2002 Nissan Altima

Excited about the new 2002 Nissan Altima? I know I was. Being a huge Nissan fan, I was actually waiting for the coveted Sentra SE-R and the SE-R Spec V. But this is good too. The most amazing thing about the car is the larger size, a new design, and (fanfare, please!) new engines.

Cure for the Common Sedan?

More like the cure for the common mid-size. For some reason, the new larger size looks... well... HUGE! As I walked up to the driver's door, I realized it was larger than it looks from afar. Then again, the Sentra was like that as well! Nissan is super-sizing their cars, no doubt! The Sentra now feels more like a mid-size, while this contender feels more like a full-size sedan! In fact, the Altima is actually a little larger than the current Maxima. Do you still remember the last Altima? Can you believe that punny little car has grown this big? This year's Altima has also fattened with a curb weight of over 3000 lbs.


The Way It Looks

The new design is now more conforming, rather than the ugly styling of yesteryears. We are still waiting for Nissan to fix up the Maxima (redesign due for 2003) and the Sentra (though improved with the SE-R, still the same...please, fix those tail lights!). The Altima now looks eeirly like the new Toyota Camery, an Audi, and an Volkswagen. The rest of the car is sleeker, but also with a higher beltline (I can't rest my elbow on the window when it's down now). The interior is spruced up to look more modern (yet plasticy). In my opinion, the gauges are ugly, and simplistic to look at. However, I like the fact that when you turn off the car, the gauges black out (can't see anything), which makes for the feel of being more upscale (like on the Infinities). The tail lights now are following the Lexus IS300 trend of being "Altezzaed". This is the style that many like, but may be overdone in the aftermarket. It actually looks out of place on this car, because of the conservative styling of the front and sides. In fact, if it were not for the tail lights, the rear looks conservative as well.

The Way It Feels

Leather seating is offered, and with more leg room to workl with, you will notice the leather more! The seats now are electrically controlled (not like the manual ones found in the older Altimas). The seats are confortable, though I do not know for how long, since it was a 15 minute test drive. The moonroof is easy to operate, with a switch on the overhead stack. Everything is were they should be. The the powered windows now come with front driver AND PASSENGER auto down...AND UP! Look out drive thru windows! Look back, and the rear passenger seats looks like a nice, plush, leather sofa you'd find in a living room than in a car. Leg room, as well as head room, is very spacious in the back (like in the Maxima). I remember being cramped in there in the older Altima!


The center stack looks a bit weird, with a somewhat oval shaped stereo system. This makes me wonder if you can change out the stereo with either a single din or a double din aftermarket. The Bose system I tried out on the SE 3.5 (V6 engine) sounds very flat with no bass at all. I am not a huge fan of Bose systems in cars, anyways. According to Bose, you cannot change any audio components (speakers, head units, etc) because of the way they calibrated and designed the system. This is a huge negative for many people who like their aftermarket headunit (like me: I like having an in-dash MP3 player like the JVC KD-SH99 I reviewed).

Cup holders are sits between the driver and the passenger as most mid and full-sized sedans sits. This may be a problem (with any car, really) for stick shift junkies like me, but in reality, I never really bump or spilled anything from shifting. The automatic climate control is standard fare, like in the Maxima. However, the controls look very out of place in a very clean looking design of the center stack. I must wonder, though...who designed the interior?

Driving the car proved that it drives the way it looks. Being larger, it is harder to get around. I had a very hard time pulling the car into a parking spot in a lot. The turning ratio was pretty big, which didn't allow me the room to just turn right into the spot. I had to turn the opposing way a little BEFORE I turn into the spot, which still ended up JUST enough to slip right in...and looked like a HS student with a permit just parked it.

What about on the road? As with most large sedans, the Altima had a very quiet ride. All bumps were smothered by the supple suspention. Of course, most of you know that a good ride means bad cornering. Well, the Altima DOES have a lot more plow when braking, and in corners, it has some body roll.

For some reason, the V6 (and the I4) engine seem underpowered in the car. Being a 240 HP and 175 HP (respectively) engine, the pull feeling I got when flooring it did not feel exilerating. Perhaps this is due to the weight or the slipping clutch.

Which brings us to another issue: the clutch slips a little more than usual. This was apparent on BOTH the SE 3.5 (V6) and the SE 2.5 (I4).

The Way It Moves

The most alluring part of the car for me was not the V6 engine, but the new 2.5 liter I4 which is going to be in the new Sentra SE-R and SE-R Spec V. Although it placed in a larger car, it powered the Altima without feeling too underpowered. Still...can you imagine this little 175 HP 4 banger in a smaller lighter (2700 lbs) body?

The V6 is the same one found on the Nissan Maxima, which is the best V6 around today. It makes 240 HP on the Altima SE 3.5 but the same engine makes 255 HP on the Maxima (to keep the Maxima from being beaten by his smaller brother, the Altima). ALthough most will still continue to purcahse the 4 cyl Altima, I just can't imagine a large car like this being powered by one. Looking at the 175 HP it generates, though, makes it possible.

The Way I Work

I personally would consider the Altima SE 3.5, but am also looking forward to the Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V. It's sportier, and that is what I am looking for. So, Nissan USA...when are we going to have the Skyline GTR? :)

Other picks? I am looking in the general direction of Subaru, because of thier Impreza WRX, as well as Toyota's Matrix. I am still hanging on to my dreams for the Mitsubishi Evolution Lancer VI or VII. And the Honda Civic Si? I'm just curious, as it looks to be a bit underpowered with an 160 hp engine.

Also, if you look at the price I qouted, you will see that it says "$30,000". In Cali, they always tack on more to make more $$$. I hate that, and that makes the car too expensive to even consider. The sales person shrugs it off, and just said "well, just look at the car! Isn't it worth it?". Yeeeesh! What arrogance!