Picture this: you’re a middle-aged, mid-level, middle-management guy in the mid-west. You’ve gone a bit doughy around the middle. You’ve got 2.5 kids and a golden retriever. You got socks for Christmas. It’s been a long time since you handed in your acid-wash denims for wrinkle-resistant Dockers, swapped the Van Halen for Vivaldi, and traded in the Firechicken for a four-door bore. But there’s something strange about today. The (predictably) silver sedan you’re sliding into isn’t all that boring. She’s got dual exhausts, a V6 packed with ponies and check out those taillights… Sweet! You hit the push-button-starter (!) and there’s an underhood growl, just as Wilson Phillips breaks into, “Hold On For One More Day.” Yep, it’s the 2007 Nissan Altima.
You gotta give Nissan credit: their designers realized that the model’s target market couldn’t take much more styling than the previous version already offered. Long live the evolution! Up front, someone took a belt-sander to the new Altima’s nose, creating a restrained modernity that works well with the new T-shaped grille. The rest of the sedan’s design is similarly subdued: a sharpening of the creases, a shortening of the rear deck and a flattening of the wheel-arches. Is it a Nissan? Hai!
It’s only when you get ‘round to the Altima’s ass-end that quibbles arise. For one thing, the taillights are far too busy; they look like a cross between a bazooka and a plucked eyeball. There’s also a bit of tail droop, as if the Altima needs to do a few more power lunges. It’s particularly noticeable in the four-cylinder models, whose smaller wheels are dwarfed by the sheer volume of sheet metal.
Inside, Nissan once again felled a rubber elephant and used its hide to upholster the dash. In all other things, the newbie is a vast leap forward. If the old Altima’s innards look like they were drawn in crayon, the new cabin has all the carefully shaded subtlety you’d expect from a draftsman working with a pointy pencil. The car’s fat buttons, the backlit controls on the steering wheel, improved fit and finish and fine-vision gauges represent a significant ambiance upgrade.
The new Altima’s front seats are perfectly comfortable through the twisties and over the long haul, though the rock hard rears lose a little headroom to the tapering roofline. Quick question: how many cupholders do five people need? Seriously, the Altima can holster enough Evian bottles to hydrate an Olympic bicycle team. Now, back to that starter button…
The class-exclusive needless affectation fired-up our SE tester’s 3.5-liter V6. The venerable Nissan mill’s good for 270hp and 258 ft.-lbs. of twist @ 4400 rpm. Unfortunately [for Nissan], the hot rod revolution started by the ’02 Altima is over, and the transplanted competition’s caught up. Honda now sells a 244hp V6 Accord while Toyota flogs a 268hp V6 Camry SE. The Nissan still zips from zero to 60mp in about six seconds– as do the Accord and Camry. Even so, that’s plenty damn quick– especially for a front wheel-drive sedan.
In fact, Nissan claims their new Altima is “the best-handling front wheel-drive sedan ever”– which is a bit little like boasting about selling “the most fire-resistant paper hat ever.” But to quote a Homeric classic, it actually turns out to be fairly sacrilicious. Like a recreational Viagra user, the new car’s chassis is 30% stiffer. Combined with a slightly reduced wheelbase, the Altima is genuinely nimble through the twisties. No sir; this is not your Camry “jet-propelled La-Z-Boy” experience; you can actually drive this car.
While the old Altima responded to injudicious jabs at the throttle by making for the tree-line like an amorous arborist, the new model tracks straight and true under WOT. Due in part to a lowered engine placement (and thus parallel half-shafts), the car feels as unruffled as a plucked chicken. There’s plenty of understeer at the limit, but a bit of liftoff or the handling Nanny sorts it right out.
Even better, Nissan’s boffins have finally installed a loveable transmission. Previous CVT’s were borderline WTF. The new transmissions are not quite OMG, but at least they don’t make you LOL. The rubber band from Hell feeling is gone. In the V6 version, it’s now a slingshot. You’re still going to lose half a second 0-60, but progress no longer feels unnatural. Of course, anyone interested in performance should opt for the six-speed manual, even with its every-shift-a-power-shift throttle overrun.
