As of late, the whole Ontario market for crossovers has really blown up. That said, the style of a sedan can still be incredibly alluring to those who prefer something with a trunk instead. And if you want something affordable, good-looking, reliable and solid, but not too common like a Camry or an Accord, what about the fifth generation used Nissan Altima? Before you let out an audible sigh, a pre-owned Nissan Altima is actually a pretty well-regarded vehicle. It was particularly noted for offering a sensible mid-sized sedan that offers four doors practicality and comfort with the sportiness that many yearn for. With the prices of even mildly used Altimas going down, it seems like a very good time to capitalize on that.We think that the Nissan Altima went just far enough with its styling. It’s not too over-designed, like multiple recent cars coming out of Japan lately, but still features that dash of futuristic pacific styling we all love. There was also a facelift for the 2016 model which sharpened the looks of the Altima and brought it up to date. There are two main engines you can find in an Altima, the 2.5-litre naturally aspirated inline-4 and the 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6.
Responsive and Fuel Efficient
On all our used Nissan Altimas for sale, other than the coupe, a CVT transmission is standard, and it’s front-wheel drive. While a CVT generate the opinion of a drony, tiring constant engine note, Nissan went with a simulated stepped gearing setup. The 2.5-litre inline 4 puts out 175 bhp and 180 lb-ft of torque, which is more than adequate for most cases where the Altima will be driven. This combination pushes the Altima from 0-100 km/h in around 8 seconds, which is actually rather quick.
However, if you want something a bit more energetic, perhaps the 3.5-litre inline 6 is what you want. Being a V6, it is silky smooth and very refined, while also letting out a lovely growl when you push it. Making a springy 270 bhp and 258 lb-ft of torque, you can expect a 0-100 km/h time of 7 seconds. The inline-4 can return 27 mpg combined, while the V6 is thirstier, returning 23 mpg combined.
The Altima was touted as being an overall pleasant drive. While majority of the buyers will feel that the inline-4 provides plenty of zest for the Altima. The CVT is also surprisingly responsive and smooth shifting, if not rapid. There’s no denying the appeal of the V6 though, especially if you’ve heard one unwound. While the suspension is setup for comfort, you’ll be pleased to find that Nissan didn’t compromise too much on the handling front, offering a confident driver with a well-sorted chassis. The brakes may not be as strong as the competitors though.
Probably the Most Comfortable Seats in Its Segment
The interior of the Altima is pragmatic, if undramatic. It’s all very expected, but you may find the later models to be disappointingly behind comparable competitors, especially on the technology front. That said, if what you want is a well-built and extremely comfortable interior with robust material choices, the Altima won’t let you down. Being a sedan, boot storage is a concern, and the Altima performs averagely in this regard at 15.3 cubic feet.
This is, of course, ignoring the fact of the earlier used Altima models which offered the coupe body style. The coupes came standard with a 6-speed manual transmission, and if you opt for the V6, is reminiscent of the Infiniti G35. It offers a stylistic face and is quite an unconventional choice for a coupe, you do sacrifice a lot on practicality here though, but that is not a concern for coupe buyers really. It’s not that common though, which may be why Nissan decided to cut the cord for the 2014 model year.
Top Safety Rating by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
For modern cars, safety is increasingly a non-issue. A used Nissan Altima offers most standard safety features you can expect, anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, front side-impact airbags and curtain airbags. It also scored four out of five stars in government tests.If you want something that looks stylish, drives well, is comfortable and reliable, you can do a lot worse than any of our Nissan Altimas for sale. It’s just a very sensible choice that may look like it offers no frills on the surface, but can offer the fun one can only find in cars with fewer doors.