Strictly by the numbers, the Nissan Altima is doing great. As Nissan’s best-selling car in the U.S., the Altima ranks third in sales in the hugely competitive midsize sedan segment, right behind sales leaders like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

But even these popular models had better watch their backs, considering that outlying competitors –such as the Mazda6, Chrysler 200, Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata –are itching for a fight to the top.

Cars are more than numbers, however, and our initial impression of our Nissan test car’s 182-horsepower, 2.5-Liter 4-cylinder engine left something to be desired.  Our front-wheel-drive Altima SL seemed awfully noisy, especially if a long drive lay ahead. That initial impression faded away, thankfully, as the Altima showed off its sensible side (mixed with a touch of sportiness).

Our car came with Nissan’s upgraded continuously variable transmission (CVT) that delivers better fuel economy and less friction than before. The shift transitions are quiet, smooth, and barely noticeable.  With Nissan’s engineering improvements to the CVT, fuel economy is a workable 31-mpg city/38-mpg highway, or 27-mpg combined.  The Camry and Accord haven’t announced 2015 fuel economy, but our guess is the Altima will be best in class.

All SV and SL models are eligible for a Technology package that includes a seven-inch touch-screen with color display, navigation system, voice recognition and mobile apps.  Apps include Online Search powered by Google(navigation equipped vehicles only), Pandora(Android only – iOS coming soon), Facebook and iHeart Radio for Auto. The touch-screen produced clear images and functioned well during our test.

The Technology package also includes important passive safety features like blind-spot detection, lane departure warning and moving object detection –the latter shows moving objects at the rear when your car is in reverse.

During safety tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Altima recorded a frontal crash rating of 5-stars for the driver, 4-stars for the passenger, and 4-stars during the rollover test. As of this review, there were no published results for side impact tests.

Those who demand swifter acceleration can look at the Altima with a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, which delivers 270-horsepower and 25-mpg in a mix of city and highway driving.

Nissan has paid the extra pennies to ensure the interior feels solid and comes with plenty of features.  The SL trim enjoys leather seating with power seats contoured to reduce pressure on the spine and fatigue on long drives. The latest Altima is also one of the roomiest cars in its class—enough so that a six-foot relative sat in the back seat very comfortably.

Bose audio is standard on the SL, as is Sirius/XM satellite radio (a separate subscription is required) and a USB connection for your iPod.  Keyless entry with remote start, push-button ignition, power door locks and power one-touch windows, dual-zone automatic climate control, dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors and 60/40 fold down rear seats add extra convenience.

A rear view camera also contributes to the Altima’s safety profile. Standard safety features include traction control, vehicle dynamic control, tire pressure monitoring system, electronic brake force distribution, a vehicle security system and Nissan vehicle immobilizer system

All Nissan vehicles are backed by an unremarkable 36-month/36,000-mile limited vehicle coverage and a 5-year/60,000-mile limited powertrain coverage.  The Altima’s residual value is around the segment average.

All of the midsize sedan segment's top sellers have received stylish updates, and the Nissan Altima is no exception.  The trapezoidal grille and projector headlights and fog lights give the front end a touch of excitement. The SL trim gets handsome alloy wheels, LED taillights, and a chrome tail pipe. All in all, the sloping roof line and raised trunk give the Altima a pleasing fluidity – even if the car’s omnipresence on the road means it’ll never turn any heads.

First impressions aren’t always spot-on accurate, as we discovered here. After spending more time with this Altima sedan, it proved to be a practical choice wrapped in a stylish, economical, and comfortable package.

Credit:

http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/latest-reviews/driven-2015-nissan-altima-grows-midsize-sedan-segment-article-1.1936706

KBB names Nissan Altima one of the 10 most comfortable cars under $30,000. Must be those NASA inspired seats!

KBB REVIEW REPRINT:

The midsize sedan market is about the toughest segment in the industry – led by the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord – so if you're coming to play, you'd best bring your A-game. With the 2014 Altima, Nissan has done just that, earning it our praise as one of the 10 Best Sedans Under $25,000 for 2014. Not only has the automaker maintained the cool look and sports-car-like handling that made the original Altima such a success, they've done so while thoroughly modernizing the Altima in ways crucial to younger buyers. A new Apps-based music and navigation system spearheads the effort, as do a 38-mpg fuel economy rating (2.5 model) and premium materials throughout the handsome cabin. Nissan has done a masterful job making complex audio and navigation systems easy to operate and understand – something both old and young will appreciate.

credit:

http://www.kbb.com/car-reviews-and-news/top-10/most-comfortable-cars-under-30000-2014/2000011042-6/

Mossy Nissan’s Ultimate Altima Giveaway Winner!

On Monday, August 11th, semifinalists of the Mossy Nissan’s Ultimate Altima Giveaway gathered to test their luck in winning a brand new 2014 Nissan Altima 2.5S! Each semifinalist was assigned a number as they arrived to the event at Mossy Nissan in Chula VIsta.  At approximately 5:15pm, the official giveaway began. One by one, each person blindly grabbed a key out of the giveaway box.  The person holding the "golden" key won a new Altima.

Elizabeth C. from Chula Vista is the lucky winner of a brand new 2014 Altima! Her family was there to cheer her on and share in the exciting moment!

