Compare 2009 Nissan Altima vs 2003 Volkswagen Passat

2009 Nissan Altima
2003 Volkswagen Passat
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2-Door Coupe I4 CVT 2.5 S
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Altima 2-Door Coupe I4 CVT 2.5 S 23 31 $20,860 $22,250
Altima 2-Door Coupe I4 Manual 2.5 S 23 32 $20,392 $21,750
Altima 2-Door Coupe V6 CVT 3.5 SE 19 26 $24,919 $26,890
Altima 2-Door Coupe V6 Manual 3.5 SE 18 27 $24,456 $26,390
Altima 4-Door Sedan I4 CVT 2.5 23 31 $19,078 $19,900
Altima 4-Door Sedan I4 CVT 2.5 S 23 31 $20,195 $21,540
Altima 4-Door Sedan I4 CVT 2.5 SL 23 31 $20,195 $21,540
Altima 4-Door Sedan I4 Manual 2.5 S 23 32 $19,728 $21,040
Altima 4-Door Sedan I4 eCVT Hybrid 35 33 $24,976 $26,650
Altima 4-Door Sedan V6 CVT 3.5 SE 19 26 $23,800 $25,680
Altima 4-Door Sedan V6 CVT 3.5 SL 19 26 $27,221 $29,380
Altima 4-Door Sedan V6 Manual 3.5 SE 18 27 $23,337 $25,180
Select style
4-Door Sedan GL Automatic
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Passat 4-Door Sedan GL Automatic 21 30 $20,863 $22,825
Passat 4-Door Sedan GL Manual 22 31 $19,790 $21,750
Passat 4-Door Sedan GLS Automatic 21 30 $21,889 $23,960
Passat 4-Door Sedan GLS Manual 22 31 $20,816 $22,885
Passat 4-Door Sedan GLS V6 Automatic 19 27 $24,147 $26,460
Passat 4-Door Sedan GLS V6 Manual 20 28 $23,074 $25,385
Passat 4-Door Sedan GLX V6 4MOTION Automatic 19 26 $29,016 $31,575
Passat 4-Door Sedan GLX V6 Automatic 19 27 $27,187 $29,825
Passat 4-Door Sedan GLX V6 Manual 20 28 $26,114 $28,750
Passat 4-Door Sedan W8 4MOTION 6-spd Manual 17 24 $35,984 $39,400
Passat 4-Door Sedan W8 4MOTION Automatic 18 25 $34,729 $37,900
Passat 4-Door Wgn GL Automatic 21 30 $21,586 $23,625
Passat 4-Door Wgn GL Manual 22 31 $20,513 $22,550
Passat 4-Door Wgn GLS Automatic 21 30 $22,611 $24,760
Passat 4-Door Wgn GLS Manual 22 31 $21,538 $23,685
Passat 4-Door Wgn GLS V6 Automatic 19 27 $24,870 $27,260
Passat 4-Door Wgn GLS V6 Manual 20 28 $23,797 $26,185
Passat 4-Door Wgn GLX V6 4MOTION Automatic 19 26 $29,739 $32,375
Passat 4-Door Wgn GLX V6 Automatic 19 27 $27,910 $30,625
Passat 4-Door Wgn GLX V6 Manual 20 28 $26,837 $29,550
Passat 4-Door Wgn W8 4MOTION 6-spd Manual 17 24 $36,706 $40,200
Passat 4-Door Wgn W8 4MOTION Automatic 18 25 $35,452 $38,700
Pricing
Invoice Price
$20,860
$20,863
Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$22,250
$22,825
Monthly Payment Estimate
$371 / month
$380 / month
The Car Connection's Take
TCC Rating
8.4
TCC’s Bottom Line
The 2009 Nissan Altima has a sportier look and feel than most other mid-size sedans, but it's just as practical.
