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Nissan's design objective for the 2013 Altima was to create a car that was "a class above" the actual category in which this model plays. Sure, it sounds like a glib promotional line, but we had several people come up to us during the initial drive experience and ask if this was a new Lexus. Clearly they thought they were looking at a premium brand and we won't argue with that. The sheetmetal now has a more sophisticated character, and even the joker-grin grille that Nissan favors doesn't detract much from the expensive look.
While the rear end looks familiar, the deep-draw trunklid stamping produces interesting contours, and the prominent chrome accent bar's subtle shape was influenced by styling from a Shinto temple. The car's profile is clean, and the strategic creases in its sides are right up to date with current design trends.
All in all, the new Altima is a good-looking piece, and it even weighs less now thanks to the use of aluminum for the hood and bumper reinforcements, and expanded use of high-tensile steel. Overall, total vehicle weight was reduced by about 80 pounds.
The new car's dimensions are much as they were for its predecessor, but the new unibody benefits from a front strut-tower brace and an additional structural support at the rear parcel shelf to improve solidity.
Some people might not like the unusual engine cadence one experiences with a CVT, but you can't beat it for instant response. Need to move into a gap on the freeway? Step on the gas and hold on. Then, on the open road, you can dial back and let the revs drop to a discreet purr as the CVT spools to its long-striding high ratio. All that's left is to sit back on the new NASA-inspired "zero-gravity" seats (designed to reduce muscular load) and enjoy the trip.
Looking ahead, one sees an appropriately space-age instrument panel with a center info screen that offers virtual three-dimensional displays. The car is loaded with all of the usual modern electronic stuff, including a backup camera that provides not only a rearward peek but also lane-departure and blind-spot warnings, plus moving-object recognition to see toddlers and shopping carts.
Along with navigation and cell phone integration (allowing streaming audio and text-message services), the Altima has available remote start and easy-fill tire-pressure monitoring, where the car beeps to tell you when the correct pressure has been reached.
Nice as those convenience technologies are, the Altima's major attraction for us is its performance on the road. Both engines are strong and responsive, and the CVT has some brilliant features to help the driver. For one, it stays at the current ratio if you lift off the gas momentarily, such as when trying to merge. For another, it shifts to a lower ratio when you're braking, to be ready for a strong drive off the corner.
And when you do hammer off that corner, there's an active understeer control (which brakes the inside front wheel) to keep you on the right line. With features such as this, we can live with a bit of motor-boating from the drivetrain.
With the four-cylinder model priced from $21,500 and the V6 starting at $25,360, we find the Altima an attractive alternative to the other big players in the class.
2013 Nissan Altima
On Sale: Late June
Base Price: I4, $21,500; V6, $25,360
Drivetrains:
2.5-liter I4; 182-hp, 180 lb-ft, FWD, CVT
3.5-liter V6; 270-hp, 258 lb-ft, FWD, CVT
Curb Weight: 3,108-3,355 lb
0-60 MPH: 7.8 sec, 6.2 sec (est)
Fuel Economy: 27/38 mpg, 23/30 mpg (est)