If you Want a Stylish Midsize Sedan, Skip the Camry or Accord and Go with the 2019 Nissan Altima

Remember that VMotion 2.0 Concept from the 2017 Detroit Auto Show? Well, it wasn’t just a preview of Nissan’s future styling language – it previewed the sixth-gen Altima as well. The best part of that is that the six-gen Altima carries over at least 80-percent of the VMotion 2.0’s exterior styling and is even available with all-wheel drive. It is offered with Nissan’s 248-horsepower VC-Turbo four or a new 2.5-liter four-banger that’s good for 188 horsepower. But, even if it does fall just a hair short on power compared to the competition, it could put quite a damper on Toyota and Honda’s sales figures in the midsize sedan segment based on looks alone.

2019 Nissan Altima Performance

The Altima comes standard with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder in all trim levels, which means you’ll get 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. Or, you can go with the Altima SR or Platinum trim level and opt for the 2.0-liter VC-Turbo mill that’s good for 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque if you feed it premium fuel. There’s no word on fuel economy figures yet, but the VC-turbo uses variable valve compression which should lower emissions output and bring about improved fuel economy. AWD is offered as an option on all trim levels as well, which is a first for any Nissan sedan and something that neither Honda or Toyota offer as of the time of this writing. With that in mind, it should be noted that that the only transmission available is Nissan’s Xtronic CVT. It offers up paddle shifters and simulated gears, but it still won’t suffice if you’re really into rowing your own gears.

2019 Nissan Altima Appearance

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Nissan has essentially evolved the Altima, using a lot of the VMotion 2.0’s DNA in the process. The grille has grown while the corner trims in the front fascia have grown deeper into the corners. The headlights are sleeker and the hood more aggressive. It even has muscular rear haunches (for a sedan, anyway) and the body lines are as sharp as they can be. And, Nissan has managed to stick true to its values and retained the typical sedan appearance instead of following the “four-door coupe” trend. It’s certainly more aggressive than the current Honda Accord, and it gives the new Toyota Camry a run for its money as well. If aggressive styling and attractive looks are your thing, the Nissan Altima is a hard vehicle to pass up on – it might not be quite as aggressive as the VMotion 2.0 Concept, but it does have all the right cues in all the right places. We certainly couldn’t ask for more than that.

2019 Nissan Altima Interior

While you might find some of the VMotion 2.0’s design cues outside, you won’t find much inside. Not that it could be expected as the concept had a serious futuristic look to it. But, that doesn’t mean that Nissan didn’t put in some serious work to freshen up the cabin. It’s not as premium as similar offerings from BMW or Mercedes here, but it’s not a bad cabin either. The dash is simple but nowhere near as cluttered as before. The new infotainment system floats ahead of the dash, a welcome change from that massive center stack in the last-gen model. The small strip of wood trim gives the feeling of width without going overboard, and the instrument cluster is simple yet attractive. Leather upholstery can certainly be had but expect there to be some cheaper plastic here and there too. All told, it’s a refreshing look that’s on par with the Accord and Camry, and that’s exactly what Nissan was looking to do here. Bravo, Nissan. Bravo!

Final Thoughts

With the current market trend, sedans really are a hard sell. People are nutty and obsessed over SUVs, and bean counters everywhere are sensitive when it comes to creating anything that doesn’t ride high and cater to the egos of those who just need to keep up with the Jones’. With that in mind, Nissan really nailed it with the new Altima. It’s got stylish and aggressive looks, decent performance figures, and a comfortable and inviting interior. It might not be quite as powerful as the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, but it has the looks and features to make it more than relevant. Nissan did a good job here, and you’ll undoubtedly find the new Altima a strong proposition if you’re in the market for a new midsize sedan.

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