Nissan Altima

The Nissan Altima has been on sale since 1993 in the U.S. market as a four-door sedan. For the first years of its existence, it fit in the compact size class; in the last two generations, it's been upsized to the mid-size class, and sold as a four-door sedan and as a two-door coupe.

The 1993-1997 and 1998-2001 Altimas were compact sedans powered by four-cylinder engines, offering a five-speed manual gearbox or four-speed automatic transmission. They were the successor to the Stanza sedan, and did well for Nissan against the Toyota Corolla. In 2002, the third generation Altima was the first of a new wave of dramatically styled Nissan models when it launched, drawing great acclaim for its distinctive lines. That 2002-2006 model offered a 2.5-liter four and a 3.5-liter V-6, with standard five-speed manuals or automatics (four-speed for the four, five-speed for the V-6). The sportiest SE-R model included not only the 250-horsepower V-6, but also revised suspension settings, 18-inch wheels and tires, and some styling flourishes to set the car apart from standard Altimas.

Restyled for 2007, the current generation of the Altima continues as a more stylish alternative to middle-of-the-road mid-size sedans like the popular Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, as well as the up-and-coming Hyundai Sonata and domestic competitors like the Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu. It may be most notable for displacing the Nissan Maxima as Nissan's biggest sedan, though the current Altima and Maxima share much of their running gear. The Altima also has featured one of the largest applications of continuously variable transmissions, which have replaced conventional automatic gearboxes in both body styles.

The Nissan Altima was mildly refreshed for the 2010 model year with a new grille along with both new interior materials and an expanded list of options. Engine options continue to include a four and a V-6, in this case a 175-hp, 2.5-liter four or a powerful 275-hp, 3.5-liter V-6. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is standard on the sedan and coupe, with a six-speed manual offered on the coupe only.

The Altima Hybrid was available through the 2011 model year. It paired a specially tuned, 162-hp version of the 2.5-liter four to an adapted version of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system, producing gas mileage rated at 35 mpg city, 33 mpg highway. The model has been dropped for the 2012 model year as Nissan accelerates production of its all-electric Leaf hatchback.

New packages bundle features such as Bluetooth and a power moonroof.