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Perhaps one of the most commonly driven cars in the U.S., the Nissan Altima has remained a component of U.S. highways since its conception in 1992, due to its competitive pricing and safety awards. Along with the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord, it is one of the most popular mainstream mid-size sedans.
Arriving on the heels of its predecessor, the Nissan Stanza, the Nissan Altima is a U.S.-built vehicle (with production plants in Smyrna, Tennessee as well as Canton, Mississippi) based on the Nissan Bluebird model design. It measures 180 1/2 inches long, about 67 inches wide, and is almost 56 inches tall. It has a 2.4L engine as well as a 5-speed manual transmission or optional 4-speed automatic.
While most of the Nissan Altima’s changes over the years have been various facelifts (including new front grilles, re-designed interiors, and electronic stability control), there have been one or two mechanical issues, specifically for the 2002-2003 Nissan Altima, which experienced problems with catastrophic engine failures due to excessive oil consumption, sometimes in part because of a failed catalytic converter. This, however, was fixed on later models when the real problem became apparent: raising the front mudguards and re-designing the floorboards to protect the metal plates underneath the vehicle.
There are also a few variations on the Nissan Altima, including a Coupe version and a Hybrid option. The hybrid was even used in New York City by the police department for its entire run (2007-2011), while the coupe was revealed at the LA Auto Show in 2006 and began selling in 2008, adding luxuries such as a Bose audio system, a navigation system, and NASA-inspired “zero gravity” front row seating in order to reduce the driver’s muscle fatigue.
You wouldn’t necessarily think of a Nissan Altima when racing or motorsports is mentioned, but the Altima has in fact taken part in several races, including two where it has one, the 2013 and 2016 International V8 Supercars Championship. It has also taken numerous podium finishes in, among other races, the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.
It also has the distinction of winning the 2002 North American Car of the Year, the 2010 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Highest Front-Impact Crash Safety Rating, and placed as one of the Top Safety Picks of 2017 by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.