The 2007 Altima proves that Nissan hasn’t entirely abandoned their brand’s sporting aspirations. While the Versa and Sentra have blimped out, they’ve managed to keep their mid-size daily driver a driver’s car. The imminent prospect of an SE-R version should make pistonheads drool like a pack of Pavlov’s dogs listening to “Don’t fear the Reaper” as produced by Bruce (more cowbell) Dickinson. Only one question really remains: why in the world would anyone buy a Maxima?
Mr. McAleer,
Thank you for a very entertaining review! Well done. Sounds like the Altima’s improvements are mostly under the (same old) skin.
I’m with you on tha Altima’s tail-lights. I likened the last generations’ tail-lights to those of quarter-operated supermarket rocket rides’; the ’07 looks like much more of the same.
The rest of the design looks quite clean including the rear-end. Quite elegant, really for a car in this range.
What really, truly amazes me – is that the car is “just slightly SMALLER” than last year’s car. Very very smart. Car sizes need to start goin’ the other way, so to speak.
I mean, really. Look at a Civic from the 1970s vs the new one, or – well, you name the car and you’ll get the drift.
the maxima hasn’t been the least bit interesting since the late 1980’s, unfortunately
aaron12:
I second that. For years, the biggest problem with the Maxima has been the Altima. Nothing new about that. Very old news.
Very entertaining review, now RF, get this man a proper ride.
Finely crafted review, I liked it a lot.
The styling is a huge improvement (except those damn taillights…as if the previous Altezzas weren’t attention-whoring enough!)
It really looks like the whole Nissan-Infinity design theme is reaching a smooth continuum for the first time in the brands’ histories. I can clearly see “Altima-Maxima-Z350-G35-M35” in all of them. Now for the “TNcyaL8R” license plate.
I’ll jump on this bandwagon: Nissan’s brand lineup hasn’t quite made much sense to me either. But I see enough of them on the road to not question their marketing assumptions.
A+ Your use of the language is both descriptive and very humorous. You have a gift, one I wish I had.
I’m in perfect agreement on nearly all points, especially the styling, powertrain and handling and the disappointing nature of the smaller cars. The Maxima sticks around for those who want a more luxurious interior and/or a large rear seat. One change the review doesn’t stress enough is how much smaller the rear seat is with the 2007–legroom is also down quite a bit, as is general comfort.
I’m also not sure that the Camry deserves to be casually written off as bland (though “everyone” does it). Sure, the LE and XLE, but the SE can be entertaining. The Toyota V6 feels and sounds better than Nissans, and the SE suspension is quite taut. For some reason Toyota keeps giving the press mostly LEs and XLEs. Which makes absolutely no sense.
Nissan’s current pricing strategy is to provide more features for the same or a bit less money than the competition. This is the case with the new Altima. To compare prices:
http://www.truedelta.com/prices.php
The Maxima joins the Highlander and Endeavor as the Eric Roberts of cars — they were all eclipsed by younger siblings.
Picture this: you’re a middle-aged, mid-level, middle-management guy in the mid-west. You’ve gone a bit doughy around the middle. You’ve got 2.5 kids and a golden retriever. You got socks for Christmas. It’s been a long time since you handed in your acid-wash denims for wrinkle-resistant Dockers, swapped the Van Halen for Vivaldi
Have we met? You seem to know everything about me. Except it’s Van Halen AND Vivaldi. And Enya, not Wilson Phillips.
BTW, great review.
Only one question really remains: why in the world would anyone buy a Maxima?
Seems like the Maxima is hemmed in on both sides with respect to price/featuers because a right-wheel-drive Infiniti G35 can be had for only about $3000 more than the Maxima.
Does the Altima/Maxima use the same 6-speed transmission as the Infiniti? The Infiniti one is really nice (although it could use some taller gearing in 5th and 6th).
Great write up. I really think Nissan hits and misses at times with their cars/trucks. I like them but they usually take time to get used to (visually). I hated the altima for SO long before I finally accepted it.
I’ve still never forgiven Nissan for neglecting the Maxima. That was an amazing car that simply stopped evolving on the same scale as everything else (competition included).
