2020 Nissan Altima

This is a highly competing division with almost every corporation having a player. The redesigned Altima makes some bold changes for its sixth generation, including two new engines, advanced driver aids and, for the first time, all-wheel-drive availability.  We have taken the Hyundai Sonata, the Kia Optima and the Ford Fusion - all quite established players in the segment. Let's see how the all-new Altima fares versus its competition. Under the hood of the Sedan, you will find either a 2.5-litre inline 4cylinder engine or a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine depending on which trim level you choose. A continuously variable transmission and front-wheel drive remains standard on all the trim levels.

 

This year, Nissan has offered seven Altima trims, every model comes with the standard 2.5L four-cylinder engine and you get an optional 2.0-litre turbocharged powertrain for spirited driving. With the slight increase in prices right from the base model, the carmaker has also added adequate standard safety, luxury, and comfort features. You can also add all-wheel-drive configuration with some extra bucks.

Trim	S	SR	SR VC-Turbo	SV	SL	Platinum	Platinum VC-Turbo
MSRP (FWD)	$24,100	$25,700	$29,750	$27,880	$30,240	$32,180	$35,180
MSRP (AWD)	$25,450	$27,050	-	$29,230	$31,590	$33,530	-
Key Features	Intelligent Forward Collision Warning	Adds/Upgrades from S	Adds/Upgrades from SR	Adds/Upgrades from SR VC-Turbo	Adds/Upgrades from SV	Adds/Upgrades from SL	Adds/upgrades from Platinum
	Automatic Emergency Braking	LED Headlights	LED Headlights	Power Sliding Glass moonroof	9 Speaker Bose Audio	Interior Accent Lighting	Driver’s Memory Seat
	Rear View Monitor	Dark Chrome V-Motion Grill	2.0L Variable Compression Turbo DOHC 16-Valve 4-Cylinder Engine	Dual Zone Auto Temperature Control	Leather-Appointed Seats	Driver’s Memory Seat	2.0L Variable Compression Turbo DOHC 16-Valve 4-Cylinder Engine
	16” Steel Wheels with Wheel Covers	19” Aluminum Alloys	19” Aluminum Alloys	17” Aluminum Alloys	4 Way power-adjustable front seats	19” Aluminum Alloy	19” Aluminum Alloy
	8” Touchscreen Display	Sport Tuned Suspension	Sport Tuned Suspension	Nissan Pro-Pilot Assist	Nissan Door to Door Navigation	Around View Monitor	Around View Monitor
		Paddle Shifters with Manual Shift Mode	Paddle Shifters with Manual Shift Mode	Intelligent Lane Intervention	Nissan Connect Services	ORVM’s with memory	ORVM’s with memory

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The SR strikes as the ideal balance among all the trims and it comes with added benefits like improved handling, thanks to the included sport suspension. Other than that, it also features a steering wheel with paddle shifters mounted on it, 8way power-adjustable driver's seat and 18-inch wheels with a machined finish. The Special Edition package adds a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with SiriusXM radio, navigation services and remote engine start.

Although both the engine options of the Nissan Altima Sedan are not unique, they manage to get a decent job done. The 2.5-litre inline 4cylinder engine is sufficiently refined and perfectly adequate for a sedan. It is smooth, in terms of both performance and fuel efficiency and produces 188 horsepower and 180-pound feet of torque. If more power and faster speed is your thing, go for the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged which dishes out 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque.  

A CVT transmission is the only gearbox available with either of the engines and the good news is that it’s not like other CVTs. It’s refined and smooth and even simulates gear changes under hard acceleration. Nissan says that they have recalibrated it and it feels better and snappier than the one in the last Altima

This engine is a fruit of lots of years of development and it is really that exceptional. A CVT transmission is the only gearbox possible with either of the motors and the great news is that it’s not like other CVTs. It’s refined and smooth and even simulates gear changes under arduous acceleration. Nissan says that they have recalibrated it and it feels better and snappier than the one in the last Altima

