2016 Nissan Altima Review - The Nissan Altima has evolved over the years, from its compact roots into today's mid-size family sedan. In the past, it's scored highly for athletic handling and daring styling--today, it's more often recommended for its quiet cockpit, supportive seats, and excellent fuel economy. It's no longer an also-ran; it's a mature sedan that's among the best sellers in its class, though sometimes we miss the frisky feel it left behind when it was last reinvented in 2013.
The driver's Altima may be making a low-key comeback for the 2016 model year, as Nissan introduces a heavily updated Altima and adds a sporty SR model, along with updates to styling, connectivity, and safety technology.
For the new model year, the Altima grafts on new front- and rear-end styling that brings it closer to the new Maxima sedan (which shares its running gear) and the Murano crossover. There's a new V-shaped grille, newly sculpted fenders, and available LED headlights. Elsewhere, the complex surfaces of the Altima's body remain intact, and the side glass tapers gradually to a tasteful backstop. The cabin of the updated Altima also is reshaped along the lines of the Murano and Maxima, with a dash that's less conservatively shaped than the 2013-2015 model.
The Altima continues to offer a choice of four- or six-cylinder power. The standard powertrain is a 182-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Tuned here for high fuel economy, it hits an EPA highway rating of 27 miles per gallon city, and gains one mile per gallon to reach 39 miles per gallon highway, putting it on par with some hybrids. Premium Altimas continue to offer a quick-footed 3.5-liter V-6 with 270 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, now rated at 22/32 mpg. The V-6 models also are fitted with the CVT, but come with standard paddle controls and a manual shift mode that simulates the gear ratios on a conventional automatic transmission.
Nissan credits the fuel-economy gains to a set of aero add-ons, like an active grille shutter, smoothed underbody covers, and the reshaped front and rear ends. For better response, the CVT gets better programming, for quicker transitions and acceleration from lower speeds.
The Altima has electrohydraulic steering, with new programming for what Nissan claims is better steering feel and response. It rides on an independent suspension, with Sachs shocks for better ride control and a more luxurious feel. For better handling, Nissan has swapped out its shocks, springs, and bushings, and offers new tires on all models. The Altima SR--which can be specified with either the four- or six-cylinder engine--gets thicker stabilizer bars and stiffer dampers.
The Altima sedan's still a five-seater, riding on the same 109.3-inch wheelbase it did in the 2012 model year, 191.5 inches long in all. There's not much more room in any direction, and that's fine--the Altima was large enough for almost any family. Nissan's spent quality time on the seats, and it's paid off in very comfortable chairs that hold up for hours on end, at least for the front-seat passengers. On base models, the front seats are adjustable six ways for the driver, four for the passenger. A power driver seat and heated front seats are an option. The rear seats are split 60/40 and fold down to expand access to the trunk. This year, Nissan has added acoustic glass and more sound deadening to quiet the cabin.
With safety as strong a selling point as fuel economy in the Altima's class, Nissan's updated the sedan's technology to include all the advanced features on the shelves of suppliers, including forward-collision warnings with automatic braking. It also can be configured with a rearview camera, blind-spot monitors, and lane-departure warning systems. In the past, the IIHS has given the Altima its Top Safety Pick accolade (with top scores in all but the new small overlap test), while the NHTSA has given it five stars overall for crash-test performance.
Finally, on the infotainment front, the Altima catches up to the competition with new bundles of features connected to audio and Bluetooth, which now comes standard on the sedan, as does audio streaming and incoming text-to-voice translation, along with a CD player, an auxiliary jack, and a 5.0-inch color audio display. The Altima's infotainment system also permits streaming from Pandora, and accepts mapping information from Google Maps, too. A central display in the instrument cluster brings together all this information for the driver to monitor while on the road. All but the base model now come with Siri Eyes Free, which offers voice control for Apple devices. A larger 7.0-inch color touchscreen comes on pricier models, along with navigation and real-time traffic data.