Well written & funny without being forced.
CVT, OMG, LOL!
jet-propelled La-Z-Boy
the most fire-resistant paper hat ever
Wilson Phillips reference
Thanks, that was a great review!
Great review…entertaining and informative….”infotainment,” if you will. Love the Simpsons reference!
While the old Altima responded to injudicious jabs at the throttle by making for the tree-line like an amorous arborist, the new model tracks straight and true under WOT.
I remember test driving the ’02 Altima (when they first came out) and remarking to the salesperson seated next to me about the prominent torque steer. He glibly replied, “That’s the way it’s designed.” Needless to say, that was the last comment I made to him.
I hope this new version really is that much better.
Reviews such as this should be required reading in Detroit.
Michael Karesh
The Maxima sticks around for those who want a more luxurious interior and/or a large rear seat.
Sure, the LE and XLE, but the SE can be entertaining
Two things MK, first, yes the Maxima is better if you’re bigger, front seat or back. I didn’t feel the Accord and Camry have a lot more legroom than the Altima, but their rear seats were both more comfortable to sit it.
Secondly, I only had a chance to drive (you guessed it) an LE V6. Felt a bit of an Eclipse-style death car actually. The V6 is smoother than Nissan’s, but I think the Nissan’s sounds a tiny bit growlier. But even driving a 3.5S, you felt a bit more connect with the road than the Camry. Plus there’s no manual V6 in the Toyota.
For me, it’s either the Altima or a great deal on a 6-speed Accord…
Oh, who am I kidding? How much is a used 5-series these days anyways?
I do indeed like Nissan’s current styling signature, but it is getting somewhat stale IMHO, and almost every car looks the same in different sizes. It would have been nice if they attempted some kind of aesthethic departure.
In terms of sales numbers it appears that the Altima has been losing ground of late – I am not sure that this vehicle will do much to reverse that. Maybe it comes down to price in this segment -I see here in Central Ohio absolutely tons of the new Sonatas and relative fewer Altimas. The Hyundai comes pretty much loaded under 20 grand and that is where Nissan starts, and every indicator is that Hyundai’s quality and performance numbers are creeeping up.
Relative to the segment as a whole the new Altima does strike a nice pose I suppose. In true subjective fashion, the Fusion is little than more a slanted box, the Accord is downright disfigured and gangly; the new Camry suffers from serious midrift and backend bulge. Of the lot, I tend to prefer the new Sebring on the basis of its “rethinking the box” tendencies alone.
Crash!!!! – was that Lieberman falling to the floor faint? LOL!
Of course I am English – stirring things up is what we do most and best!
I love my ’02 Maxima SE (gen 5.5), but, yes, the 6th generation one does nothing for me. I’d rather have this Altima, even for the same money. The previous one was ok, but I thought the interior was quite bland and rather cheap-looking.
“aarons12:
December 29th, 2006 at 9:08 am
the maxima hasn’t been the least bit interesting since the late 1980’s, unfortunately ”
I beg to differ…I had a loaded ’97 Maxima SE and I must say it was the best car for the money I’ve ever owned. Though the VQ had “only” 190hp in those days it could do 60 in 6.6 with the manual and was a beast on the highway (I have a ticket for 111mph in a 65 to prove it).
The funny thing is I’ve driven the new 250hp+ mid size cars and they don’t subjectively feel much faster than the old Max, and the relatively scant .5-1second difference in acceleration times seems to back that up. The old Max, while no Miata, handled itself quite well on the turns, had a truly cavernous interior, 30+mpg on the highway, and one of the best sound systems I’ve heard on a car to this day. Also, the mechanicals were pretty much bullet proof during the 4 years I drove it. The ’97 SE was a great car that has competitors (and even Nissan itself) playing catch up to this day.
Like a recreational Viagra user, the new car’s chassis is 30% stiffer.
Great line…and jdv, I believe the joke was WTF, OMG, LOL referring to CVT. Either way, funny nonetheless.
Please tell me more about how the CVT is improved. I drive a Murano frequently, and the rubber band from Hell feeling maybe a little strong of an image for me. I personally call it riding a vacuum cleaner.
