     2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL sedan. Click image to enlarge |
Though the 2013 Altima has the same wheelbase as the 2012 model, the body is about 34 mm wider, which makes the cabin seem more spacious. The quality of the interior materials has moved up a notch and includes leather seats and trim (SL), a soft padded dash, attractive carbon-fibre like trim around the shift lever and door handles, and appropriately placed silver and chrome accents. I liked the bright, illuminated white-on-black gauges and small digital trip computer and information screen between them. The driver can scroll through useful information like average fuel economy, driving distance, average speed, trip timer, and radio station. There’s also an odometer, transmission gear indicator, outside temperature, and distance-to-empty indicators.
The optional centre seven-inch touchscreen (five inches in SV trim) is used for audio, navigation, telephone, and information functions and can be controlled using dash buttons, steering wheel controls or voice activation. If you don’t know the proper voice command, a female voice will give you a selection to choose from, making it easy to use if you haven’t read the owner’s manual. As well, Nissan’s navigation system offers unique features such as real-time traffic and weather information, flight information, local fuel prices, points of interest powered by Google search, and text to speech messages. These latter features are only accessible to the registered owner of the car, so I wasn’t able to try them out—except the traffic info, which alerted me to some closed exit ramps in my area. My primary concern with the touchscreen was the glare on the screen that rendered it unreadable at times.
Smartphones and iPods can be connected to a USB port and a 12-volt charger inside a covered bin at the bottom of the centre console, and there’s also a 12-volt outlet inside the centre storage bin under the padded armrest. The audio system also supports wireless Bluetooth audio. The nine-speaker Bose audio system that’s standard in the Altima SL provides clear, dynamic sound quality and includes AM, FM, CD, XM satellite radio, Pandora internet radio, and AUX and Bluetooth.
The Altima’s large 436 L (15.4 cu. ft.) trunk is fully lined and the trunk lid can be opened remotely. Standard 60/40 split folding seatbacks provide the ability to carry longer objects, but the seatback opening between the two rear wheel wells is rather narrow.
The Altima’s keyless ignition is a real time-saver: with the ignition key fob in your pocket, you can lock and unlock the driver and passenger doors simply by pressing a button on the door handle. Once inside, a keyless push-button ignition allows the car to be started and stopped without taking the key out of your pocket or purse.
Nissan prices the 2013 Altima as follows: Altima 2.5 – $23,698; 2.5S – $24,898; 2.5SV – $26,998; 2.5SL – $29,598; 3.5SV – $29,698; 3.5SL – $32,598.
Like the previous Altima, the new model is assembled in Canton, Mississippi and its engines are built in Decherd, Tennessee.
Pricing: 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV
Base price: $29,598
Options: $ 1,235 (Technology Package $1,100: navigation system with 7-inch touch-screen and voice recognition; NavTraffic; Points of Interest powered by Google, Google send to car, fuel, flight and weather information; Blind Spot Warning; Moving Object Detection; Lane Departure Warning. Metallic Slate paint $135)
Freight & PDI: $1,695
A/c tax: $100
Price as tested: $32,628
Competitors
Buick Regal
Chevrolet Malibu
Chrysler 200
Dodge Avenger
Ford Fusion
Honda Accord
Hyundai Sonata
Kia Optima
Mazda6
Subaru Legacy
Toyota Camry
VW Passat
