The 2013 Nissan Altima: A New Era in Family Sedans and Two-Door coupes

For 2013, Nissan has brought a totally redesigned Ultima to the family sedan sweepstakes, and we think it's got what it takes to win over the masses. If you prefer a two-door coupe, Nissan can fit that bill too. The Altima style may be its biggest plus - this is a handsome car in either coupe or sedan, and it looks more expensive than it actually is based on the two available engines.

The Altima offers seven trim levels, but here's the kicker: there's only one engine and one trim level in the coupe. Make no mistake, Nissan has definitely stepped up the interior of the Altima when it comes to design and quality of materials. The front seats are designed with the help of NASA technology, dubbed "Zero Gravity Seats" and engineered to reduce common pressure points for greater comfort on long trips. They work, but too bad the base seats don't come with adjustable lumbar support like we have in our test model.

As for the rear seat, it folds down, but not flat, which makes load space somewhat limited. But we can give the Altima passing grades for its technology features - Bluetooth connectivity, keyless entry, and a push button ignition are all standard. A standard color display sits between the analog gauges and depending on the trim, features can monitor tire pressure, audio info, navigation, and blind spot warnings. There are plenty of other standard and optional goodies on the menu too.

The new Altima sedan gets a redesigned 2.5 liter inline-four for its base engine, and carries over the 3.5 liter V6 both provide power to the front wheels. The sedan's inline 4 now pushes out 182 horsepower while the coupe stays with the old 175 horsepower version. Our Altima 3.5 SL test model came with the V6, giving us a nice bump up to 270 horsepower.

The Altima steering is a bit of a disappointment - you don't really get a good feel for the road and the torque steer gently pulls the car to the side when you're under acceleration. This may not sit well with some drivers, but give Nissan credit for some refinements to the CVT transmission that comes standard with every Altima. The new CVT feels tighter and more responsive with internal friction reduced up to 40 according to Nissan, which helps boost fuel economy.

Exactly, the 2013 Altima sedan now gets as much as 38 miles per gallon on the highway. The Altima is also loaded with active and passive safety features helping the sedan to achieve government crash test scores of 5 out of 5 stars overall. Pricing will take you from a bare-bone sedan at $21,500 up to $30,080 for the top trim 3.5 SL, a base coupe stickered at $24,800 dollars before extras.

There is no doubt about the Altima's good looks and the interior is loaded with features and technology, giving you enough room to keep everybody comfortable while still getting commendable fuel economy if you can handle a little torque steer and the price after adding all the available technology.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enfor 2013 nissan has brought a totally redesigned ultimate to the family sedan sweepstakes and we think it's got what it takes to win over the masses and if you prefer a two-door coupe nissan can fit that bill too the ultimate style may be its biggest plus this is a handsome car in either coupe or sedan and it looks more expensive than it actually is based on the two available engines nissan offers in the ultima sedan there are seven trim levels but here's the kicker there's only one engine and one trim level in the coupe make no mistake nissan has definitely stepped up the interior of the ultima when it comes to design and quality of materials are you ready for front seats designed with the help of nasa technology they're dubbed zero gravity seats and were engineered to reduce common pressure points for greater comfort on long trips and they work yeah but too bad the base seats don't come with adjustable lumbar support like we have in our test model as for the rear seat it folds down but not flat and that makes load space somewhat limited but we can give the ultimate passing grades for its technology features bluetooth connectivity keyless entry and a push button ignition are all standard a standard color display sits between the analog gauges and depending on the trim features can monitor tire pressure audio info navigation and blind spot warnings and there are plenty of other standard and optional goodies on the menu too the new ultimate sedan gets a redesigned 2.5 liter inline-four for its base engine and carries over the 3.5 liter v6 both provide power to the front wheels the sedan's inline 4 now pushes out 182 horsepower while the coupe stays with the old 175 horsepower version our ultima 3.5 sl test model came with the v6 giving us a nice bump up to 270 horsepower the ultima steering is a bit of a disappointment you don't really get a good feel for the road and the torque steer gently pulls the car to the side when you're under acceleration this may not sit well with some drivers but give nissan credit for some refinements to the cvt transmission that comes standard with every ultima the new cvt feels tighter and more responsive with the internal friction reduced up to 40 according to nissan and that helps boost fuel economy exactly the 2013 ultima sedan now gets as much as 38 miles per gallon on the highway the ultima is also loaded with active and passive safety features helping the sedan to achieve government crash test scores of 5 out of 5 stars overall pricing will take you from a bare bone sedan at 21 500 up to 30 080 for the top trim 3.5 sl a base coupe stickers at 24 eighty dollars before extras there is no doubt about the ultima's good looks and the interior is loaded with features and technology gives you enough room to keep everybody comfortable while still getting commendable fuel economy if you can handle a little torque steer and the price after adding all the available technology there are many pluses to be found in the newly redesigned 2013 nissan altima youfor 2013 nissan has brought a totally redesigned ultimate to the family sedan sweepstakes and we think it's got what it takes to win over the masses and if you prefer a two-door coupe nissan can fit that bill too the ultimate style may be its biggest plus this is a handsome car in either coupe or sedan and it looks more expensive than it actually is based on the two available engines nissan offers in the ultima sedan there are seven trim levels but here's the kicker there's only one engine and one trim level in the coupe make no mistake nissan has definitely stepped up the interior of the ultima when it comes to design and quality of materials are you ready for front seats designed with the help of nasa technology they're dubbed zero gravity seats and were engineered to reduce common pressure points for greater comfort on long trips and they work yeah but too bad the base seats don't come with adjustable lumbar support like we have in our test model as for the rear seat it folds down but not flat and that makes load space somewhat limited but we can give the ultimate passing grades for its technology features bluetooth connectivity keyless entry and a push button ignition are all standard a standard color display sits between the analog gauges and depending on the trim features can monitor tire pressure audio info navigation and blind spot warnings and there are plenty of other standard and optional goodies on the menu too the new ultimate sedan gets a redesigned 2.5 liter inline-four for its base engine and carries over the 3.5 liter v6 both provide power to the front wheels the sedan's inline 4 now pushes out 182 horsepower while the coupe stays with the old 175 horsepower version our ultima 3.5 sl test model came with the v6 giving us a nice bump up to 270 horsepower the ultima steering is a bit of a disappointment you don't really get a good feel for the road and the torque steer gently pulls the car to the side when you're under acceleration this may not sit well with some drivers but give nissan credit for some refinements to the cvt transmission that comes standard with every ultima the new cvt feels tighter and more responsive with the internal friction reduced up to 40 according to nissan and that helps boost fuel economy exactly the 2013 ultima sedan now gets as much as 38 miles per gallon on the highway the ultima is also loaded with active and passive safety features helping the sedan to achieve government crash test scores of 5 out of 5 stars overall pricing will take you from a bare bone sedan at 21 500 up to 30 080 for the top trim 3.5 sl a base coupe stickers at 24 eighty dollars before extras there is no doubt about the ultima's good looks and the interior is loaded with features and technology gives you enough room to keep everybody comfortable while still getting commendable fuel economy if you can handle a little torque steer and the price after adding all the available technology there are many pluses to be found in the newly redesigned 2013 nissan altima you\n"