"Fun for the whole family!" is usually something promised by amusement parks and buffet restaurants. With few exceptions, that advertising come-on doesn't usually apply to family cars. Well, the 2011 Nissan Altima is one of those exceptions. Depending on which version they select, mom and dad will get some enjoyable driving dynamics from an Altima, all without subjecting the kids to a harsh ride or a cramped rear seat.
The Altima's fun factor depends largely on which engine you choose. The V6 version -- known as the 3.5 SR -- comes standard with a sport-tuned suspension that trades some ride comfort for sharper handling, making this Altima feel more like a sport sedan than a family sedan. The four-cylinder-powered Altimas are understandably less thrilling, though they are still more involving to drive than many rivals, thanks to the Nissan's communicative steering and composed chassis. As a bonus, the Altima is also available as a coupe for those who might want sleeker styling in exchange for some practicality.
Another perk of the 2011 Nissan Altima is the availability of plenty of high-tech luxury features, such as a hard-drive-based navigation system with music storage, a rearview camera, Bluetooth streaming audio and xenon headlights. Unfortunately, those features often come bundled in expensive packages, which in some cases must be paired with other packages. This often makes it virtually impossible to pick only the options you want and skip those you deem frivolous. Another potential downside are the Altima's backseats, which aren't quite as roomy as those found in the larger cars in this class. That said, most will likely find the Altima's "just right" size to be a major contributor to its relatively nimble feel.
In the final analysis, we consider the 2011 Nissan Altima to be a good choice in this very competitive segment. That said, there are many rivals worth checking out, including the well-rounded Ford Fusion, the ever popular Honda Accord, the enjoyable Mazda 6, the stylish Hyundai Sonata (and related Kia Optima) and the unknown but impressive Suzuki Kizashi. But should you ultimately choose the Nissan Altima, you'll be pleased, especially if fun in a family sedan is a requirement.
All Altima sedans come with a CVT that acts like an automatic transmission but delivers power like a rheostat instead of via pre-set gear ratios. Their efforts more precisely match engine speed to power needs for greater gas mileage. 2011 Altima coupes are available with a choice of the CVT or a six-speed manual transmission, regardless of engine size.
Though some praise the Altima’s sport-tuned suspension for being firm, other think it can be a little stiff. The Altima is a nimble ride overall, agile and quick. It’s sporty but family-friendly. It’s great fun to drive, so a parent doesn’t have to sacrifice performance for comfort. The V-6 hops from zero to 60 mph in just 6.6 seconds, which is very snappy for a family sedan.
Since there is less distance between the front and rear axles, the coupe is slightly easier to handle than the sedan, but the price is a stiffer ride. The base Altima with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder is as good as ever, but recent competitors have sportier models in the same price range, if not cheaper.
The Nissan Altima's length has been shortened by 2 inches from the last model, resulting in less legroom. The sedan can still hold four full-sized adults comfortably, but legroom and headroom will be at a premium. Altima uses the best materials for its class and the design is second to none. It has a unique, aggressive personality.
The Altima comes with two engine choices for both coupe and sedan: a 175-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 180 pounds-feet of torque, and a larger 270-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 with 258 pounds-feet of torque. The four-cylinder is more than enough for most daily driving applications, but if you’re looking to throw a little spice into your daily driving, the powerful V6 is more than up to the task. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission, which increases fuel efficiency.
On the road, the Altima receives ratings of 18-23 mpg in the city and 27-32 mpg on the highway, depending on your choice of engine/transmission. For those who desire even more efficiency, there is the Altima Hybrid which is covered separately on this website. These numbers allow the Altima to compete with other midsize cars like the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Hyundai Sonata.
Every Altima comes standard with antilock brakes, stability and traction control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, the Altima 3.5 with 17-inch wheels (regardless of body style) came to a stop from 60 mph in about 130 feet, a performance deemed average by our testing team.
The Nissan Altima has not been rated using the government's new, more strenuous 2011 crash testing procedures. The sedan's 2010 ratings (which aren't comparable to the new methodology) were a top five stars for protection in both head-on and side-impact collisions. The Altima coupe earned four stars for frontal impacts and five stars for side impacts. In the Institute for Highway Safety's frontal-offset and side crash tests, the Altima sedan received the best possible rating of "Good."
The 2011 Nissan Altima 2.5 should be just fine for most folks. The four-cylinder is peppy both off the line and when passing power is needed. Our opinions are mixed on the CVT. Some of our editors like its smooth and responsive nature but others take issue with the way it makes the engine seem overly noisy and labored under hard acceleration. Four-cylinder cars also lack the sport-tuned suspension of the V6 model. A less engaging driving experience is the result, though you do get a more comfortable ride quality out of the deal, and the chassis is still sportier than the norm for this segment.
The V6 is a different matter. The CVT is well suited to the more powerful V6, and the sport-tuned suspension paired with precise steering makes the Altima a credible sport sedan. The coupe is available with a manual transmission, but despite this model's intended sportiness, we'd stick with the CVT, as the manual gearbox has a sudden clutch engagement and a sloppy gearshift.
reference:www.edmunds.com,www.automobile.com,www.newcars.com
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