2017 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV
Full Size Car (FCAR)
27/39 mpg
FWD
2.5L 4cyl inline engine
179 hp
8-way power driver seat with power lumbar
4-way manual passenger seat
Cloth seats
18 Gallon fuel tank
Cargo Capacity in trunk 15.4 cubic feet
Six speaker audio system with USB, AUX, CD, and Bluetooth
Comes with SXM
Blind spot warning and rear cross traffic alert
5” screen
Backup camera

Pros
Comfortable seats
Much improved CVT
Great Acceleration

Cons
Lacking a touchscreen
Steering is a little sluggish
Technology is a little dated

Summary: The Altima, especially in SV trim, is no longer the bottom of the barrel.



For the past couple of years, Nissans have been on my avoid list. It is not that they were bad cars, it was that National ordered them in pretty basic trims. When you have a fully loaded Fusion next to a bare bones Altima, most people will take the better equipped car. Luckily, it appears that National is now ordering Nissans in higher level trims, and this particular one is the mid-level SV trim.

Compared to the standard S trim, the SV adds 17 inch wheels, eight-way power driver seat, remote engine start, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, dual zone automatic climate control, and satellite radio. The car I picked up did not have active satellite radio, even though it had only 300 miles on it. It is supposed to have 3 months trial, so YMMV.



The Altima is equipped with a continuously variable transmission. For those that are unfamiliar with it, it does not have distinct gears like most other cars. In the past, it has been sluggish on acceleration, and for me, was another reason to avoid Nissans. I will say that the transmission has been greatly improved. I gave it a try today while merging onto the highway, and it was a smooth acceleration, with no distinct change in sound. Zero to 60 is 8.1 seconds.

The Altima is in need of a technological refresh. The screen for the entertainment is 5 inches, and is not a touchscreen. It took a few minutes to figure out how to pair my phone. The Camry and Fusion are pretty straightforward, especially with the touchscreen.



I found the seats much more comfortable than they had been in the past, as well as very supportive. The SV trim comes with 8-way power adjustable seats, with power lumbar support, to further make the seats more comfortable. In addition, the SV trim adds many of the standard safety features such as blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.

The hardest thing for me is to decide where to place the Altima, compared to its rivals. The Fusion, especially in the Titanium trim, is still the leader in the full-size cars. Beyond that, it comes down to what trim levels are available, and what factors are more important. I would likely take it over the Camry, as it feels more exciting and more comfortable.