Logo
No matching results

Recent Articles

Popular Makes

Body Types

2007 Nissan Altima Preview

Nissan extends the expiration date for its bread-and-butter car

AS
by Autobytel Staff
April 12, 2006
2 min. Reading Time
fallback

Shoes. Everyone needs them, but not everyone cares what they look like, what special features they have, or whose feet they adorn. Kinda like family sedans. At one point or another, most every driver will require the service of a four-door car, whether it’s for efficient commuting, transporting the kids, or just running errands on the weekends. Choices are numerous, including heavyweights like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Volkswagen Passat, all available with countless features and four- or six-cylinder power. Also included in that bunch is the Nissan Altima, a ride that entered the market years ago with only a four-banger, slated above the compact Sentra and far below the Maxima flagship. Then came the rebirth of the Altima in 2002, with an edgy new design and an available V6. Five years later, Nissan’s most popular sedan gets a host of substantial updates, including updated engines, a redesigned interior, and most noteworthy, a thoroughly revised exterior.

Why it matters

Nissan has seen tremendous success with its current Altima, a model available in a variety of configurations that appeal to a broad array of buyers looking for an attractive vehicle packed full of value. However, even the best products need to be updated occasionally, and after five years, the Altima has grown a bit long in the tooth. With this newest iteration, Nissan attempts to maintain its position in the cutthroat family sedan market.

fallback

What’s under the hood

With the current version pushing 175 horsepower in base form and 260 ponies with SE-R badging, the current Nissan Altima is hardly a slouch. Quite the opposite, as this four-door people mover has easily held its own since being introduced with new engines in 2002, and even the 2001 model packed 155 hard-working horses. When it goes on sale in November 2006, the 2007 Altima will draw power from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or a 3.5-liter V6. Transmission options include a continuously-variable automatic or a six-speed manual. Base models get the four banger, good for more than 165 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque; V6 models feature more than 265 horsepower and 255 lb.-ft. of twist. An independent suspension is bolted in below the all-new skin, wheels measure 16 or 17 inches in diameter, and the driver is connected to the whole deal via a new rack-and-pinion steering system.

fallback

What’s inside

Inside the five-passenger 2007 Altima, Nissan’ bread-and-butter model to be built in Mississippi and Tennessee, are options like a nine-speaker Bose sound system, Bluetooth connectivity, dual-zone climate control, voice-activated telephone controls, and a push-button starting system like that found premium Infiniti models. In terms of safety, front-side and side-curtain airbags are available, as are antilock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and electronic brake assistance. The look inside of the 2007 Nissan Altima is less exaggerated than seen in the past, with a smooth dash cap with gentle contours around three vents atop the instrument cluster and a subtle curve around the gauges. Radio and climate control buttons are clearly laid out and within easy reach, below which is a large storage cubby.

fallback

What we think

Nissan executives refer to the 2007 Altima as an evolution with revolutionary changes, noting its “expressive styling” and “athletic performance” as well as its quiet, comfortable, and refined interior. In fact, they report that this car recorded the best results ever when subjected to the company’s test clinics. And, thankfully, all the changes have lead to the virtual elimination of torque-steer, an oft-complained about trait of the current model. We’ll be among the many Altima drivers to appreciate the deletion of this annoying feature, while also applauding the new design. The interior, while a bit plain from some perspectives, is more upscale, and the exterior stays true to the Altima’s style, albeit with a fresh new face, attractive new taillights, and a sporty flair.

Photos courtesy of Nissan and Ron Perry

fallback

`

Interested in Getting a New Car?

Used Cars Near You

No Data Available

Powered by Usedcars.com
©2024 AutoWeb, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Some content provided by and under copyright by Autodata, Inc. dba Chrome Data. © 1986-2024.