I can’t reconcile CVT and driving pleasure theough, even in my weirdest dream. When you press the go pedal, you expect the load on the engine to go up and the rev to go higher as fast as they can, not the rev to go up and the transmission to leisurely change it’s ratio to maintain constant acceleration (with or without good approximation of where your food is on the pedal, the throttle is not connected to that pedal, the ECU is doing it for you)
All in all I find it a disconcertingly disconnected driving experience. But then again, it’s a Murano, not a sports car. And it’s not mine.
Also, it has world’s most spirited understeer.
Tim:
In the new Altima, the CVT has been programmed to feel more like a normal auto. I also found that the manual-shift mode worked very well, upshifting if you forget to do it yourself.
The Murano is a bit more of a wafter because of its weight, and of course, the programming on the tranny is different.
Thanks for all the kind words everyone!
Brendan you wrote
“you’re a middle-aged, mid-level, middle-management guy in the mid-west. You’ve gone a bit doughy around the middle. You’ve got 2.5 kids and a golden retriever. You got socks for Christmas. It’s been a long time since you handed in your acid-wash denims for wrinkle-resistant Dockers, swapped the Van Halen for Vivaldi, and traded in the Firechicken for a four-door bore. ”
But why did you skip the best part? What about his wife? Is she good looking? Blond? I bet she has huge “eyes”.
However about this Altima, i think it is a little too plain (looks only) even the new offerings from GM and Ford look fresh and hip. I do like the way this Altima looks, i really do, however i am not sure if someone was buying a car based on looks only, would go for this Altima over Civic or Aura or Fusion.
CarNut:
If it’s true, as you suggest, that the Altima’s sales numbers are losing ground [anyone got any figures to confirm this?], one factor might be the exterior styling, and not just because of staleness. Many newly designed cars don’t impress at first, or they jar us initially, but then they begin to grow on us. I even got comfortable eventually with that big red smile created by the new taillight set-up in a previous generation Accord. In contrast, when Altima’s first dramatic restyling occurred, I can remember being impressed at the boldness, but as time passed, the slightly hot-roddy look seemed less attractive.
These design discussions are fascinating, becase design is such a subtle and subjective factor. For example, some folks dislike the Jetta design because of the resemblance to Corolla, but for some subtle reason that I can’t pinpoint,
I find the Jetta much more appealing than the Corolla. Go figure.
The steering wheel reminds me of “The Scream” by Edvard Munch. Disturbing…
agmathai:
“aarons12:
December 29th, 2006 at 9:08 am
the maxima hasn’t been the least bit interesting since the late 1980’s, unfortunately ”
I beg to differ…I had a loaded ‘97 Maxima SE and I must say it was the best car for the money I’ve ever owned. Though the VQ had “only” 190hp in those days it could do 60 in 6.6 with the manual and was a beast on the highway (I have a ticket for 111mph in a 65 to prove it).
I have a loaded ’99 Maxima SE, now with 115,000 miles on it, and it is absolutely the best car for the money I’ve ever had. It’s roomy, decently quick (a few more horses wouldn’t hurt), nice interior, and very reliable. I don’t much care for the new Maximas, mostly because the styling just doesn’t grab me, but also because the Altima is almost the same car for less money, and (as someone else pointed out) a G35 is about $3,000 more.
I love the new Altima. I think they did a great job updating it. But it has a *HUGE* problem. The new Accord is coming. And while we know hardly anything about it, you can rest assured it will be popular. See, the Altima’s greatest appeal is as an alternative to the staid and boring Camry. The Accord may not be as exciting to drive as the Altima, but I guarantee you it will be more of a drivers car than the Camry. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, especially if Honda goes along with the market and ramps up the power for the V6 version.
I just went to the Nissan website, selected a V6 SL just for kicks, and when I got to the options page, selected the sunroof windscreen. They tell you that selecting the windscreen will add the Technology Option, for another $2000+. The friggin’ car already comes with the moonroof, why do I need a technology package for a windscreen? Geez!
