 2002 Nissan Altima. Click image to enlarge |
By Chris Chase
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When the Nissan Altima replaced the Stanza as the company’s mainstream family sedan for the 1993 model year, it stood out in a sea of average-looking Accords and Camrys as a stylish and fun four-door. That trend continued in 1998 with the introduction of the second generation Altima. But despite its long list of virtues, the four-cylinder Altima never quite got the attention it deserved, thanks to its big brother, the V6-powered Maxima.
That all changed in 2002, when an all-new, third generation Altima hit showroom floors. The smooth lines of the previous car were replaced with an aggressive stance that made the car look fast even when it was standing still. The rather plain dash arrangement of the 2001 model was dropped in favour of a design that matched the car’s aggressive exterior. While it may not be for everyone aesthetically, the controls were easy to use, with plenty of storage space in the console, glove box and below the centre stack.
At the time, the 2002 Altima was positively huge compared to the outgoing 2001 model. It was also larger than both the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord and boasted the roomiest interior in its class and a cavernous trunk.
Once underway, the 2002 Altima didn’t just look fast; it was. The base engine was a strong 2.5-litre four-cylinder making 175 horsepower – and for the first time, an optional 240-hp V6 was offered – a detuned version of the same award-winning 3.5-litre engine used in the Maxima, the 350Z sports car, and a plethora of other Nissan and Infiniti vehicles. For 2004, V6 Altimas gained five horsepower for a total of 245; that motor got five more ponies again in 2005, for 250. The 2005 lineup also brought a high-performance Altima SE-R, which boasted 260 horsepower, big 18-inch wheels and a stiffer suspension. The 2005 Altima also got a new interior, redesigned in the face of criticism of the low-rent feel of earlier third-gen Altima interiors.
While the V6 is the engine of choice for those drivers who want a sedan with sports car performance, the four-cylinder has more than enough power to keep up with traffic in town or on the highway, offering an advantage of 20 hp over the 2.4-litre engine in the previous Altima.
 2002 Nissan Altima. Click image to enlarge |
In early versions, the four-cylinder returned good fuel economy: 10.1 L/100 km in the city and 7.4 L/100 km on the highway. The V6 is relatively efficient too, despite its heady power output. It’s rated at 11.2 L/100 km and 8.2 L/100 km in city and highway driving, respectively. Later Altimas got better highway consumption ratings: 6.9 L/100 km for the four-cylinder, and 7.3 L/100 km for cars with the V6 and five-speed manual transmission. Consumption is a little higher with the automatic, as well as in the SE-R.
Watch out for engine problems in 2002 four-cylinder cars: common issues include bad catalytic converters, oxygen sensors and excessive oil consumption. If posts at NissanClub.com are any indication, manual transmissions in early cars can be troublesome, too. Speedometers that read higher than the car’s actual speed are common too. Consumer Reports doesn’t think as highly of this third generation Altima as it did of previous versions, which earned the magazine’s recommendation as a used-car pick. These newer cars haven’t proved as dependable as the older cars.
While the manual transmission seems like the obvious choice for drivers wanting to take full advantage of this car’s sporty nature, the manual shifter isn’t particularly pleasant to use. Thankfully, either engine has enough power to offer adequate performance when hooked up to the automatic transmission, which handles its duties smoothly and unobtrusively.
 2002 Nissan Altima. Click image to enlarge |
On the safety front, ABS and side airbags were optional on base models, but were standard equipment in all other models. Traction control was offered as an option on the 3.5SE and was standard in the SE-R. All models feature disc brakes at all four corners. An anti-theft system was standard on all but the 2.5S. The third-generation Altima has fared well in U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests, scoring four stars each for driver and passenger protection in frontal impact ratings. In side impact tests, the car earned three stars for front seat occupant protection and four stars for rear seat occupant protection.
The third-generation Altima earned a “good” rating in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) frontal offset crash test, but the car’s side airbags got a “poor” rating in side impact tests.
Used Altima prices range from just under $12,000 for a 2002 four-cylinder model to $30,375 for a 2006 SE-R. If you don’t need the V6 engine (in all honesty, the four-cylinder is powerful enough for most situations), then the sweet spot price-wise might be a 2004 2.5 SL, which came with the side airbags, anti-lock brakes and an automatic transmission and is worth just under $20,000 today.
The Altima’s looks may not appeal to everyone, but there’s not a lot to fault here. This is a roomy, sporty car from a company known for its quality products. These cars have sold well, so you should have little trouble finding one that meets your needs.