Three happy runners up with their Gas Card prizes.

About the Giveaway:

Mossy Nissan’s  Altima Giveaway extended over 99 days.  People could enter to win online at MossyGiveaway.com, or through Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.  Entrants had to answer the question "What Can You Get For $99?".  Over 2,500 creative and clever entries were received.  One semifinalist was selected every day for 99 days.

2014 Nissan Altima named one of the most affordable by Cars.com

2014 Nissan Altima 2.5 S vs. 2014 Toyota Camry LE

When it comes down to mid-sized sedans, there are several options that will get the job done. But why not choose the car that will do the best job while providing the best value? The Toyota Camry may be thought of as the standard mid-size sedan, but the new 2014 Nissan Altima is making a name for itself as a better alternative when compared to the Camry.

The new 2014 Nissan Altima sports a sleeker design than its Toyota counterpart, and performs better than the Camry. See the table below:

The new 2014 Nissan Altima outperforms the Toyota Camry in both horsepower and foot-pounds of torque, and manages to provide a higher gas mileage on the highway and in the city. But the 2014 Nissan Altima's benefits over the Toyota Camry don't end there. The Altima's amenities and features shine where the Toyota Camry falls short.

While many features come standard on the 2014 Nissan Altima, several of these amenities are costly upgrades on the 2014 Toyota Camry, or aren't available at all. Nissan's Intelligent Key system and tire specific low tire pressure warning are not found on the Camry, and other key Altima amenities such as cargo tie downs and radio data system provide a feature-rich user experience. The 2014 Nissan Altima also provides more front head and legroom than the Toyota Camry.

All in all, the 2014 Nissan Altima edges out ahead of the Toyota Camry in both power and available features. The new Altima's superior gas mileage and overall performance make it a better purchase than the 2014 Toyota Camry.

Shop our entire Nissan Altima inventory in San Diego today to find the one that's right for you.

Sources: http://compare.nissanusa.com/nissan_compare/NNAComparator/Compare.jsp?clientID=273266&&next=model.compare_versions.compare_competitors.link&#params:main=competitorselect~acodes=XGC40NIC041B0,USC40TOC021I0~submenu=advantage

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Jack Daniels Racing Takes on the Altima

MELBOURNE, Australia - Jack Daniel's Racing has unveiled its new war paint for the 2014 V8 Supercar Championship, with Rick and Todd Kelly set to return to the wheel of their Nissan Altimas.

For Nissan Motorsport's second season in Australia's premiere motorsport category, the pair of distinctive black and white Altimas will sport a refined paint scheme, as well as a revised aerodynamics package, with changes made to the front bar and rear wing supports.

Outside of the aesthetic changes to the racecar, continuity is the key for the outfit, with a continuation of the same driver, chassis and sponsor package from 2013, which saw Rick Kelly claim a solid 14th in the final season standings.

Importantly for Jack Daniel's, this year marks its ninth successive season of major team sponsorship in the class, making the involvement one of the longest serving on the grid.

The first time the new-look Jack Daniel's Racing machines will be seen on track for 2014 will be this weekend at the Sydney.com Test Day at Sydney Motorsport Park, with the season proper commencing at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide from February 27 to March 2.

JACK DANIEL'S RACING QUOTEBOARD

TODD KELLY - #7 Jack Daniel's Nissan Altima

"I'm very excited to be at the beginning of our second year, as the whole thing's quite an unknown for us," said Todd Kelly.

"We've had a pretty good crack at our first year, and we achieved a lot, in my opinion, when you consider the work that has gone on behind the scenes to develop the VK56 engine, and our first attempt at turning the Nissan Altima into a race car.

"All in all, it wasn't too bad a year last year. The guys have all been working extremely hard through the second half of last year, and especially through the offseason to develop a new aero kit for the car, which we haven't used on a race track yet.

"Hopefully that has given us the gain that we are looking for."

RICK KELLY - #15 Jack Daniel's Nissan Altima

"We've sat down with the team and analyzed our strengths and weaknesses, and what we have to do to improve ourselves, and the results that we've got, and we're ready to implement that now," said Rick Kelly.

"It's really exciting; the team have worked really hard over the summer, and the last six months in fact to develop and aero package that's going to be a lot stronger for us in 2014 than what we saw in 2013.

"To match that and to get the most out of that, we've got to do a better job in all of the other areas that it takes to be successful on the track.

"That's everything from engineering, to driving, to the strategy. For us, we're very excited that we have a new opportunity in 2014 and to make the most out of it."

MICHAEL McSHANE - Managing Director, Brown-Forman Australia & New Zealand

"Jack Daniel's is excited to continue its association with Nissan Motorsport for the 2014 V8 Supercar Championship.  Last year was a learning season for the team, and with that experience taken on board, we are looking forward to strong results in 2014," said Michael McShane.

"Both Rick and Todd are great sportsmen, role models, and ambassadors of the Jack Daniel's brand, and through their efforts over the years, they have continued to build our responsible drinking message in this vital market.

"V8 Supercar remains the pinnacle of motorsport in Australia, and we look forward to an exhilarating season ahead."

CREDIT: http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/jack-daniel-s-racing-ups-the-ante-in?page=2