Nissan takes up the gauntlet in the family-sedan skirmishes with a redesigned Altima that looks great and offers some fancy new gadgetry, including a continuously variable transmission and a gas-electric hybrid powertrain. But be forewarned that some of the option packages carry a stiff price tag.
We tested a well-equipped 2007 Altima SE with more than $7,000 worth of options and a bottom line of $31,915.
HE: Good grief! When did the Altima morph from being an affordable family car into a near-luxury sedan? And where does that leave the Maxima? Call me cynical, but with so many choices out there in the mid-size four-door segment, what was Nissan thinking when it decided to slap a $32,000 sticker on a car that still carries so much baggage from past incarnations?
SHE: You’re talking about the price on our test car. The base price of the four-cylinder Altima is $18,565, which is still plenty affordable. And you get a ton of style with the new Altima. Those taillights are pretty amazing. They’re gigantic and they cut much farther into the rear fenders than the previous ones. Nissan says the taillamps alone are a major purchase reason for many Altima customers. You sure get your money’s worth in that area.
HE: I think you’re missing my point. As good a car as the new Altima is, it’s not worth 32 grand. Still, the car has some impressive features, not the least of which is the new interior. It’s much nicer and more grown-up, though still not quite up to world-class standards. While the materials are definitely higher quality, there are too many textures and patterns.
SHE: I actually like the fact that I’m getting less for my money in the Altima. Did you realize that they made the car smaller for 2007 because a lot of women complained that it was too big? The new model has a shorter wheelbase and a shorter overall length. All I know is that the two times I’ve driven the ’07 Altima, here and in California, I felt that it fit like a glove.
HE: I felt really comfortable in the driver’s seat, and there appears to be plenty of room in the rear. I was less impressed with the car’s ride quality, even though I expected a stiffer ride with the sporty SE model. Handling, though, is crisp and controlled. And the latest version of Nissan’s twin-cam 3.5-liter V-6 is outstanding. It delivers 270 horsepower and in our test car was mated to a lovely six-speed manual gearbox.
SHE: Don’t discount the appeal to families. The Altima comes with six standard air bags, including side bags for front occupants and side curtains. The Altima SE includes standard antilock brakes and traction control. I’m disappointed that the base Altima doesn’t offer traction or stability control, and that you have to pay extra for ABS. I think families also are interested in fuel economy, and here the Altima does well. Even the SE version, with that high-performance V-6, is rated by the EPA at 21 miles per gallon in city driving and 27 on the highway. That’s better than the four-cylinder Honda Element SC we just tested.
HE: There is an awful lot to like about the new Altima, from style and performance to safety and efficiency. Young singles with money to burn may think the Altima SE is a great buy; young families on a budget may think otherwise.
2007 Nissan Altima SE
Type: Front-engine, front-wheel drive, five-passenger sedan.
Price: Base, $24,615 (inc. $615 shipping charge); as tested, $31,915.
Engine: 3.5-liter V-6; 270-hp; 258 lb-ft torque.
EPA fuel economy: 21 mpg city/27 mpg highway.
Where built: Smyrna, Tenn. and Canton, Miss.
Estimated 12-month insurance cost, according to AAA Michigan: $1,623
Anita
Rating: 4
Likes: Six standard air bags. Decent gas mileage. Cavernous trunk. Interior materials feel nice to the touch. Dramatic taillights. Easier-to-read gauges.
Dislikes: ABS is not standard on the base Altima. Stability control costs extra. Hump runs between legs of middle rear passenger. Release for split folding rear seats is in trunk.
Paul
Rating: 4
Likes: Clean and modern styling. Powerful DOHC 3.5L V-6. Easy-to-shift six-speed gearbox. Great handling.
Dislikes: Ride is harsh on rough pavement. Too many textures and patterns in cockpit materials. When did Altima morph from an affordable family car into a near-luxury sedan?
Anita and Paul Lienert are partners in Lienert & Lienert, a Detroit-based automotive information services company.