Models	Ford Fusion Titanium	Kia Optima SX	Hyundai Sonata Limited 2.0T	Nissan Altima Platinum VC-Turbo
MSRP	$35,335	$32,915	$33,020	$35,180
Engine	2.0L Turbocharged Inline-4	2.0L Turbocharged Inline-4	2.0L Turbocharged Inline-4	2.0L Variable Compression Turbocharged Inline-4
Transmission	6-speed automatic	6-speed automatic	8-Speed Automatic	Continuously Variable Transmission
Horsepower (hp)	[email protected]	[email protected]	[email protected]	248@ 5600rpm
Torque (lbs.-ft.)	[email protected]	[email protected]	[email protected]	[email protected]

The rivals – Ford Fusion, Kia Optima, and the Hyundai Sonata – all have very competing engines with the Altima’s base engine. They all have approximately the same displacement and have very similar power and torque yields. Nissan is the only one to use a CVT while others use conventional 6/8-speed automatics.

Acceleration

In spite of the presence of paddle shifters, the continuously variable transmission of the Nissan slides back into its automatic programming if the shift is held for long during partial-throttle acceleration. The base engine takes 7.7 seconds while the more powerful motors take to you 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds.

 

The 8-speed automatic transmission achieves respectable acceleration with its average engine and orthodox transmission. 

Models	Ford Fusion Titanium*	Kia Optima SX*	Hyundai Sonata Limited 2.0T*	Nissan Altima Platinum VC-Turbo
0-60 MPH(sec)	6.8	6.7	7.4	5.9
Quarter mile(sec)	15.1	15.1	15.3	14.6
Weight(lbs.)	3676	3558	3527	3436
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	7.1	6.1	6.8	5.6

As far as opponents go, The Nissan dominates at the peak when you stack it against them. The second to the Nissan is the Kia Optima, which is nearly followed by the Ford Fusion. Despite the same engine and similar weight as the Kia, the Hyundai Sonata is the slowest of the lot, owing to its 8 speed automatic.

Ride and Handling

Unlike its stereotypical looks, the 2020 Nissan Altima Sedan has taken special of its handling department with its sporty driving dynamics. The steering may feel a bit slow but it's very accurate. It also features an understeer control system that applies brakes to the front wheel in order to tighten the cornering lines. The Altima drives pretty well indeed. It has a very healthy balance between ride quality and body control. The ride prevails comfortable and composed and you could easily kill long hours in the cabin. Also, it keeps is composure quite well even during the corners.

There is not much body roll and the car gracefully slides into fast corners and sharp turns considerably well. The chassis has also been almost completely updated from the last generation and it really shows in the handling of the car. The SR trims get sporty suspension which allows it to handle the corners even better. Overall, it’s a very stable and composed car at most times.

Braking

The 11.8-inch front brakes and 11.9-inch rear brakes don't suffer from any deficiencies. Moreover, the brake pedals feel firm enough for you to cruise the 2017 Nissan Altima Sedan at highway speeds in confidence. The nosedive is pretty well restrained and the brake pedals offer continuing feedback and pretty prompt responsiveness on application.

Models	Ford Fusion Titanium*	Kia Optima SX	Hyundai Sonata Limited 2.0T	Nissan Altima Platinum VC-Turbo
Brake Front (in.)	11.8	12	12	11.65
Brake Rear (in.)	11.9	11.2	11.2	11.50
60-0 MPH (ft.)	116	117	118	116

Speaking of the rivals, Nissan’s braking performance ranks at the top of the tables and is matched by the Ford Fusion. The Korean equivalents of the Nissan offer decent braking performance as well but come short of the Nissan’s figures by the tiniest of margins.

Something that makes the sedan an ideal choice for a family sedan is being highly fuel-efficient, irrespective of the fact whether you are driving around cities or racing down the highways.The 2.5-litre inline 4cylinder engine rates at 27 mpg in cities, 38 mpg on highways and 31 mpg combined while the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine takes a little dip, rating at 22 mpg in cities, 32 mpg on highways and 26 mpg combined.