Other than that, I also have a 99 and an 03 Maxima in the garage. The 99 is a blast to drive, comfortable, 30+mpg on the highway, reliable and pretty easy to maintain. But the 03…I don’t know what Nissan did, but it’s too uncomfortable to drive more than one and a half hours, the power seat groans likes it’s been beaten, and it just isn’t nearly as much fun to drive as the 99. I’m not really sure why, but it doesn’t seem as quick and makes noises like it’s trying to tell me to take it easy, please. Unlike the 99, which is all about ‘let’s go for a ride’. What’s wrong with Nissan?
But great review of the Altima, guys. I hope they got that one right.
What would it cost to have a car like this in rear wheel drive? Can anyone give a good estimate?
If it honestly cost $4000 extra, then I’d be ok with the infinity. But if RWD only adds $500 to the cost of a car, then i’ll continue to be chronically frustrated.
I’m doughy around the middle, but still listen to Ted Nugent in my Grand Marquis.
The Altima is interesting from a performance/price equation, but I’d never buy a car with a CVT – if 10 years from now my buddies down at the corner Mom and Pop garage cannot fix it, I’m not buying it. Ditto for the Ford Five Hundred.
I guessing learning to drive on an old three on the tree International Harvester pick-up while working on a farm during my summers and driving a 50 year old tractor conditioned me to like the tried and true.
I never equated FWD with cost savings (quite the opposite, from an R&D perspective), so I can’t imagine there being a situation where a manufacturer would offer RWD for a premium. I thought it was more about interior space increase. Let’s look at a roomy FWD vs. a theoretically more cramped RWD version of the same car. Which one of those two attributes is a deal-breaker for most drivers? The smaller space.
It’s a little before my driving time, but I believe the other impetus for the mass switch to FWD was safety (the image of the pre-nanny-era 1970s boats slip-sliding all over the northern half of the US, killing old ladies and puppies left and right).
So is the current resurgence of RWD only a possibility because of stability and traction control? Or was the old notion of unsafe RWD cars just blown out of proportion?
Hmmmm…I wonder if the interior roominess provided by FWD is real roominess or perceived. I have a GTI, and my feet would be rubbing the tires if it weren’t for a piece of carpet and a sheet of steel. I still have a fake transmission tunnel (just contains exhaust pipe), so the only thing RWD could do worse would be to fatten the center console area, which is unusable space anyway. Maybe the dashboard would move back a few inches, but nobody is *that* fat anyway. might LOOK more cramped, though. My front wheels would get to move forward a few inches and spare my ankles in an accident.
I thought that FWD saved money in assembly costs. If it really doesn’t cost more, then i’m way super mad now.
In 01 we were shopping for a mid size and came across the Altima, but was not impressed with the build quality: foam hood support rather than rubber, and the interior was not as great as the Honda/Toyota, for about the same amount of money. The only saving grace is the handling and the engine size.
How is the build quality of Nissan now a days?
ASH 78
I don’t know about Europe, but in the US, the shift to FWD was completely about reducing weight while boosting interior space – GM’s famous jag of downsizing from ’77 to ’87 constantly emphasized that the new models were ‘bigger on the inside, smaller on the outside’ or words to that effect.
I think we set up a false dichotomy between front and rear drive. Soon it’ll all be about 4 wheel drive vs. 2 wheel drive.
Great review – well written, indeed.
When the previous generation Altima was released with a powerful (relatively speaking) V6 and a manual transmission, I was floored by the price, but less than thrilled when I test drove it – the motor was fine, but the clutch and shifter were balky. The interior was dreadful. I didn’t buy…
I just got done driving a new Accord V6 sedan with their slick shifting manual (which should have released this way to begin with in it’s first model year!), and it may not LOOK as sporty as this new Altima, but the new Altima would have to be awfully good to beat the driving dynamics of this Accord. And here’s the scary part – this Accord is living on borrowed time – the next gen model isn’t too far off.
But now I’m dying to drive the Altima on the same roads just for comparison’s sake.
But even if it were close, the resale value isn’t as stellar as Honda’s. Even though the new Altima seems promising, it has a tough fight ahead of it, in my opinion.
