The first thing you notice driving the Nissan Altima
SE is its power. The SE's powerful V6 will impress mightily,
whether you slam the throttle at a stop light or at 40 mph.
Either way, the Altima takes off like a rocket. There's
so much power that you'll notice torque steer, even with
the automatic. Torque steer is a
phenomenon of some front-wheel drive cars with a high power-to-weight
ratio, in which brute force traveling through the axles
to the front wheels will pull the steering wheel slightly
from side to side.
The V6 turns the Altima into a true sports sedan, especially
when paired with the five-speed manual transmission, and
the suspension and brakes are tuned appropriately for the
job. The Altima 3.5 SE is arguably the best performer among
mid-sized sedans, and among the most fun to drive. The Altima
3.5 SE uses essentially the same 3.5-liter V6 used in the
Nissan 350Z and
Maxima. It features the latest in high-output technology, producing
245 horsepower at 5800 rpm and 246 pounds-feet of torque
at 4400 rpm.
The standard four-cylinder engine is strong, too. It
delivers considerably more grunt that the four-cylinder
engines in
Honda Accord or
Toyota Camry, and it works well with the four-speed automatic transmission.
With the automatic, the four-cylinder Altima still pulls
strongly from a standing start, and the transmission shifts
promptly between 40 and 60 mph for quick passing maneuvers.
Four-
cylinder
engines of this heft tend to run on the rough side, and
Nissan has addressed this inherent vibration with a compact
balance system and silent-chain cam drive that smoothes
operation nicely. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine features
16 valves, dual overhead camshafts and fully variable valve
timing. It produces 175 horsepower at 6000 rpm, and 180
pounds-feet of torque at 4000 rpm (The PZEV engine produces
170 horsepower and 175 pounds-feet). The 2.5-liter four-cylinder
engine is also more economical than the 3.5-liter V6, particularly
with the manual transmission. The four-cylinder rates 23/29
mpg City/Highway compared to 21/26 for the V6, according
to the EPA. The 20-gallon fuel tank, considerably larger
than most in this class, means Altima can travel a long
way between fill-ups.
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Once again, however, there is no perfect car. Nissan's
engineers have done an excellent job of managing the Altima's
rough streak, but the big four-cylinder engine is still
a bit louder, more raucous, than those in Accord or Camry.
The Altima's V6 powertrain isn't quite as smooth as those
in the primary competition, either. That said, depending
on your tastes, you may have so much fun driving the Altima
that you'll neither notice nor care.
The Altima feels secure at 80 mph in a torrent of rain.
It feels larger than the Honda Accord and other mid-size
sedans. The four-wheel disc brakes are easy to modulate,
even without the ABS, and deliver plenty of stopping power.
Power rack-and-pinion steering gives precise directional
control, with good feedback. Overall handling is exemplary,
thanks party to a newly designed multi-link rear suspension,
which uses aluminum components to reduce weight. This is
a
sophisticated design, and it enhances the stability of the
rear end, even on bumpy roads.
When it comes to chassis dynamics, the Altima is again a
class-leading performer. Enthusiasist drivers will love
it, but it may not be for everyone. While it rides well
in most circumstances, the Altima 3.5 SE can feel stiffer
than some of its competitors, particularly when it's crossing
a rhythmic series of bumps or pavement joints. It's not
quite as smooth as the Camry or Accord, and the driver and
passengers might feel a bit more vibration through the pedals,
steering wheel or armrests. Overall NVH (or noise, vibration
and harshness control) doesn't quite match the best in class,
thanks partly to Altima's emphasis on exhilarating performance.
With every car, designers (and buyers) have to make choices.
Nissan emphasized performance and handling over smoothness.