TCC Likes
TCC Dislikes
Fuel Economy
City
23 mpg 21 mpg
Highway
31 mpg 30 mpg
Vehicle
EPA Classification
Midsize Mid-Size
Interior Dimensions
Second Head Room (in)
35.6 37.8
Second Shoulder Room (in)
52.4 54.6
Front Leg Room (in)
42.5 41.5
Front Hip Room (in)
54.2 57.7
Passenger Volume (ft³)
89.7 95
Second Leg Room (in)
34.4 35.3
Front Head Room (in)
39.7 39.7
Second Hip Room (in)
47.6 56.7
Front Shoulder Room (in)
53.9 55.8
Passenger Capacity
5 5
Exterior Dimensions
Min Ground Clearance (in)
5.1 5.8
Length, Overall (in)
182.5 185.2
Height, Overall (in)
55.3 57.6
Track Width, Rear (in)
60.4 59.6
Wheelbase (in)
105.3 106.4
Liftover Height (in)
26.2 - TBD -
Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
70.7 68.7
Track Width, Front (in)
60.7 59.6
Cargo Area Dimensions
Trunk Volume (ft³)
7.4 15
Brakes
Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Yes
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
11.5 x 0.35 9.6 x 0.39
Brake Type
Power Pwr
Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
NA NA
Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
11.7 x 1.02 11.3 x 0.98
Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA NA
Brake ABS System
4-Wheel 4-Wheel
Fuel Tank
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
20.0 16.4
Steering
Steering Ratio (:1), Overall
16.2 14.3
Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
34.7 37.4
Steering Type
Pwr Rack & Pinion Pwr Rack & Pinion
Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)
2.83 2.8
Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)
NA - TBD -
Tires
Front Tire Size
P215/60R16 P195/65HR15
Spare Tire Size
T135/70D16 P195/65HR15
Front Tire Order Code
NA NA
Spare Tire Order Code
NA NA
Rear Tire Size
P215/60R16 P195/65HR15
Rear Tire Order Code
NA NA
Trailering
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
1000 N/A
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
1000 N/A
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
100 N/A
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
100 N/A
Weight Information
Base Curb Weight (lbs)
3118 3322
Wheels
Spare Wheel Size (in)
Compact 15 x 6
Rear Wheel Material
Steel Steel
Rear Wheel Size (in)
16 x 7.0 15 x 6
Front Wheel Material
Steel Steel
Spare Wheel Material
Steel Steel
Front Wheel Size (in)
16 x 7.0 15 x 6
Cooling System
Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)
8.0 7.1
Electrical
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
110 90
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
550 - TBD -
Engine
Engine Type
Gas I4 Gas I4
Fuel System
SMPI SMPI
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
180 @ 3900 166 @ 1950
Engine Order Code
QR25DE NA
Displacement
2.5L/- TBD - 1.8L/109
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
175 @ 5600 170 @ 5900
Mileage
Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
26 -
EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
31 30
EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
23 21
Transmission
Second Gear Ratio (:1)
NA 2.00
Trans Order Code
NA NA
Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
5.80 3.73
Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
NA 1.00
Trans Description Cont.
Continuously Variable Automatic w/OD
Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
NA NA
First Gear Ratio (:1)
2.35 - 0.39 3.67
Clutch Size (in)
NA NA
Third Gear Ratio (:1)
NA 1.41
Trans Type
1 5
Drivetrain
Front Wheel Drive Front Wheel Drive
Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
NA 0.74
Trans Description Cont. Again
NA w/Tiptronic
Reverse Ratio (:1)
1.78 4.10
Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)
- NA
Summary
Body Style
2 Door Coupe 4 Door Sdn
Vehicle Name
Nissan Altima Volkswagen Passat
Suspension
Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)
0.86 - TBD -
Suspension Type - Rear
Multi-Link Independent
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
w/Coil Springs Torsion Beam
Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)
- TBD - - TBD -
Suspension Type - Front
Independent Strut Four-link
Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)
0.68 - TBD -
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
w/Coil Springs NA
Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)
- TBD - - TBD -
Emissions
EPA Greenhouse Gas Score
7 -

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