Izafutto:
I doubt the new Accord spells trouble for the Altima unless they change the focus of the vehicle. The Accord/Camry are “middle america” cars. They tend to not do anything terribly well or poorly and consequently lack personality. The Altima has always been the affordable family sedan for the driver who still had a pulse. Now if the Civic Si is a sign of things to come, then the Altima is in serious trouble. If not, the Altima will be fine.
“Inside, Nissan once again felled a rubber elephant and used its hide to upholster the dash.” LOL, LOL. Terrific review! Altimas, in my opinion, are to the automobile world what Madonna CDs are to the music world.
Brendan.. Well done overall..One of the best intro paragraphs I’ve read.
This vehicle certainly seems to eclipse the Maxima and thank God comes with an optional 6 speed.
Why do Nissan sedans always have weird butts?
Why do Nissan sedans always have weird butts?
Because their mother is the Quest minivan :).
If you compare an Altima with a Civic Si or an Accord coupe you have to compare with an Altima SE or SE-R, otherwise we are comparing apples and pears (not oranges, that would comparing it with a Tahoe SS).
What Renault DNA can we start seeing in tha Altima is also a good question for the future…
Purchased a brand new 1996 Nissan Maxima and still a proud owner. The thing runs excellent except the shocks, its getting a little bouncy. However everything else is mint. The engine is still smooth 0-60 in 6.5 seconds with 153,000 miles on it. I smile every day I drive it. I’m start to get compliments when doing routine maintenance on oil changes and flushes and so forth. That car is a sleeper and a classic. I troll blogs to see what new cars could possiblly measure up to it. I go here, Jalponik, Edmunds…I shall be very depressed when I need to depart with it. For obvious reasons, it won’t last for ever, but so far so good. If you look at the choices I had back then in 96 it was a no brainer pickup, today people are spoiled. That 96 is a classic, the 00 is nice, but G35 is truly the new Maxima that rings true to what the 4DSC should be fast, furious and relentless. Also the weird butts provide a little character over time. I though the 96 butt was butt when I bought it, but I now have an appreciation for it.
Why would anyone buy a Maxima indeed? I sure do agree with the tremendous metaphor about “the rubber band from Hell,” that so many of the CVTs offer; and glad to read that the one available in the new Altima gives the driver a more assured feel. CVTs are supposed to save gas. But if the driver is continually putting his or her foot into the accelerator, to get some sense of where the drivetrain is going, it sure seems to me the best solution is still a manual transmission with as many gears forward as clever engineers can come up with.
If Mr. Man really has 2.5 kids, he’d probably pass this model by, and maybe for the Max (hence the latter’s raison d’etre). More so once he compares the price of the loaded Altima with the Max- why pay the same for a smaller car?
I own & love an 03 Altima. But the smaller size and higher price of the new ones are a turn-off. Someone wanting more size will cross-shop, not with the Max, but with the Azera (and save several thou). Or even the Impala (and get an 8 to boot).
Nissan needs to hit a home run with this Altima, the way it did with the prior version. As the review notes, there is less to make it stand out now, especially considering the premium price.
This is the break the Sonata needs. If it ever comes out with fast boat trim.
You gotta give Nissan credit: their designers realized that the model’s target market couldn’t take much more styling than the previous version already offered.
I give their designers credit for making this thing look more like a Maxima. Now I have to put more effort than ever before in trying to differentiate the Maxima and Altima, as if they already didn’t look similar enough.
By the by, there’s a lovely integrated spoiler that you can get with this car. It has the same effect as a thong for that droopy bottom, and even the 4-bangers look okay with it on.
I went to the Nissan site and was surprised at how fuel efficient the Altima is these days. It’s rated at 26/35 mpg with the 4 cylinder and 6-speed stick, which is outstanding for a 2.5-liter with 175hp and 180 lb/ft in a car this size.
My ’03 Civic Si hatch is about 400 pounds lighter and has a 2-liter with 15 less horsepower (and 48 less lb/ft) and only gets 26/30. I guess I need a sixth gear…
Well said!
