2013 Nissan Altima's Redesign

With the 2013 Nissan Altima's redesign, Nissan stays true to the automobile's sporty identification and adds to its attraction with impressive EPA-estimated gas mileage and available excessive-tech features.

I spent a day driving the Altima close to Nissan's U.S. headquarters in Franklin, Tenn. The 2013 Altima starts at $22,280 (including a $780 vacation spot cost). To see how the Altima's specs compare with the Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata and Chevrolet Malibu, click here.

One of the Altima's largest styling influences seems to be Nissan's personal Maxima, a premium sedan - additionally midsize - based on the earlier-technology Altima. Based on John Curl, Nissan's senior manager for product planning, present owners are glad with the Altima's size. 4-Cylinder, V-6 Efficiency

There's a clear difference in efficiency between the standard 4-cylinder engine and the non-compulsory V-6, but during a day of driving, the difference in noticed gasoline economy was surprisingly minimal.

The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder does almost all the things you need a four-cylinder to do. The V-6 Altima's journey computer tallied 30.9 mpg over 50 miles of comparable country roads - not the identical route - right at its 31-mpg highway estimate. Both engine drives the front wheels through a constantly variable automated transmission that's been overhauled for 2013. One of many methods the CVT improves gasoline financial system is by conserving engine rpm as low as possible. The brand new Altima comes normal with Lively Understeer Control, a system that automatically applies the inside front brake throughout an aggressive turn to keep the automotive's nose tucked in.

The Altima's suspension feels extra compliant and cozy than the outgoing automobile's, and extra much like the family sedan norm. The Altima makes use of a power-steering system that consists of a hydraulic rack pushed by an electrical motor. Sadly, the Altima's steering feedback feels artificial, alternating between tight and agency when driving in a straight line and light throughout cornering. The Altima's three-person backseat is among the roomier spaces in this car class. Connectivity Drawbacks

The feature additionally lets the driver reply with transient, preset replies using steering-wheel controls. Safety

As of publication, the 2013 Altima had not been crash-tested.

The 2013 Nissan Altima has normal antilock brakes and an digital stability system, options that became required on new vehicles beginning with the 2012 model year. Low tire pressure is usually a safety hazard, but the Altima's Simple Fill Tire Alert makes filling a low tire simple. Altima within the Market