Driving Impressions

With its slightly sportier character the SE is more fun to drive than the other Altimas, but not quite a threat to the tigers of this class--the Ford Contour SE V6, for example, or the Mazda 626 LX V6. On the other hand, the ride is uncommonly smooth, thanks to all-independent suspension, bolted to separate front and rear subframes that isolate the suspension (and thus noise and vibration transmitted by the front and rear struts) from the body shell. Steering and brakes require minimal effort from the driver. Pushing the Altima to its cornering limits provokes tire squeal, body roll and increased steering input, but it takes real excess to make the Nissan lose its composure. Most owners--probably all, in fact--will never intentionally work the car that hard. We think they'll be perfectly happy with its calm, composed manners in all driving situations. And if an emergency situation arises, calling for quick, decisive response, we think the Altima will give a good account of itself. The engine, too, goes about its business with little fuss. It is large enough and sufficiently power to deliver good performance at everyday rpm levels. That's a good thing, because the engine does sound a little strained as it reaches maximum speed. Either transmission is a good choice. The automatic suits the car's character--and the engine's power characteristics--quite well. So does the easy-shifting 5-speed, which extracts a little better straight-ahead performance from the car, something that's true for all manual transmissions, regardless of the car. However, most Altimas go out the door with automatics, and owners seem to be generally pleased with their performance. Most cars in this class offer a V6 engine option. The Altima does not, but it's one of the few cars we'd say doesn't really need to. The standard engine does a good job, and is economical to boot.

Final Word

There is no single compelling feature that sets the Altima apart from the competition. It is attractive, comfortable, poised, performs well and is assembled--in the U.S.--with great care. But so are many other compact sedans. It has a full list of features, both standard and optional, that justify the price, but so do various Fords, Hondas and Toyotas. What makes the Altima worth a first and second look is the combination of ingredients. It's true that nothing really stands out--with the possible exception of the attractive interior design--but there's also nothing that really annoys or offends. Therein lies the Altima's appeal: It does many things well, without calling undue attention to itself. For those seeking sensible transportation with a touch of luxury, understatement may be the strongest statement of all.