Related Stories on Canadian Driver
- First Drive: 2002 Nissan Altima
- Test Drive: 2002 Nissan Altima
- Test Drive: 2005 Nissan Altima SE-R
Online Resources
- NissanClub.com and NissanForums.com – I’d recommend starting your search for third-generation Altima information at either of these two forums. Both split up discussion by model years, so the 2002-2006 cars get their own section at both places. Moreover, many of the regulars seem knowledgeable and there’s lots of useful information to draw on.
- FreshAlloy.com – The Altima forum here covers all model years, from the original 1993 Altima, right up to the new-for-2007 model. Much of the discussion has to do with that new model, so some serious digging might be in order if you’re looking for info on third-gen cars.
- NicoClub.com – Again, the Altima forum here caters to all Altima owners. But where discussions at FreshAlloy.com seem to focus on the new Altima, here it seems to centre more on first- and second-generation versions.
Recalls
Transport Canada Recall Number 2003045. Units affected: 4487
2002: On certain vehicles, the clockspring electrical connector may not be fully secured to the driver side air bag module squib pin connector due to the retaining groove in the module not having sufficient depth to hold the connector in the assembled position. If the connector comes loose, the supplemental air bag warning light will come on. However, the driver side air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash. Correction: Dealer will install a retaining clip on the clockspring electrical connector.
Transport Canada Recall Number 2003060. Units affected: 30589.
2002-2003: On certain vehicles equipped with the 2.5 liter engine, the exhaust pipe hanger pin may catch debris from the road which could be ignited by contact with the main catalyst. Correction: Dealer will remove the protruding portion of the exhaust pipe hanger pin. Also, certain operating conditions may cause the pre-catalyst to overheat and damage the catalyst substrate. If substrate particles enter the combustion chamber, they may score the cylinder walls, resulting in increased oil consumption. If the engine oil level is not checked on a periodic basis, engine damage may occur which could result in fire. Correction: Dealer will reprogram the engine control unit to prevent the possibility of the pre-catalyst overheating. If the conversion efficiency of the pre-catalyst has deteriorated, then the catalyst will be replaced. The original pre-catalyst will then be inspected for evidence of damage to the catalyst substrate. If damage is present, the vehicle engine will be replaced.
Transport Canada Recall Number 2003171. Units affected: 30132.
2002-2003: On certain vehicles at extremely cold temperatures, moisture in the fuel tank may freeze and form ice crystals. These ice crystals may obstruct the suction opening of the fuel pump which can prevent the supply of fuel to the engine and cause the engine to stop. Correction: Dealer will install a screen at the suction opening of the fuel pump.
Transport Canada Recall Number 20033267. Units affected: 74143.
2002-2003: On certain vehicles, the circuit board for the crank position sensor may have an improper solder joint. This could cause the Service Engine Soon warning light to come on, create a no start condition, cause reduced engine power, or cause the engine to stop running without warning during vehicle operation. Correction: Dealer will replace the crank position sensors.
Transport Canada Recall Number: 2006161; Units affected: 26,224
2003-2004: On certain vehicles equipped with a 2.5L engine, the crank angle sensor can malfunction causing the engine to stall. Correction: Dealers will reprogram the Electronic Control Module (ECM) to prevent stalling.
Transport Canada Recall Number: 2006155; Units affected: 6,300
2006: Certain vehicles equipped with a four-cylinder 2.5L engine may exhibit excessive oil consumption as a result of improper piston rings. If the oil level is not maintained, engine damage can occur and could result in an engine fire. Correction: Dealers will reprogram the Engine Control Module (ECM) and, if required, replace the engine.
Transport Canada Recall Number: 2006040; Units affected: 32
2006: The die used for stamping the rear suspension subframe was out of specification during three days of production. As a result, the thickness of the attachment bracket for the rear lower link may be less than the minimum specification. This could result in a crack forming in the attachment bracket. If a crack propagates through the bracket, the rear lower link may separate from the bracket. Under certain severe driving conditions, stability of the vehicle may be compromised, leading to a loss of vehicle control. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if required, replace the rear suspension subframe.
Used vehicle prices vary depending on factors such as general condition, odometer reading, usage history and options fitted. Always have a used vehicle checked by an experienced auto technician before you buy.
For information on recalls, see Transport Canada’s web-site, www.tc.gc.ca, or the U.S. National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA)web-site, www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
For information on vehicle service bulletins issued by the manufacturer, visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
For information on consumer complaints about specific models, see www.lemonaidcars.com.
