2008 Nissan Altima

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By  Bengt Halvorson, Editor

2008 Nissan Altima 2dr Cpe V6 CVT exterior front left
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 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE STYLING | [7 out of 10]

Edmunds: "Very close to being a junior Infiniti G37"
Car and Driver: "The annoying, seemingly misaligned tunnels are gone"
Road & Track: "from the rear three-quarter view, this one's a stunner"

The sedan version of the Nissan Altima received a face-lift for the 2007 model year, and for 2008, Nissan has given it a sibling, the all-new 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe. The Nissan Altima Coupe carries the strong styling of the sedan one step further and boasts the same appealing interior design.

The exterior of the 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe is almost completely new when compared with the sedan version; as Edmunds writes, "it shares only the hood" with its four-door stablemate. The new bodywork gives the Coupe, which comes in either 2.5 S or 3.5 SE trims, a "masculine-looking" appearance, with "large fenders, big headlights and a cutting-edge design around back," according to Cars.com. Road & Track reviewers agree when it comes to the rear design, saying, "from the rear three-quarter view, this one's a stunner." Despite the praise that many aspects of the exterior draw in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com, some criticisms also appear. Kelley Blue Book says that the distinctive rear "may prove to be the feature that people either love or hate," thanks to what Road & Track describes as the 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe's "bulbous nose," which makes for an "uneasy fit" with the "shapely, chiseled tail." It’s surprising to TheCarConnection.com that no source mentioned the passing resemblance to the old Chevrolet Monte Carlo, but it’s there.

The interior of the 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe is virtually identical to that of the reworked four-door Nissan Altima, which is to say that it's much improved over previous Nissan layouts. ConsumerGuide praises the "large and legible gauges" inside the 2008 Nissan Altima, along with "simple to operate" audio and climate controls. Road & Track adds that "the Altima dash and door panels are more conventional than the [Mitsubishi] Eclipse's more organic forms, but all controls are well positioned," and "big knobs and buttons on the center stack practically reach out to greet you."

Conclusion: The 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe offers a sporty, if occasionally disjointed, exterior and a well-planned cabin.

2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE PERFORMANCE | [8 out of 10]

ConsumerGuide: "The CVT is well matched to either engine"
Road & Track: "Power? In spades"
Kelley Blue Book: "Speed-sensitive power steering adjusts nicely to driving conditions"

By nature, two-doors hint at a more performance-minded design, and the 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe proves that it offers plenty of go with its show.

The 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe arrives on dealer lots with two engine options, which Edmunds lists as "either a 2.5-liter inline-4 with 175 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque (on the 2.5 trims) or a 3.5-liter V6 with 270 hp and 258 lb-ft (on the 3.5 trims)." Both engine options provide solid acceleration, as Motor Trend reviewers write that "motivation for the Coupe runs from solid to scintillating." They write that their two-door 2008 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE can "make 0-to-60 mph happen in 6.4 to 6.5 seconds." Edmunds says of the four-cylinder that it "provides perfectly adequate acceleration."

To go along with the dual engine choices, Nissan offers a pair of transmissions that can be linked to either engine on the Nissan Altima. ConsumerGuide notes that "a 6-speed manual transmission is standard" on 2008 Nissan Altima Coupes, while "a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT)," which offers simulated gears for driver-controlled shifting, is available as an option. Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com show varying degrees of acceptance for the six-speed manual, but most agree that the CVT is one of the best on the market today. Motor Trend says that the "CVT offers seamless full-auto operation and a Sport mode," and reviewers there "like it a lot, and so will most Coupe buyers." Cars.com didn't really like the CVT on the Nissan Altima sedan, but they note that, when driving the Coupe, they "completely forgot it had a CVT." The transmission offers an "immensely pleasurable" driving experience. Less pleasant is the Nissan Altima's six-speed manual, which Edmunds blasts for its "abrupt" clutch engagement and a shifter that "feels unsubstantial."

With gas prices vaulting higher, fuel economy is becoming a much more prominent buying concern today. Thankfully, Cars.com finds that "EPA mileage for the 2008 model is decent for both engine options, with little change for different transmissions." The official EPA estimates for the four-cylinder engine on the 2008 Nissan Altima are 23/31 mpg with the CVT and 23/32 mpg with the manual, while the six-cylinder returns 19/26 mpg when paired with the CVT and 19/27 mpg as a manual.

The 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe offers improved handling and general driving characteristics over the exciting Altima sedan. Cars.com finds that steering on the Nissan Altima Coupe is "nearly perfect," with "excellent feedback." Road & Track adds that the chassis is "lively and agile" on the road. ConsumerGuide says "the brakes offer generally good stopping control." All these compliments are countered by the major driving drawback on the 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe: the ride quality. Cars.com reviewers describe the Nissan Altima Coupe as riding the "not-so-fine line between acceptable and grating" in terms of comfort, and ConsumerGuide says that the Coupes are "very stiff over even small bumps."

Conclusion: The 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe offers two exciting engines and one of the best CVTs around, but the ride can be abrupt.

2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE COMFORT AND QUALITY | [7 out of 10]

Cars.com: "Cloth seating surfaces are standard, but leather upholstery is optional"
ConsumerGuide: "Test coupe suffered from a number of dashboard rattles"
Motor Trend: "Six-footers will still feel right at home up front"

The 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe is fitted with supportive seats and has generous front-seat room, but offers little in the way of rear occupant space.

The 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe furnishes seatbelts for five, but there's not much chance of five adults squeezing into this sporty two-door. The front seats offer "good overall headroom and legroom," according to ConsumerGuide, and Cars.com praises the "incredibly comfortable" front seats that seem "like they would be durable for years." The same can't be said for the backseat, where Edmunds notes that the Nissan Altima "Coupe's shrunken proportions take a significant toll on the backseat's head and leg space," though "the flat bench makes car-seat installation possible in a pinch."

