Handling and ride quality also measure up quite well versus other small mid-size entries. Although Nissan no longer aims exclusively at the sporty end of the market, the company has always prioritized brisk responses in its passenger cars, a priority that makes an Altima more fun to drive than most. It also makes the new Altima a strong ally in emergency maneuvers. This is particularly true of the SE, which has slightly firmer suspension tuning, lending a bit more authority to its responses in quick transitions, without any appreciable loss in ride quality. But even the standard suspension, with its more supple ride, provides gratifying agility, amplified by quicker-than-average steering that communicates what the front wheels are doing.
Our only minor reservation here is relatively high steering effort at low speeds. That doesn't bother us--we'd trade modestly higher effort for good feel any day, and it's a pleasant contrast to some power steering systems that are as numb as your tongue after a root canal. But we suspect some may find the Altima's steering a tad heavy in parking lot maneuvers.
On the other hand, we'd be astonished if anyone finds a problem with the Altima's braking performance. The SE gets disc brakes at the rear, as well as the front, and even though antilock is an extra cost option ($499) across the board, there's plenty of stopping power in the standard disc-and-drum setup.
Unless you're in a major hurry--and you've coated your driver's license with teflon--we think you'll find the Altima's engine power rates as more than adequate for most driving, including the occasional back road blitz.
Nissan has put in some engineering updates with the standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder powerplant, improving the effective rpm range of useful output. This makes the engine a little more flexible in all-around driving, particularly when it's allied with an automatic transmission, although we prefer the exceptionally precise five-speed manual. And even though peak output--150 horsepower--is unchanged, the Altima's four-cylinder compares quite favorably with competing four-cylinder engines from Honda, Toyota and Mitsubishi.
If you're determined to have a V6, however, you may be ready to move up to Nissan's Maxima sedan, because a V6 isn't an Altima option.
Still, with the manual transmission the Altima delivers acceleration that's thoroughly in step with its athletic reflexes. Like all four-cylinder cars, forward progress becomes a bit more deliberate with an automatic, as well as more expensive. Our SE tester was equipped with the automatic, which raised its $19,670 base price by $800.
Even though this electronically controlled four-speed is smooth and well matched to the engine's power traits, it does seem out of place in an otherwise lively sport sedan.
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