2008 Nissan Altima Review
All-new affordable sport coupe.
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Summary
The 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe is a nice two-door coupe. Elements of its styling hint at what Nissan hopes it will do to brighten up the Altima brand. But it lacks the spark, in looks and performance, that's essential to give a coupe the personality to be an image leader.
NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Tom Lankard filed this report from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Model Line Overview
| Model Lineup: | Nissan Altima Coupe S ($20,490); SE ($24,890) |
| Engines: | 2.5-liter, dohc, 16-valve, inline-4 |
| Transmissions: | Continuously Variable Transmission |
| Safety Equipment (standard): | dual-stage frontal airbags; front seat-mounted side impact airbags; side-curtain airbags; front-seat active head restraints; child safety seat tethers and anchors (LATCH); ABS; EBD; TPMS; traction control (SE only) |
| Safety Equipment (optional): | electronic stability control ($600, on SE only); rearview parking monitor (incl. in Technology Package - $2000) |
| Basic Warranty: | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Assembled In: | Smyrna and Decherd, Tennessee |
Specifications As Tested
| Model Tested (MSRP): | Nissan Altima Coupe S ($20,490) |
| Standard Equipment: | air conditioning; cruise control; power windows, outside mirrors and central locking; AM/FM/CD stereo with six speakers; manual, six-way driver and four-way front passenger seat; tilt/telescope steering wheel; 60/40 split, fold-down rear seat |
| Options As Tested (MSRP): | CVT ($500); carpeted floor/trunk mats ($175) |
| Destination Charge: | 625 |
| Gas Guzzler Tax: | |
| Price as tested (MSRP) | 21790 |
| Layout: | front-wheel drive |
| Horsepower (hp @ rpm): | 175 @ 5600 |
| Torque (lb.-ft. @ rpm): | 180 @ 3900 |
| Transmission: | Continuously Variable Transmission |
| EPA fuel economy, city/hwy: | 23/31 |
| Wheelbase: | 105.3 |
| Length/width/height: | 182.5/70.7/55.3 |
| Track, f/r: | 60.9/60.8 |
| Turning circle: | 34.7 |
| Seating capacity: | 5 |
| Head/hip/leg room, f: | 39.7/54.2/42.5 |
| Head/hip/leg room, m: | |
| Head/hip/leg room, r: | 35.6/47.6/34.4 |
| Cargo volume: | 7.4 |
| Payload: | |
| Towing capacity: | 1000 |
| Suspension, f: | independent, coil spring, gas-pressurized shock, stabilizer bar |
| Suspension, r: | independent multi-link, coil spring, gas-pressurized shock, stabilizer bar |
| Ground clearance: | 5.1 |
| Curb weight: | 3095 |
| Tires: | P215/60R16 |
| Brakes, f/r: | vented disc/solid disc with ABS, EBD |
| Fuel capacity: | 20 |
• For more information such as specs, prices, and photos of the 2008 Nissan Altima, click here: 2008 Nissan Altima.
