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Another interesting item - the Sentra lists the same driver's headroom, and more driver's legroom, than the Altima! This could be quite a fun car as well.
The pedal touchiness may be able to be tweaked prior to launch next month. At least the throttle response could be done in firmware - that could even be re-flashed at the dealer. The brakes - hmmm. I just hope Nissan doesn't keep making it so hard to get a 2.5S with ABS.
From the reveiw:
In any trim level, the Altima is a pleasure to drive. The ride is sporty-firm without being too harsh or uncomfortable for long drives, and there is ample room inside for drivers of all sizes, XXLT included. The speed-sensitive power steering is never too light—as such systems often are—and offers road-feel on par with the best in the class, namely, the Honda Accord. The interior almost looks cheap, but details such as the contours in the dash mat above the three central air vents are just enough to save it. Instead of cheap, it comes across as spartan. The base inline four-cylinder has enough grunt to propel the car respectably, and a V-6 Altima is virtually guaranteed to cause fun.
I do spend all of my time in the front seat, though. And since it's more comfortable in the front for me, and since most 4-person groups have a range of sizes of people, it may still work better for me...especially if those 2 back seat passengers have lots of luggage.
The smaller folks always will be more comfortable in airplanes than I will; perhaps this is my chance for revenge...j/k
I didn't think the interior looked too bad. I thought the cloth was kind of plain looking (from the pics anyway) but I thought the leather interior looked pretty nice. I'm all over the map right now anyway ... I just bought an 06 Civic Si tonight! I've been trying to nurse my 99 Passat along for over a year now (first waiting for Subie Legacy to come out with folding rear seats only to have them drop my color choice for 07! Then I picked up on the Altima and thought I'd wait for it but my Passat is starting to make ominous noises in the steering column and front suspension. Then this used (1165 miles) 06 Civic Si turns up with an extended Honda Certified Warranty and I told my wife that I think I might buy it and trade it on an Altima when they eventually come out (if I really like the Altima). I told her I figured the most I might loose is $1000 on the trade in and I've got at least that much in repairs on my Passat. To my amazement she went along with the idea!
The starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2007 Altima is $17,950 for Altima 2.5 with a refined 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed manual transmission. The Altima is again also offered with an advanced 3.5-liter V6 engine – starting at an MSRP of $24,000 for Altima 3.5 SE with 6-speed manual transmission.
“The Altima 2.5 provides an incredible value for the money, with its starting MSRP only $200 more than the model it replaces – despite the new exterior and interior design, enhanced handling and performance, user-friendly technology and numerous other refinements,” said Bill Bosley, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division. “The new Altima follows the tremendous consumer response and sales success of the previous generation. No longer just an alternative in the segment, it has now become a true leader.”
The new Altima is available in four other models: Altima 2.5 S with 6-speed manual transmission at $19,800; Altima 2.5 S with Nissan’s advanced Xtronic CVT™ (Continuously Variable Transmission) transmission at $20,300; Altima 3.5 SE with CVT priced at $24,500; and the Altima 3.5 SL with CVT at $28,400. An additional model, the 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid is scheduled to go on sale in select markets in early 2007, with pricing for that model to be announced at a later date.
But it is a start.
Car & Driver has been pro Honda & anti-Nissan for some time now. I wouldn't put much stock in their preliminary & prejudiced review. You will find a much more detailed review at www.nctd.com. They absolutely rave about the new Altima, especially in the V6 SL trim level. According to the editor, this new CVT is the type of transmission that Mercedes & BMW has only dreamt of, but never succeeded in building.
Nissan's best in class engine gets about the same epa mileage as Honda's V6, but will literally run circles around it. Not only does the Altima have 26 more horsepower, but it also has a much better transmission than either of Honda's transmissions, the 6 speed manual or 5 speed automatic. NCTD goes on to say that this is the classiest interior in it's price range.
The reviewer points out that Nissan now has the best navigation system available in the mid size segment. Not only does it have voice activation, but real time traffic routing.
As for trunk capacity, the Altima tops the class once again with 17.9 cu ft, a whopping 3.8 ft more than Honda. Furthermore, Nissan's splits 40/60, whereas Honda is all or none.
Let's not forget about the base 4 cylinder engine, either. Nissan has a clear win over all rivals with epa estimates of 26/34 and 175 horsepower. You can have your cake and eat it too. (Most power & highest epa estimates.)
One final note. Nissan has increased their sales moreso than any other auto manufacturer in North America for the last five years. It's true they have taken a hit in the last year, but with several all new products coming out this year such as Versa, Sentra, Altima, Maxima, & a newly revised Infiniti G35, Nissan is set to make yet another comeback. Their market capitalization (the total value of a company's outstanding shares of stock) is second in the world only to Toyota at $105 billion. (Honda's is about $65 billion & General Motors is $17 billion.)
San Antonio Steve
Toyota has increased as much as Nissan did from 2002-2005 in terms of sales in NA.
Reviewers bring their own bias to the publication.
NISSAN ALTIMA
Altima prices begin under $20,000—that's a bargain.
