What is it?
2002 Nissan Altima
What's special about it?
Nissan's new Altima comes from out of the shadows to attack Honda's Accord and Toyota's Camry. Bigger, faster and arguably better looking than its adversaries, the new Altima, in the rhetoric of Nissan's suits, is the "Goldilocks" of Nissan's lineup, not too small (as the old Altima was considered) and not too big.
Two engines, a 2.5-liter inline four and a 3.5-liter V6 kick up the Altima's excitement more than a couple of notches. Even the four-banger should be a thrill, as it pumps out 180 horsepower from its 2.5 liters. The 3.5-liter V6 may give Honda and Toyota something to think about, as it produces a stout 240 horsepower, around 40 horses more than the V6s offered in the current Accord and Camry.
The new body has a 170 percent increase in torsional rigidity, meaning a more responsive car with decreased noise vibration harshness levels. Suspension design is improved, with the independent rear suspension design borrowed from Nissan's Japanese-market supercar, the Skyline.
The larger cabin (increased by 9.3 cubic feet) has a noticeable increase in rear legroom, giving rear-seat passengers 2.5 inches more space in this critical area. Borrowing an idea from Audi, Nissan offers a choice of three interior environments, with distinct seat upholstery and interior accents.
Finally giving Honda and Toyota something to worry about, Nissan's new Altima offers consumers a more exciting choice when shopping for a midsize family car.
Why should you care?
If you need a sensible and affordable sedan, but want something that'll make running those family errands fun, wait until September and check out Nissan's new Altima. --John DiPietro
2002 Nissan Altima
What's special about it?
Nissan's new Altima comes from out of the shadows to attack Honda's Accord and Toyota's Camry. Bigger, faster and arguably better looking than its adversaries, the new Altima, in the rhetoric of Nissan's suits, is the "Goldilocks" of Nissan's lineup, not too small (as the old Altima was considered) and not too big.
Two engines, a 2.5-liter inline four and a 3.5-liter V6 kick up the Altima's excitement more than a couple of notches. Even the four-banger should be a thrill, as it pumps out 180 horsepower from its 2.5 liters. The 3.5-liter V6 may give Honda and Toyota something to think about, as it produces a stout 240 horsepower, around 40 horses more than the V6s offered in the current Accord and Camry.
The new body has a 170 percent increase in torsional rigidity, meaning a more responsive car with decreased noise vibration harshness levels. Suspension design is improved, with the independent rear suspension design borrowed from Nissan's Japanese-market supercar, the Skyline.
The larger cabin (increased by 9.3 cubic feet) has a noticeable increase in rear legroom, giving rear-seat passengers 2.5 inches more space in this critical area. Borrowing an idea from Audi, Nissan offers a choice of three interior environments, with distinct seat upholstery and interior accents.
Finally giving Honda and Toyota something to worry about, Nissan's new Altima offers consumers a more exciting choice when shopping for a midsize family car.
Why should you care?
If you need a sensible and affordable sedan, but want something that'll make running those family errands fun, wait until September and check out Nissan's new Altima. --John DiPietro
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