Given the small dimensions on the 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe, expectations for cargo space should be appropriately sized. ConsumerGuide says you can expect to find a "small, narrow, and shallow" trunk on the Nissan Altima Coupe, although Kelley Blue Book writes that "it can, however, be enlarged by folding the 60/40 rear seat down." Mother Proof writes that stowing much of anything in the cabin presents "a bit of a challenge," thanks to interior storage space that ConsumerGuide describes as "only average."

The interior build and materials quality on the 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe show that Nissan has tried to develop an upscale interior, but reviews read by TheCarConnection.com reveal that some corner-cutting is evident. ConsumerGuide writes that the 2008 Nissan "Altima's interior ambiance isn't quite as rich as its use of soft-touch, textured materials would lead you to believe," as "the use of budget-grade plastics in the center console area" is a disappointment. Furthermore, they find that one of their test coupes suffers "from a number of dashboard rattles." In contrast, Edmunds feels that the 2008 Nissan Altima features "a quiet, handsome interior constructed of quality materials." Cars.com adds another critique to the list, finding that the "faux wood trim on the doors and center stack" is "not convincing in the least and cheapens the otherwise-appealing interior."

Occupant comfort can be greatly influenced by the degree of noise present in the cabin, and the 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe's sportier inclinations hurt here. ConsumerGuide says that while "tire, road, and wind noise are well controlled in sedans," they are "less so in coupes." Edmunds also finds that "road and wind noise are subdued," though, again, it is noticeably less in the sedan version of the Nissan Altima.

Conclusion: Although it is small-car cramped in the backseat, the front of the 2008 Nissan Altima offers just the right amount of space. Materials, however, could be better.

2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE SAFETY | [7 out of 10]

NHTSA: Four stars, front impact; five stars, side impact
IIHS: Good, frontal offset impact; Good, side impact
Edmunds: "Stability control not available on four-cylinder models"

The 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe scores well in independent crash tests. It also offers a decent array of safety measures, but a few drawbacks in that features list keep the Altima Coupe from scoring higher here.

The 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe has been subjected to the full battery of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests, and the results are quite promising. The NHTSA, the federal agency responsible for crash testing, awards the 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe four out of five stars for front impact driver and passenger protection, and a full five stars for both driver and passenger protection during side impacts. Thanks to its low profile and center of gravity, the Nissan Altima Coupe also scored a perfect five stars in the rollover safety category. In addition, the IIHS rewards the 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe for its occupant protection, giving the Nissan Altima Coupe its highest rating, "good," for both frontal offset and side impact tests.

Aside from the confidence-inspiring crash-test results, the 2008 Nissan Altima comes standard with most, but not quite all, of the usual assortment of safety features. Edmunds writes that "front-seat side airbags and full-length side-curtain airbags are standard on every 2008 Nissan Altima" Coupe, along with "antilock brakes" standard. Cars.com reviewers are "happy to hear there are standard active head restraints to protect front occupants in rear collisions," but they also lament the fact that "electronic stability control is offered only as a $600 option." For a car that is as sporty as the 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe, one would expect some sort of stability control system to be outfitted as standard equipment.

Another area where some complaints arise in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com is the visibility from within the cabin of the 2008 Nissan Altima. While the Nissan Altima Coupe's sedan cousin is praised for its great visibility, ConsumerGuide writes that "thick rear roof pillars create large blind spots in the coupe." Cars.com agrees, adding that there is "reduced rear visibility" as a result of the "coupe's high back end."

Conclusion: The 2008 Nissan Altima lacks standard stability control and has poor rear visibility, and front crash-test scores are a little below state of the art.

2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE FEATURES | [8 out of 10]

Edmunds: "A long list of available luxury and technology features"
Cars.com: "Most popular options are grouped together in expensive packages"
ConsumerGuide: "A navigation system is available and includes a rearview camera"

The 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe offers much the same features as the Altima sedan, and unfortunately, this means that many of its optional features are available only in packages.

Standard features on the 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe offer little to complain about. Kelley Blue Book finds that the "Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5 S has keyless entry, push-button ignition, air conditioning, cruise control buttons mounted on the steering wheel and an AM/FM six-disc stereo with auxiliary audio input." They add that the Nissan Altima Coupe 3.5 SE ups the ante with "a power sliding moonroof with sunshade, traction control," and "an eight-way power adjustable driver's seat." Cars.com is disappointed to notice that "steering-wheel-mounted audio controls are standard only on the 2008 Nissan Altima 3.5SE," which they say is "unfortunate, considering many automakers are making the feature standard on less expensive models."

The lack of standard steering-wheel-mounted audio controls on the 2.5 S isn't much of a gripe, and that's about all the reviewers can fault on the 2008 Nissan Altima's standard features list. The available options, however, draw some fire in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com. The problem isn't the lack of available features, but rather that they come bundled in "pricey option packages," according to Cars.com. Edmunds adds that while the Nissan Altima Coupe features "a long list of available luxury and technology features," the packages that contain them "often must be lumped together with other packages." To illustrate their point, they write that in order to get a navigation system, you must order the Technology Package, which automatically means you must also order the "Premium Package for an eye-bugging total of $6,400."

Aside from the prices associated with the 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe's features, the options themselves are pretty cool. Cars.com lists some of the more noteworthy features as "leather seats, upgraded audio systems and dual-zone climate control," along with a "Technology Package that includes a navigation system and backup camera."

Conclusion: The 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe offers a wide array of desirable features, but it's virtually impossible to get them as stand-alone options.