Other available features include automatic headlights; LED taillights; heated rearview side mirrors; a USB port; Bose audio; satellite radio; navigation with a 7-inch screen; dual-zone climate control; pushbutton start; remote start; a wide-view rearview camera; and a glass sunroof.
The driver's Altima may be making a low-key comeback for the 2016 model year, as Nissan introduces a heavily updated Altima and adds a sporty SR model, along with updates to styling, connectivity, and safety technology.
For the new model year, the Altima grafts on new front- and rear-end styling that brings it closer to the new Maxima sedan (which shares its running gear) and the Murano crossover. There's a new V-shaped grille, newly sculpted fenders, and available LED headlights. Elsewhere, the complex surfaces of the Altima's body remain intact, and the side glass tapers gradually to a tasteful backstop. The cabin of the updated Altima also is reshaped along the lines of the Murano and Maxima, with a dash that's less conservatively shaped than the 2013-2015 model.
The Altima continues to offer a choice of four- or six-cylinder power. The standard powertrain is a 182-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Tuned here for high fuel economy, it hits an EPA highway rating of 27 miles per gallon city, and gains one mile per gallon to reach 39 miles per gallon highway, putting it on par with some hybrids. Premium Altimas continue to offer a quick-footed 3.5-liter V-6 with 270 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, now rated at 22/32 mpg. The V-6 models also are fitted with the CVT, but come with standard paddle controls and a manual shift mode that simulates the gear ratios on a conventional automatic transmission.
Nissan credits the fuel-economy gains to a set of aero add-ons, like an active grille shutter, smoothed underbody covers, and the reshaped front and rear ends. For better response, the CVT gets better programming, for quicker transitions and acceleration from lower speeds.
The Altima has electrohydraulic steering, with new programming for what Nissan claims is better steering feel and response. It rides on an independent suspension, with Sachs shocks for better ride control and a more luxurious feel. For better handling, Nissan has swapped out its shocks, springs, and bushings, and offers new tires on all models. The Altima SR--which can be specified with either the four- or six-cylinder engine--gets thicker stabilizer bars and stiffer dampers.
The Altima sedan's still a five-seater, riding on the same 109.3-inch wheelbase it did in the 2012 model year, 191.5 inches long in all. There's not much more room in any direction, and that's fine--the Altima was large enough for almost any family. Nissan's spent quality time on the seats, and it's paid off in very comfortable chairs that hold up for hours on end, at least for the front-seat passengers. On base models, the front seats are adjustable six ways for the driver, four for the passenger. A power driver seat and heated front seats are an option. The rear seats are split 60/40 and fold down to expand access to the trunk. This year, Nissan has added acoustic glass and more sound deadening to quiet the cabin.
With safety as strong a selling point as fuel economy in the Altima's class, Nissan's updated the sedan's technology to include all the advanced features on the shelves of suppliers, including forward-collision warnings with automatic braking. It also can be configured with a rearview camera, blind-spot monitors, and lane-departure warning systems. In the past, the IIHS has given the Altima its Top Safety Pick accolade (with top scores in all but the new small overlap test), while the NHTSA has given it five stars overall for crash-test performance.
Finally, on the infotainment front, the Altima catches up to the competition with new bundles of features connected to audio and Bluetooth, which now comes standard on the sedan, as does audio streaming and incoming text-to-voice translation, along with a CD player, an auxiliary jack, and a 5.0-inch color audio display. The Altima's infotainment system also permits streaming from Pandora, and accepts mapping information from Google Maps, too. A central display in the instrument cluster brings together all this information for the driver to monitor while on the road. All but the base model now come with Siri Eyes Free, which offers voice control for Apple devices. A larger 7.0-inch color touchscreen comes on pricier models, along with navigation and real-time traffic data.
Other available features include automatic headlights; LED taillights; heated rearview side mirrors; a USB port; Bose audio; satellite radio; navigation with a 7-inch screen; dual-zone climate control; pushbutton start; remote start; a wide-view rearview camera; and a glass sunroof.
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