Models	Nissan Altima	Ford Fusion Titanium	Kia Optima SX	Hyundai Sonata Limited
MPG (city)	25	21	21	23
MPG (highway)	34	31	30	32
MPG (combined)	29	25	24	26
Fuel Tank Capacity(Gal.)	16.2	16.5	18.5	18.5
Range City/Hwy (Miles)	405/551	347/512	389/555	426/592

Speaking of the rivals, the Hyundai Sonata overwhelms with its overall 26MPG figure and segment-leading range in both the city and the highway. The Ford accompanies the Nissan in the MPG figures department and the chart is rounded off with the Kia coming in last.

The interior of 2020 Altima may not be as sporty as the prominent rivals but offers nicely textures dash panel with a soft metallic finish. The symmetric and space within the center console offers lots of usable storage. Altima’s Zero gravity front seats are something to talk about. These seats are meant to offer optimum comfort to the driver and the front passenger. The front and rear seats also offer better legroom that most of the midsize sedans in the segment. The rear seats are big enough to accommodate average-size adults. In the back, the roofline almost cuts into the headroom for tall passengers.

There's more legroom up front than in most other midsize sedans, and the back seat is spacious enough to accommodate average-size adults. Honda Accord offers more legroom in this competitive set. The quality of materials used is good but fit and finish at all places are not so good as some panels feel flimsy in terms of fit.

Models	Nissan Altima Platinum VC-Turbo	Ford Fusion Titanium	Kia Optima SX	Hyundai Sonata Limited 2.0T
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.0/58.2/43.8	39.2/57.8/44.3	39.8/58.1/45.5	40.4/ 57.9/ 45.5
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	36.7/57.1/35.2	37.8/56.9/38.3	37.8/56.4/35.6	38.0/56.5/ 35.6

The Altima has surprisingly spacious interiors, although its dimensions are not the greatest in class. The seats especially are very comfortable. They provide great cushioning and good bolstering on the sides as well. They are heated and offer multi-way power adjustments and are quite simply the best seats in the entire collection.

Interior Features

Some of the most notable features on the inside includes the following features

• Dual-zone automatic temperature control
• Rear passenger air conditioning vents
• Rear door alert
• Nissan intelligent key with push-button ignition
• Remote engine start system
• Tilt and telescoping steering column
• Variable intermittent speed-sensitive windshield wipers
• Sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors and extensions
• Auto-dimming inside rearview mirror
• Interior accent lighting
• Illuminated kick plates
• 4-way power-adjustable front-passenger seat

Infotainment System

The infotainment system of the sedan isn't something to be impressed. It comes with a standard 5-inch screen and upper trims house an 8-inch touch screen display. Thankfully, it is compatible with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The graphics are quite good as well. The system adds user-friendly navigation and a lot of intuitive features.

Some of the other highlights of the system include 

• 8" touchscreen infotainment system
• Apple car play, Android Auto, and Siri Eyes Free
• 9 speaker Bose audio system with BlueTooth
• Aux inputs, 2 standard USB, and 2 USB Type-C ports
• SiriusXM and HD radio

Cargo Capacity 

2020 Nissan Altima offers a decent cargo space of 15.4 feet Cube. The rivals also offer similar trunk space in the segment. The trunk hinges appear exposed with the rear speakers. However, the fold-down seat releases extra trunk space.

Models	Nissan Altima Platinum VC-Turbo	Ford Fusion Titanium	Kia Optima SX	Hyundai Sonata Limited 2.0T
Cargo Capacity (lb.)	15.4	16	15.9	16.3

The Ford Fusion turns out to be most spacious in terms of cargo space with 16 cubic feet.

Like most of the midsize family sedans, the Altima isn't a combination of diverse dimensions as they share similar basic design cues and are identical in size as well. It is no different from the herd of midsize sedans and doesn't very little on its part to stand out among the crowd. The V-shaped chrome grille now comes down the complete length of the bumper which is further enclosed by a dark chrome V-grille. The headlamps have been totally redesigned and are now sleeker with arrow-like details inside them.

 

The 2020 Altima also exposes reshaped tail lamps, a new trunk lid, and a new rear bumper. Nissan has tried to give an attractive shape to the Altima. The rear sports an expressive bumper along with externally extended horizontal tail lamps.

