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Walkaround
So here's the 1998 Altima, and it's clear at a glance that Nissan didn't really want to mess with success. After slamming the doors and checking fit and finish, we think it's equally clear that the new Altima is a distinct refinement of a very good original--tighter, quieter, with a more solid feel. What's not so clear at a glance is the newness. Although the new Altima is longer (by 3.5 inches) and wider (by 2 inches) than the first edition, exterior changes are subtle. The stern isn't quite as droopy, the taillights have been reshaped to enhance trunk access and visibility, and the front end has been modestly restyled. But you almost need to have the old and new side by side to appreciate the difference. We think that's okay, because even though it's conservative, the redesign updates an attractive original. Styling restraint works well in the mid-size sedan class. If you doubt that, just check the success of the Toyota Camry.
Interior Features
While the expanded dimensions lend a more substantial look to the whole package, they haven't produced a corresponding increase within. The added width is readily discernible, lending a welcome sense of shoulder and elbow room. However, rear seat legroom, modest in the original, has been stretched only a couple tenths of an inch. This stands in contrast to the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique, which added 1.7 inches of rear legroom in their 1997 updates. And it leaves the Altima's rear accommodations a bit snug compared to most of its small mid-size competition, although to be fair there hasn't been much carping on this score from first-generation owners. Aside from rear seat space, the Altima's updated interior--which includes the new de-powered airbags--is clean, uncluttered and quietly elegant, with dashboard vents flanking the instrument cluster under a broad, sweeping cowl that amplifies the car's feeling of increased width. Most models feature standard white-on-black instrumentation, but the instruments in our sporty Altima SE were just the opposite--white faces, black markings. Nissan uses this same graphic scheme in the larger Maxima SE, too, and it seems to be popular. We find the traditional white-on-black just a bit easier to read, but you can make up your own mind about that. Regardless of your taste in instruments, it's easy to be impressed by the quality of the Altima's interior appointments, with or without the optional leather that adorned our tester. Materials are high grade, and assembly detail is excellent, an observation that also applies to the exterior. Upgrades to the front-drive chassis, which was better than average to begin with, make the new car feel exceptionally solid, and contribute to a commendably low level of interior noise at all speeds. In fact, high quality may be the new Altima's strongest suit. We'd say it ranks with the best in its class in this regard, which puts it in some distinguished company.
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