The Nissan Altima has its high points, but the competition in the midsized-sedan segment is about as tough as it comes. In a category brimming with better cars, the Altima is a lackluster choice.
There's a generously proportioned backseat, and fuel economy for the 2.5-liter four-cylinder version is commendable. Easy child-seat installation rounds out about all that is an achievement for the Altima.
The Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Subaru Legacy, Hyundai Sonata, and Kia Optima don't leave a lot of room for subpar execution from another sedan.
Despite a shallow veneer of smoothness, ride comfort in the Altima is neither settled nor absorbent. Handling suffers from an overly light steering, which contributes to a mushy demeanor that saps any sense of precision and control from the driving experience.
When climbing a hill or merging on a ramp, there's no escaping the commotion from the engine.
Interior and Safety
Most Altima models have a straightforward infotainment system, with conventional and familiar knobs and buttons along with a 5-inch full-color screen. Controls are simple, but some of the connectivity features are inconvenient. For instance, phone interaction is done through cumbersome voice commands only. That alone could be a deal breaker for some. And beware: The base model Altima lacks a USB input entirely.
The Altima's cabin is well-finished but not fancy, verging on bland. Front seats are wide and well-padded but have mediocre bottom-cushion support for long trips. The backseat has a hospitable amount of room and offers the bonus of a fold-down rear seat that increases the cargo capacity.
Forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking are unavailable on the Altima until the trim levels and options push the car's price to almost $32,000. And the Altima just isn't worth that much money when there are so many other viable alternatives for a sedan of this size.
Read our full road test of the Nissan Altima.
HIGHS: Rear seat, fuel economy, controls
LOWS: Ride somewhat unsettled, overly light steering
POWERTRAIN: 182-hp, 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine; CVT; front-wheel drive
FUEL: 29 mpg
PRICE AS TESTED: $26,890
