Falling into line with the brand’s new design language pioneered by the latest Maxima and Murano, the 2016 Altima features a prominent, V-shaped grille and boomerang-shaped headlights.
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Nissan says its performance in the United States is on a record pace in 2015, with sales passing the one million mark earlier than any time in company history.
Rear highlights include new taillights and a revised trunk lid, but one thing not here is the dramatic floating roofline from the Murano and Maxima (that would require a bit more of an extensive redo).
The driver’s Altima may be making a low-key comeback for the 2016 model year, as Nissan introduces a heavily updated Altima and adds a sporty SR model, along with updates to styling, connectivity, and safety technology.
Nissan says the new Altima is 10 percent more aerodynamic, with the coefficient of drag reduced from 0.29 Cd to 0.26 Cd.
Nissan hasn’t ignored the interior, either. A more robust structure, added insulation and a laminated acoustic windshield also ensure this is the quietest-ever Altima. The most obvious change is found in the new center stack that houses a 5.0-inch color display featuring NissanConnect with Mobile Apps and Siri Eyes Free (except for the base 2.5).
Under the hood, there has not been minor changes. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are regrettably not yet part of the mix, however.
On the safety front, the 2016 Nissan Altima is available with Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW), radar-based Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Forward Emergency Braking (FEB), Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA). Users can choose between a four-cylinder or V-6.
The cheaper model has 182 HP at its disposal as well as 180 lb-ft (244 Nm) of torque hooked up to the 7-speed gearbox dubbed “manumatic” by Nissan’s marketing geniuses. The six-cylinder is a 3.5-liter unit with 270 hp on tap. “We have every reason to believe that with the arrival soon of this new 2016 Altima, those trends will continue upward for the foreseeable future”.
While full pricing has not yet been revealed, the 2016 Altima will come out in November, and it is expected to start at $23,125. “The new Altima offers class-leading** standard fuel economy of 39 miles per gallon highway for Altima 2.5-liter engine equipped models”. Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats are still there, which some of our staff love and some hate, while a new Altima SR trim brings some increased sportiness to the interior with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shifter, paddle shifters for the automatic transmission and sport interior accents.
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“Altima has experienced five consecutive years of sales growth in the segment, a feat that no other mid-size vehicle can claim”, added Muñoz. The vehicle will be available in seven models, plus a new Altima SR sports model for about $1,500 extra. The new Altima SR is fitted with ZF Sachs dampers and upsized stabilizer bars that trim body roll by 20 percent compared to non-SR models, reportedly while maintaining a good ride.
