2010 Nissan Altima Review

For more than 15 years, the Nissan Altima has provided families with a practical sedan that can hold up to five passengers. The 2010 Nissan Altima continues the tradition, offering great value for your money. The 2010 Altima is offered in sedan, coupe, and hybrid models, and should be offered for sale to the general public this fall. The hybrid will only be for sale in California, Oregon, and other states with higher emissions standards. Test drivers have already had a chance to take a look at this great new car, and are saying wonderful things about it.

Horsepower

The 2010 Nissan Altima gas-powered vehicles are available in 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder models. The 4-cylinder model comes with 175 horsepower, while the 6-cylinder model comes with 246 horsepower. Both cars come with a traction control system, four-wheel antilock brakes, and high performance suspension. The suspension on the 3.5 SE sedans and coupes performs a little stiffly when driving on rough surfaces, although the 2.5 model rides well. The 3.5SE, was able to go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds.

Gas Mileage

With today’s gas prices, gas mileage can make or break a decision to buy the car. The 3.5 SE sedan, with a V-6 engine and automatic transmission, got 24 mpg while driving primarily on the highway, and 19 mpg when driving primarily in the city. The manual transmission 3.5 SE achieved between 23 and 25 mpg. The hybrid model achieved 29 mpg in primarily city conditions. The 2010 Altima has a 20-gallon gas tank, so you can drive quite a while without stopping at a gas station.

Safety

The 2010 Nissan Altima is packed with more than 50 safety features, all coming standard. The Altima comes with dual stage supplemental air bags in the front. The air bags are programmed with two different inflation levels. The inflation level that is used depends on the severity of the crash. With a good braking system, the chances of a driver getting into an accident that will trigger the airbag is reduced. The car also has a vehicle security system which will sound the horn and flash the headlights when someone attempts to open one of the car doors or the hood.

Interior

Inside the 2010 Nissan Altima, sedans keep the road noise to a controlled level, while the coupes are a little louder. The controls to the stereo and climate system are easy to use on models that don’t contain the navigation system. While the navigation system does make it easier to get to a place that you’ve never been before, it is complicated to program, and makes the stereo more difficult to use. The leg room is fine for shorter individuals, but people taller than six feet might find the interior a little cramped. The back seat of the coupe lacked both leg room and head room for taller individuals. The sedan’s trunk is large, although the coupe’s trunk is small and narrow.

Features and Options

The 2010 Nissan Altima offers a lot of features, including a Bose audio system and steering wheel-mounted controls. Optional features include a navigation system, a rear view camera, a wireless cell-phone link, and leather upholstery. Other options include a sunroof wind deflector, in-cabin microfilter, and door edge guards. The body can be altered with optional spoilers, bumpers, and side rails.