima is one of the benchmarks of the midsize sedan class for many reasons. It offers good fuel economy, has plenty of room, and doesn't cost much. Trunk space is generous, even compared to some full-size competitors, such as the Honda Accord. The only drawback to the Altima -- if you can even call it that -- is Nissan's use of a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). It's not that reliability or fuel economy are problematic, but the way the transmission works can take some getting used to. For example, while a standard automatic will noticeably shift gears under acceleration -- with a corresponding rise and fall in the engine speed -- a CVT stays at the same engine speed until you lift off the accelerator, a behavior that some drivers simply don't like. We think it's easy to overlook, however, and the Altima's other qualities mean it should definitely be on test drive lists.
Specifications
Price |
|
| MSRP |
$19,900 |
| Destination |
$720 |
| |
| |
| |
|
Other Models (Base Price) |
2.5S ($22,560) |
Mechanical
Engine Size |
2.5 liters |
|
Engine Type |
Inline-4 |
|
Horsepower |
175 hp |
|
Torque |
180 lb.-ft. |
|
Fuel |
Regular Unleaded |
|
Drivetrain |
Front Wheel Drive |
|
Transmission |
Continuously Variable |
Fuel Economy
EPA City |
23 mpg |
|
EPA Highway |
32 mpg |
|
EPA Combined |
27 mpg |
Utility
Vehicle Type |
Midsize Car |
|
Family Friendliness |
8.1 |
|
Doors |
Four |
|
Seat Rows |
Two |
|
Passengers |
Five |
|
LATCH Positions |
Two |
|
Cargo Space |
15.3 cu. ft. |
Safety
NHTSA Driver Front |
5 Stars |
|
NHTSA Passenger Front |
5 Stars |
|
NHTSA Driver Side |
5 Stars |
|
NHTSA Rear Passenger Side |
5 Stars |
|
NHTSA Rollover |
4 Stars |
|
IIHS Front |
Good |
|
IIHS Side |
Good |
|
IIHS Rear |
Acceptable |
|
Stability Control |
Standard |
|
Traction Control |
Standard |
|
Brake Assist |
Not Available |
|
Side Airbags |
Thorax and Curtain |
|
Collision Avoidance |
Not Available |
|
Active Cruise Control |
Not Available |
|
Photos
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