Nissan Altima
For 2011, the Nissan Altima sedan again provides a unique combination of exhilarating driving pleasure, distinctive and sporty design and a wide range of available features and technology.
We test-drove the 2.5 S with standard 175 horsepower and 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder.
Altima has a restyled hood, grille, front bumper and aluminum-alloy wheel designs. These changes added a greater visual volume to the front end, especially the hood. The changes also provide greater differentiation between the Altima sedan and coupe.
The refreshed exterior styling embraces Altima’s distinctive, iconic, sporty design. It offers a “dynamic simplicity” with an aggressive stance, distinctive Nissan “T-shaped” grille, powerful front fenders, strong wedge character line, forward A-pillars and Nissan-family roofline.
Altima’s 109.3-inch wheelbase and short front and rear overhangs (with an overall length of 190.7 inches) enhances its agile maneuverability and contributes to its sporty, aggressive appearance. Altima’s chassis layout also offers roomy front and rear interior headroom and legroom, plus ample cargo storage with 15.3 cubic feet of trunk space.
The 2011 Altima continues to emphasize refined workmanship and the use of soft materials, such as padded armrests and stylish chrome accents – with complementing fabrics and finishers for all interior colors (both cloth and leather-appointed).
Altima’s instrument panel features a Fine Vision gauge display for precise readability and the L-shaped flow of the instrument panel to the center console adds to a driver-oriented cockpit feel. The center console includes a triple front cupholder design, among the many convenient cup and bottle areas (up to nine total, including 20-ounce bottle holders in the door panels) and storage compartments, many of which are covered. The volume of the glove compartment is also substantial, measuring an accommodating .46 cubic feet.
Along with the exhilaration provided by the driver-oriented cockpit and high levels of Altima performance, the “entertainment factor” of Altima’s interior is enhanced with an available Premium Audio Package that includes a Bose® AM/FM audio system with nine speakers, 4.3-inch color display, USB port with iPod® connectivity, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, MP3/WMA CD-ROM playback, XM® Satellite Radio (XM® subscription required, sold separately) and RearView Monitor.
— Mary Ann Van Osdell
Published in September 2011
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