Models	Nissan Altima Platinum	Ford Fusion Titanium	Kia Optima SX	Hyundai Sonata Limited 2.0T
Curb weight (lb.)	3436	3676	3558	3527
Length(in)	192.9	191.7	191.1	191.1
Width(in)	72.9	75.6	73.2	73.4
Height(in)	57.1	58.1	57.7	58.1
Ground clearance (in)	5.4	5.3	5.3	5.3
Wheelbase (in)	111.2	112.1	110.4	110.4

The Altima has expanded in dimensions. It’s larger, wider and sits lower than before. It is the longest in the competition here but the Ford Fusion is the widest. It is also the smallest one as it has been lowered. It’s however not the lightest. It comes secondary with its wheelbase. It’s still a rather large car for a mid-sized sedan.

Exterior Features

Nissan has kitted the new Altima with an excess of features on the outside. Some of the most notable features include

• Active grille shutters
• Intelligent auto headlights
• Led headlights with signature
• Led fog lights
• External ground lighting
• Heated outside mirrors with led turn signal indicators
• Power sliding glass moonroof
• Acoustic laminated glass
• Chrome v-motion grille
• Dark chrome v-motion grille
• Rear spoiler
• Charcoal rear diffuser
• Dual chrome exhaust finishers

The Altima is pretty well loaded with safety features. Not only does it have the normal safety features we see in almost every car these days, but it also has an array of semi-automatic driving features which is really commendable in this segment. The Altima comes with ProPilot Assist which is essentially level 2 automation, making it semi-autonomous. It can manage its distance from other cars, keep itself within a lane properly and also provide the steering, braking, and acceleration assistance.

Safety Features

•    10 standard Airbags
•    Vehicle Dynamic Control
•    Traction Control System
•    Anti-lock Braking System
•    Advanced Autonomous Braking
•    Blind Spot Monitoring
•    Forward Collision Warning
•    Surround-View Camera
•    ProPilot Assist 

Nissan Altima vs Ford Fusion

From posh looks to everyday usability, the Ford Fusion has something to offer to everyone. With a couple of engine choices, a 6speed transmission and standard front-wheel and optional all-wheel-drive system, the Fusion offers many customization opportunities. 

The stiffened suspension takes credit from its athletic handling and muscular stance. When compared with the Altima, we see that the Fusion has a slightly lower engine output and lacks behind in acceleration by a bit as well. Its braking and fuel economy aren't impressive as well.

Nissan Altima vs Kia Optima

The Kia Optima is a stylish looking car with very well-appointed interiors having lots of standard technology. However, when it comes to driving, the Optima isn’t all that great. Its handling is average and the base engine is quite sluggish. It has a comfortable ride but the Altima does it better, particularly with those seats.

However, the 2.5L engine in the Optima is the best performer in the competition. Talking about the Altima now, it may not be as good a performer as the Optima but it scores better in a lot of other things – better fuel economy, better handling, comfortable ride, and very nice interiors. With a very small difference in price, the Altima being just a little more expensive also is the better among the two.

Nissan Altima vs Hyundai Sonata

Here’s one car that challenges the Altima Really well. A very smart looking car with good interiors that are loaded with features as standard. What’s good about the Hyundai is that it drives really well too. It has a strong and potent engine and has the right balance between a comfortable ride and enthusiastic handling.

While the numbers on paper do not quite suggest the performance of the Hyundai, it’s quite good and is also a better handler on twisty roads. It does not have quite as good fuel economy as the Altima but is pretty competent. In the end, it’s quite difficult to choose between either of these cars but the Hyundai is a little cheaper than the Nissan which probably makes the deal for the Sonata.

The Nissan Altima has it all that one looks in a family sedan. It is kind of solid and feature-loaded sedan. It comes with good reliability and safety scores. The Altima offers a spacious cabin along with needed amenities. Unfortunately, the Altima fails to offer the performance that we find in the rival cars.

Commuters looking for a decent sedan with a handful of important standard safety equipment can opt for Altima without any fear. The fuel-efficient engine is good enough to take you to places without making a hole in your pocket. If you are seeking something fun to drive, better go for other options such as Toyota Camry or the Mazda6.