Is it just me, or did the Altima’s beltline actually drop? While everyone else wants to make their sedans look like SUVs, Nissan is doing the opposite! Its a great redesign.
I think the Altima / Maxima relationship will make more sense with the 2.0 verions of Nissan’s product revitalization. Remember, when the 2002 Altima and 2004 Maxima came out, Nissan was pretty much Big-3 (i.e., broke). To that end, I think they were foretuneate to be able to differencate the two models as much as they did. When I bought my late 2004 Maxima, there was no way I was buying an Altima. Inferior interior appointments and different driving position, not to mention the Maxima’s back seat were the deciding factors for me.
I think the seventh generation 2009 Maxima will be to the 2007 Altima what Avalon is to Camry. A slightly bigger (with the Altima also getting smaller for 2007), more luxurious FWD (with Infiniti covering the RWD market) sedan. Given Nissan’s character vs. Toyota, I’d expect the 2009 Maxima to be the sportier alternative to the Avalon and its competitors (thing Infiniti M vs. Lexus GS).
My only concern (fear?) is that the 6spd. manual in my 2004 Maxima is likely not to return with the new generation car. After spending 3 hours in bumper-to-bumper traffic last week during a mild winter storm, that may not be such a big concern after all. I still have cramps in my left leg…
I just saw an ’07 Maxima SE on a dealers lot for 37K. It was loaded up with a couplke of packages, satellite radio and a moonroof. I do not believe that is a good “value”.
Very nice review, a funny and entertaining read. Well done.
One thought: The decrease in the car’s length draws it away from the US standard bearers (Camry and Accord), and puts it more in line with “world car” sized compact/mid-sized sedans, such as the Mazda 6, VW Jetta, and Acura TSX, the latter of which is known in other markets as a Honda Accord.
Add to this the fact that Nissan is currently lacking a sedan in this size range in some other markets, and this tells me that this new Altima may ultimately be Nissan’s attempt to use its US midsized sedan as a “world car.” If this proves to be true, it will be interesting to see Nissan moving in the opposite direction from Toyota and Honda, which have specifically designed sedans specific to the US market that are not sold elsewhere. “World cars” designed for high volume sales in the middle market have tended to be failures in the US — the Ford Contour/ Mondeo immediately comes to mind as a notable example — and if this is what Nissan intends, I wonder whether it may prove to be a serious misstep. It has long been tough to please both markets with just one product.
Regarding the switch to FWD, I think the switch was motivated by a few factors, in addition to the perceived safety advantage offered by that layout
(1) production efficiencies (you can drop in the engine and transmission at once)
(2) improved fuel economy from driveline efficiencies (no driveshaft means lower vehicle weight and rotating mass)
As for the Altima, try a used E39 5-Series instead (30k miles for under $30k). I’ll claim it’s the “best handling RWD sedan ever” and be just about as far off the mark as Nissan with their claim.
why in the world would anyone buy a Maxima?
Rear seat console, perhaps?? ;)
Or maybe for the Mr.T-esque moonroofs.
trentonl:
(1) production efficiencies (you can drop in the engine and transmission at once)
And the whole front suspension. Except it all goes in from the bottom ;)
I can’t believe there is but one single coat hook in the new Altima. What were the engineers thinking? This car really upsets me. Why did Nissan skimp on a detail like this? Just trying to save a buck I’ll bet. Typical Nissan…
Add me to the list of more than satisfied owners of the “younger siblings”….
my ’98 SE is more than capable (a few more ponies wouldn’t hurt) and I like it much better than any of the newer versions…
the ’97 to ’99 cars seem to have been somewhat of a high water mark for the Max…..
so it goes, I guess…..
I’m considering 2007 altima 3.5SL since its less jerky ride and
less noisier than 3.5SE (not that SE is very noisy but SL
feels quieter). Main reason is gas/break pedals softer to
touch than most cars including V6 camry Le/Xle. Anyone
agree ?
Also should I buy the tech navigation package or
purchase NAV separately later off-market ?
Good Review
I have been driving the 2007 3.5SE for 4,500 miles (in a month).
