10 Things You Need to Know About the 2019 Nissan Altima

2019 Nissan Altima ・ Photo by Nissan

The Nissan Altima is new for 2019, with a fresh, sporty design; advanced safety technologies; and new features. Many automakers are discontinuing sedans in reaction to the popularity of crossovers, SUVs, and trucks, but Nissan is taking a different approach.

Rather than giving up on sedans, Nissan is continuing to update its sedan lineup to keep it fresh and appealing. The company made sure there’s plenty to like about the Altima if you’re in the market for a new mid-size sedan. Here are 10 things to know about the all-new 2019 Nissan Altima.

1. This is the sixth generation of the Altima.

The Altima is the best-known car in Nissan’s lineup, and this model year marks the sixth generation of the popular sedan. It was first introduced in the U.S. back in 1992, and in the 26 years since it went on sale, Nissan has sold an incredible 5.7 million Altimas.

Sedan sales might not be what they once were, but this is still an important vehicle for Nissan. It sits just below the flagship Maxima and just above the compact Sentra. Think of it as the "just-right" sedan that combines performance, roominess, and style at an affordable price that makes it ideal for young families and couples.

Photo by Nissan

2. The new design is based off of a Nissan concept car.

concept cars are a common sight at auto shows. Generally, they’re not cars that will make it into production, but rather showcase vehicles that highlight what an automaker hopes to accomplish in the coming years. From technology to seating to exterior design, concept cars are a glimpse of the automotive future.

The 2019 Nissan Altima takes its cues from the Nissan Vmotion 2.0 concept that made its debut in 2017 at the Detroit Auto Show. It has a similar sleek, streamlined design that makes it sporty and eye-catching. It’s also longer, wider, and lower than the last generation of the Altima, reinforcing the notion that this is a sedan that’s fun to drive.

Photo by Nissan

3. Nissan's engineers worked to deliver a better drive experience.

The Altima’s sporty good looks are backed up by an improved ride and drive experience. First, this Altima is quieter thanks to better isolation of engine, road, and wind noise. Even over rough roads or during bad weather, the cabin stays quieter.

Handling is sharper, with improved steering response so that challenging roads are more relaxing and even long road trips aren’t such a chore. There’s also increased stiffness in the body of the car, which means passengers will feel less bounce when you hit a pothole and the driver will maintain better control of the wheel. It’s an overall smoother, quieter, and more controlled ride.

Photo by Nissan

4. This is the first Nissan sedan with all-wheel drive.

There are plenty of buyers who won’t even consider a car unless it has all-wheel drive. Even if you don’t live where it snows, it’s an important feature anytime the roads are less than perfect due to snow, mud, or rain. Until now, Nissan hasn’t offered all-wheel drive on any of its sedans in the United States.

That all changes with the 2019 Nissan Altima. All-wheel drive is offered as an option across the lineup with one caveat: It’s only available with the less powerful 2.5-liter engine. If you want the extra power offered by the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, then you’re still limited to front-wheel drive only.

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5. It gets great fuel economy.

The Altima equipped with the base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine achieves great fuel economy, especially with front-wheel drive. It gets up to an EPA-estimated 28 mpg in the city, 39 mpg on the highway, and 32 mpg combined, making it an affordable choice for those with long commutes. All-wheel drive takes the numbers down slightly to 26 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined.

If you want the more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, be ready for a further dip in fuel economy numbers. It gets 25 mpg in the city, 34 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined, making it the least fuel-efficient of the lot.

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6. ProPilot Assist makes driving easier.

ProPilot Assist adds a new level of safety and convenience to the new Altima's top trim levels. This isn’t a self-driving system, but rather a driver assistance feature. It activates at the touch of a button on the steering wheel to help you stay in your lane, manage stop-and-go traffic, maintain a set speed, and keep a safe distance from the car ahead.

Although ProPilot makes driving easier, that doesn’t mean it takes the place of the driver. The system only functions when the driver’s hands are on the wheel. Remove your hands for too long and the system sounds increasingly insistent tones and flashes visual cues to remind you to take the wheel.

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7. The infotainment system is fully featured even in the base trim.

Connectivity is a key part of our cars today, which makes the infotainment system an important consideration. Often, the base trims of a model lineup come with limited features and small screens that are difficult to see and make the whole car feel dated. The Nissan Altima offers a fully featured infotainment system even in the base model.

Every Altima comes standard with NissanConnect with an 8-inch color infotainment screen, at least six speakers in the audio system, AM/FM/HD/MP3, and SiriusXM available through a subscription. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two front USB ports, and two rear USB ports are also standard. Those who want more features will find a Bose nine-speaker audio system and navigation with connected services standard on top trims.

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8. The Altima gets excellent safety ratings.

The redesigned Nissan Altima is an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety 2019 Top Safety Pick with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It received the highest rating of Good in all crash tests, Superior for front crash prevention technologies, and Good for its LATCH system for securing child seats. Only its headlights were rated one step down, at Acceptable.

In addition to its safety ratings, the Altima offers a solid suite of standard and available safety features. Automatic emergency braking, an intelligent forward collision warning, and intelligent driver alertness are standard on every Altima. Available features include a rear cross-traffic alert, a blind-spot warning, a lane-departure warning, rear automatic braking, and traffic sign recognition.

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9. There's plenty of room for five passengers.

Although sedans aren’t as big as crossovers or SUVs, they still offer comfortable and spacious interiors that coddle passengers. The Altima isn’t the largest Nissan sedan — if you want something bigger, check out the Maxima — but it does have plenty of room for five adults with Nissan’s famous zero-gravity seats that stay comfortable even through long trips.

The front seats have up to 39.2 inches of headroom with 43.8 inches of legroom, while rear passengers get 36.9 inches of headroom and 35.2 inches of legroom. While the rear seats in a sedan are always best with two passengers, three adults or three kids in car seats can still easily fit without feeling squished.

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10. It's more affordable than you think.

If you’re on a budget, then you might be thinking a sedan like the Altima is out of reach. While there are cheaper options, the Altima is a great value and comes in with a starting price that makes it an affordable choice. The base Altima is $23,750 with front-wheel drive or $25,100 with all-wheel drive.

Those prices include standard automatic emergency braking, an 8-inch infotainment screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB ports for front and rear passengers. These are features that often cost extra or are completely unavailable on base models. Even the top Altima 2.0 Edition One is priced at a reasonable $35,750 with a range of trims in the middle to fit every budget.

Photo by Nissan