Nissan, Test Drives

Test Drive: 2010 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR sedan

February 24, 2010

2010 Nissan Altima 3.5SR. Click image to enlarge

The Altima’s handling is crisp and accurate, and while I did feel a bit of rear wheel hop on some frost-heaved roads, the ride is quiet and comfortable. My SR might have had a performance suspension, but it was still nowhere near as noisy and firm as that found on its two-door sibling, not surprising given that the coupe is intended to be viewed as a sportier performer. The Altima sedan really shines on the highway, where it eats up the miles in big-car comfort. It would be a perfect road-trip car, save that the seats are flat, and after an hour or so, you suddenly become very aware of exactly how long you’ve been sitting on them.

Official ratings at the fuel pumps are 10.2 L/100 km (28 mpg Imp) in the city and 7.2 L/100 km (39 mpg Imp) on the highway. During my week of winter driving, I averaged 11.1 L/100 km (25 mpg Imp).

2010 Nissan Altima 3.5SR. Click image to enlarge

Where I’ve noticed the biggest change in this nameplate over the years is in its interior. My first-ever stint behind an Altima wheel was in a 2003 model, and the best description was “brittle” – the plastics were thin, the hardware seemed fragile, and indeed, a cubby cover on that relatively new tester was already broken. Since then, the materials and workmanship have improved progressively, and this new version looks and feels refined and very nice. The simple centre stack contains dials and buttons that are easy to use, including the dual-zone automatic climate control, which broadcasts the temperature in lights on the driver and passenger dials. That said, I wonder – and Nissan isn’t alone in doing this – just how much of a difference a half-degree makes in passenger comfort, versus how much more you have to spin the dial to go up or down the register. Is anyone really more comfortable at, say, 22.5 degrees C, than at 22 or 23?

The SR’s upgraded Bose stereo includes a colour audio display screen that’s easy to read, and which provides full information when using an auxiliary music player or the XM satellite radio that’s also part of the trim line. I especially like the iPod Menu button, which quickly and easily takes you through all the folders on the player. Of course, I’m saying that because my music player is of the Apple variety, and those who’ve bought other brands may not necessarily appreciate this blatant product placement.

The rear seat is roomy, and the seats fold down, increasing the trunk from a length of 110 cm to a total of 170 cm of cargo length. It’s a very odd setup, though: the passenger side drops down via a button that can be accessed from the rear seat, but it’s the only one that has such a release. Go into the trunk, and there are straps for both. You need to pull that to fold the driver’s seat, and given how deep into the trunk the strap is, any dirt on the bumper will next be visible on your pants.

All in all, though, Nissan’s steady attention to this sedan has paid off. While I used to put it into the second tier of competitors, its vastly improved interior now combines with its crisp handling and responsive engine to put it among the “first-test-drives” when you’re writing out your list of cars to consider.

Pricing: 2010 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR Sedan

Base price: $31,898

Options: $3,685 (Leather Package, $3,550; Metallic/pearl paint, $135)

A/C tax: $100

Freight: $1,400

Price as tested: $37,083
Click here for options, dealer invoice prices and factory incentives

Specifications

Buyer’s Guide: 2010 Nissan Altima

Competitors

Buyer’s Guide: 2010 Chevrolet Malibu

Buyer’s Guide: 2010 Chrysler Sebring

Buyer’s Guide: 2010 Dodge Avenger