Before I made the purchase I was considering a 2006 Altima 2.5S a 2007 Ford Fusion and the 2007 2.5S. I lined up all three. Styling finally “drove” the decision. I couldn’t stand the Fusion’s radio’s styling. Additionally, the CVT is smooth yet when I want awesome power all I have to do is put the pedal to the floor (The CVT goes right to the power band). The CVT can really make the lack of power in an Altima 2.5S equivalent to a Fusion with a 6 cylinder.
I thought the 2.5S was nice but there is no comparison to the 3.5 SE. The 3.5 SE comes with additional enhancments to the suspension that the other Altima models don’t have (This version has sport tuned suspension, etc.). The heavier engine weight provides for a firmer feel. The 2.5 feels a little bouncy in comparision.
As hard as it is to believe I have been getting 22-24 MPG “City” and 29-33 MPG highway, running premium fuel only. (Manufacturer 22 City, 28 Highway) This vehicle has alot of room to spare at the higher end driving speeds.
The Fusion had a pretty smooth transmission, however how do you beat a CVT?
It is so easy to find yourself at higher speeds.
Lots of fun and instead of buying options I don’t care about I can add a few $-bills to make this car a little more sporty looking and still be well under the options Nissan offers.
Oh and by the way I like the tail lights. The older models are boring!
I’ve been driving my new 3.5SE for 2 weeks and have put about 600 miles on it. I was originally going to get the manual tranny but after reading several reviews that didn’t exactly praise it I decided to go with the CVT. This is a sweet transmission. When you need to go, just punch it and you are seeing 80 before you know it. In normal driving I am constantly amazed as to how much it acts like a manual. Coming over hills I can can feel the engine braking just as I would as if I downshifted a manual. Going down hills there’s no need to constantly ride the brake a the CVT has already moved to a lower ratio.
Handling is great. Feels like a smaller car and even smaller than the previous model. A pleasure to drive.
I love the taillights on this car along with the fastback styling as opposed to the more upright roof of the previous model. Sure, you lose a little headroom but I sat back there and had plenty. If I didn’t need the easy access to theback seat for the kids I would have held out for the new coupe.
The keyless entry and starter are great. No more fumbling for keys while wearing gloves. Now they just stay in my pocket. What a convenience.
I do have several small quibbles. The cupholders in the front console need to lined with soft vinyl or rubber inserts that can be removed for washing. As it is, my traveling mug rattles against the hard sides. The lock switch on the doors needs to be bigger. Hard to hit with gloves on. The CD player needs to have MP3 capability. Should have to spend hundreds more for the 6cd changer to get this. The plastic surrounding the window switches on the armrests needs to be upgraded. At a minimum the should have used the same textured plasitc as was used around the radio. Its still loads better than the plastic wood trim used on Camry’s.
Don’t you think its odd that all automakers make you get the 6 disc CD changer in order to also get the MP3 Player? I mean, if I’ve got my cataloge on my I-POD, who needs 6 discs?
Excellent reading. . . having test driven just about everthing in this class (that still has somewhat of a sporty soul) I can honestly say I miss my 1999 Maxima SE Limited Edition more and more every day. Icidentally, I whole-heartedly agree with the commenter above that the stereo in this model was unbeatable. The Bose unit in the new Altima is saturated in excessive bass, and sounds quite muddy. The highs do not come through well at all, and the speaker positioning does not leave you feeling nearly as entrenched in the sound as the Bose components from the 5th gen Maxima.
That said, trying to find a quick, somewhat spacious, and very well appointed V6 sedan that does not topple the 30k mark is getting quite tough. I’m torn between ponying up for the G35 Journey (sans-navigation, since it would push the car out of my price range) or “settling” for this Altima (fully loaded).
Also at conflict with my wallet is the fact that many models are due for a refresh this year and next. Aside from the Accord (and TSX) mentioned above, the Acura TL is getting gray and sprouting hair in places where it shouldn’t ought to grow.
This car is certainly the closest thing to my 99 Max that Nissan has put out since. The biggest road block in getting me to right the check at this point is the 32k sticker price, which is so close to a G35 that I might be able to make up the difference by digging under the couch cushions!