Newport Beach, CA – One thing I love about my job is that I get to spend time
with and drive many cars from different Manufacturers at different price points. I’ve never been one to shy away from
expressing my love of big horsepower and a thrilling exhaust note, but let’s
face it not everyone shares that enthusiasm (why is beyond my comprehension but
those people are out there!). Some
cannot afford those types of vehicles, others have to schlep kids and all the
baseball equipment around, and others simply need basic and reliable
transportation.
One vehicle I recently spent a week with is the 2009 Altima 2.5 SL. While it does not pack the punch of a
large V8 engine it easily handles all the other chores a family sedan needs to
address and still has plenty of “Sport” built into it and is relatively
affordable considering all you get for your greenbacks.
The base of $21,540.00 for the mid-entry-level Altima (there is a bare bones
“base” model offered via special “customer order” only) includes many goodies. First off you have your choice of
Sedan or Coupe (see archives for a review of the coupe). The Coupe offers a unique exterior
design; however, in my opinion the Sedan is a much better looking car and is an
over-all better package. The
2.5-Liter 16-valve 4 banger musters a reasonable 175 Horsepower and 180 lb-ft
Torque (170/175 with CA emissions) hooked to the Nissan Xtronic CVT. Stabilizer bars front and rear,
independent Multi-Link rear suspension, power Rack-and-Pinion Steering and ABS,
chrome-tipped dual exhaust finishers, power Side View Mirrors, Trip Computer and
Outside Temp Gauge, Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition, Driver side
One-Touch Power Windows, Cruise Control, 60/40 split fold down lockable rear
seat, Sunglass Storage, Map Lights, cloth seat trim, Dual 12-Volt power outlets,
Etc., Etc. Safety and Security have
not been overlooked either. Air Bags
galore (front passenger, roof mounted, side impact and supplemental). In fact the Altima Sedan has been
awarded 5 out of 5 stars for frontal and side impact protection. And let us not forget to add that
this vehicle is equipped with the customary Emergency Inside-Truck Release and
that’s a good thing because the trunk is big enough to accommodate, well, many
items to be disposed of in the middle of the desert and let’s leave it at that!
Nissan continues its confusing list of option packages that rely on each other,
so configuring your Altima with exactly what you want versus how the packages
are bundled can be an exercise in futility.
None-the-less I would recommend the following options be added to your
purchase:
The
Convenience Package which includes 8-way power driver’s seat, Auto on/off
headlights, Leather- wrapped Steering Wheel with audio controls, wood tone trim,
and other goodies. To demonstrate
the confusion in options packages, if you want a Moonroof and 16 Inch Alloy
Wheels you have to add The Convenience Plus Package! The SL Package adds Leather Appointed
Seating and Shift Knob, Heated Front Seats, Homelink, Auto Dimming rearview
Mirror with Compass. Then comes the
package for the Techno geeks and the audiophiles.
The Connection Package adds Bluetooth, XM Satellite Radio via a killer
Bose audio system with 6-disc in dash changer, CD-ROM playback capability, Radio
Data System and 9 speakers that employ Speed Sensitive Volume control, Dual Zone
Temp Control and the need for rear A/C Vents is fulfilled. Add the 5 piece Mat set and you’re
out the door for $27,260.00.
So was I
impressed with the Altima Sedan? You
bet! Performance from the 2.5-Liter
4 banger was impressive, not track day impressive but plenty for everyday
stoplight to stoplight or merging needs.
Plenty of room for four and five would be pretty comfy too and all their
“stuff” can fit in the huge trunk.
The sporty side of this family sedan does not gouge you at the pump either. EPA City is 23MPG and Highway rating
of 31MPG for a combined of 26MPG.
Amazingly enough I beat the combined rating over the course of some 250+ miles,
I averaged 27.2MPG. For me to match,
much less beat MPG figures, is...well…unheard of!
I especially like the styling of the Altima Sedan, it’s not boy….or girl
racer, and it’s not snooty or cumbersome, it just works well. The front and tail light designs are
very cool and are almost jewel like when viewed up close.
Bottom Line - There is some stiff competition in the midsize
“sporty” family Sedan marketplace, the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, and the Saturn
Aura come to mind even the Toyota Camry to a certain extent, and Mazda’s
recently released and completely redesigned Mazda6 (stay tuned here for a full
review of the new Mazda in a few short weeks) are all choices you should explore
before spending your hard earned cash.