Family-Size Fun
Large, front-drive family sedans aren't usually at home on twisty mountain roads. But the all-new Nissan Altima is. This car loves to be driven hard, as we found during a day's drive around California's rugged Monterey Peninsula. From behind the wheel the car feels much smaller than its predecessor. In truth, it sits on a new chassis that shaves only 1 in. of wheelbase. That inch pays big dividends in road poise. The engines, either a 175-hp Four or a 270-hp V6, sit deeper in the engine bay for a lower center of gravity. The front halfshafts are angled equally, so torque steer is virtually nil. The V6 SE model is a screamer and our choice—with either the six-speed manual or new CVT. And the seats are among the best in the segment. — BEN STEWART
Inside, it's hard to recognize as an Altima. The hard plastics are gone, replaced by soft, high-quality materials. Now it feels like a more expensive car.
San Antonio Steve
Tony
egon
Granted, it was just unwrapped and not totally cleaned, but I was slightly less than impressed overall. The Sticker was removed, so I could not get price data and the like, but it was reasonably loaded with equipment.
The back end of the new Altima is sexy - a bit fat like the Maxima, but also a bit long, and good looking. I have to get used to those taillights going halfway up the fender - perhaps it stood out because the car was black. The front end from certain angles (particularly a 3/4s view) looks somehow odd - it had to do with the chrome bar at the bottom of the grill being so far forward combined with the design of the intake integrated into the bumper piece, and the hood looked a little short and steep somehow for my taste. Still that was only at certain angles, and overall the exterior is pretty good.
Inside I was actually disappointed. It did not help that the console storage bin cover on a new, never driven vehicle, was broken (unable to stay closed), but the general feel of the materials was only "fair" in my estimation - not too cheap, and not too nice. The tilt/telescope on the steering wheel either kept messing up or was broken - if that is how it is supposed to work I would never risk an adjustment while moving. Leather felt standard for the class and the seat was okay.
I flipped on the radio and is sounded dead and flat. Dead and flat like an AM radio from a 1970 Pontiac Catalina. I played with the adjustments and it did not help. I could swear there were no rear speakers, but there were. The sound system in this vehicle was atrocious but given the vehicle I sat in was pretty well loaded I assume the sound system was near top of the line. Nissan needs to change it out.
I couldn't drive it, but got to start it. Love the push button start. That was the best thing about being inside. Hopefully this was a first production loser copy of the car, and the full production runs will be better.
It's a sharp-looking car. Nice interior, comfortable seats, (8-way power with CP), lots of leg and headroom. The steering tilts and telescopes. It's easy to tilt, but since there's only one release handle, it's tricky to telescope. With the CP are Cruise and Radio controls on the leather-wrapped wheel. Very nice. Radio sounded very good. I'm assuming the earlier poster was looking at a car that didn't have it's antenna installed yet, or something - this one sounded just fine. But I was listening for the engine, so I had it off. I tried the A/C and heat - very powerful blower, and very quiet, even at full-blast.
It starts with the Button - the Intelli-key is standard! Smooth, quiet idle. Once in Drive and on the road, there's very little wind or road noise. It made the engine sound, when pushed past 3k, seem starkly loud - it's really the only noise there. The steering is the best part - very smooth and linear. It corners very well at what I'll call seven tenths. The trans was very unobtrusive, and it does included the manual shift mode on the 2.5S. Unexpected, and nice. I tried a few manual shifts, and it did what you'd expect - allowed a downshift while entering a curve to get revs up, and then a quicker take-off after the curve. It hold a lower ratio for engine braking down descents as well.
The trunk seems very large, but I was disappointed in two things: the seat cushion doesn't fold forward (like the Sentra) for a truly flat load floor; and the trunk-lid hinges are the old-style that descend into the trunk while closing. Otherwise very wide and and deep storage.
All in all, very pleasant to drive for $22,175. ABS adds only $300, and most of the Altimas on this lot had it.
I'm awaiting the call to announce when they get a 6-speed manual in stock.
Just my 2 cents.
Here are my impressions:
1) Engine – same as before – noisy, but less torque due to CVT. In order to accelerate quickly you need to floor it. I hated that, because it took some time to get this thing going. I hated the noise though, it sounded bad.
2) I don’t know what to think of this CVT, I guess that some people love it – I hate it – it provides such a huge disconnect between you and the car – think of it in terms of Manual vs. Auto – this CVT is like that.
3) The interior was much better than the 06, and I loved the Intelligent KEY system, which was cool. The gauges looked much better than the old orange ones.
4) The steering killed me. It is like driving a Chevy Malibu – same electronic steering, what the hell were you thinking Nissan? After driving Mazda 6 and 3, the steering in the Altima sucked big time.
5) The ride was ok, nothing special.
6) I hope that the 3.5L SE is much better, because I would never buy the 2.5
I’d take a Honda Accord with the 2.4L (I can’t believe I just said that ) over the new Altima 2.5
www.nissanusa.com
I bought a 07 Versa SL w/CVT and Convience package, and for $700 it comes with Bluetooth and Intella-Key (plus other items.)
Now what I think of the 07 Altima..
Its over priced.....
I think Nissan missed the mark on pricing, for a fully loaded 3.5SE, you can buy a Infiniti G35, sorry guys, I'd take the Infiniti, MUCH better leather, better interior items then what Nissan uses.
Nissan needs to make the Bluetooth a standlone option like they did in the Maxima last year. Charge $350 for it, people would flock to the car...
I really think Nissan made a mistake, a lot of people don't want to spent $4400 for a package, in which some of those item are far less on other cars in nissan line up...
I love the styling of the car,but.... The Price...
Tony
Tony