Road Tests: Long-Term Test

There are some pretty amazing comeback stories in the automotive world. In just the last 10 years, we've seen Volkswagen/Audi, Hyundai and Nissan all perform feats of rebound that would have even Shaquille O'Neal raising an eyebrow. At some point in the not-too-distant past, it was easy to imagine each of these automakers fading from U.S. showrooms, and possibly going out of business completely (hopefully, this observation will give Ford some solace during its current efforts to be the next great American comeback story).

Nissan in particular has been on a roll these past few years. Starting with the all-new Sentra, Maxima and Xterra in 2000, and followed up by a refurbished (and more powerful) Pathfinder and Frontier in 2001, the company has learned some basic truths about American buyers. Specifically, we Yanks like our cars roomy and powerful, and we further appreciate functional ergonomics while spending as little time as possible at our local Nissan service center.

With four all-new or significantly upgraded models added to the company's lineup in the last two years, it was time for Nissan to turn its attention to the brand's bread-and-butter sedan. No, not the Maxima (though that car did see some additional improvements for 2002), but the nameplate that most U.S. buyers had forgotten: Altima.

For years, this not really compact, not really midsize sedan had lived in a netherworld between two hot market segments. It was supposed to offer more features than competitors like the Dodge Stratus or Chevy Malibu, but the car's sales numbers since its 1998 redesign showed that most prospective customers were unimpressed.

With the completely redesigned 2002 Altima, Nissan has served notice that it will no longer play second fiddle to Toyota or Honda when it comes to the midsize sedan market. The company created a stylish, roomy and powerful people-mover with a price tag that meets or beats the competition. With such a bold statement coming from this rising automaker, we felt an Altima long-term car was a no-brainer. When one considers that the Camry is also all new for 2002 (not to mention that car's continued status among the best-selling sedans in America), we could have easily justified a 2002 version for the program, as well. But while the Camry was certainly improved for the new model year, the Altima has been completely transformed. Additionally, we've already had a Camry in the fleet (actually, a 1997 Toyota Camry was the first Edmunds.com long-term car).

We purchased our Nouveau Ruby Altima 3.5 SE from Lew Webb's Irvine Nissan just before Christmas 2001. We wanted one with certain options, such as the ABS and Airbag package, leather, a power glass sunroof, the Bose audio system with in-dash CD changer, splash guards and traction control. The model we finally located had some additional features that weren't on our "must-have" list. Items like the sunroof deflector and rear spoiler seemed more gimmicky than necessary, and the Cold Weather package has little functionality in Southern California. Still, the selling dealership was extremely easy to work with and gave us a great price ($27,417) right from the beginning. The fleet manager even drove the car to our Santa Monica offices for delivery, meaning the whole deal was handled without setting foot on a lot. You can read all about the buying experience in Consumer Advice Editor Phil Reed's column Online Car Buying Revisited.

With the keys to a shiny new Altima in Editor-in-Chief Karl Brauer's hot little hands, he was truly feeling the holiday spirit. "The car's overall shape is attractive, if a little chunky for my tastes. However, the dark ruby color softens the body lines slightly, giving our Altima a clean, uncluttered appearance."

Less than four hours after we took possession, an uncharacteristic December rainstorm pelted the City of Angels, giving Mr. Brauer ample wet-weather test conditions. "The traction control proved its worth only a few hours after getting the car. The roads in West L.A. can get very slippery when it first rains, and with the Altima's traction control kicking in almost every time I accelerated from a stop, I was glad to have it. The windshield wipers also proved capable at keeping the Altima's large windshield clear, and I appreciated the weighty feel of the various interior controls that compared favorably to the 'clackety' instrumentation feel you get from some vehicles in this market segment."

Mr. Brauer also commented positively on the Nissan's gauges that are legible and light up in a soothing amber glow. An on-board trip computer, with easy-to-use steering wheel controls, keeps track of outside temperature, average speed, fuel economy, distance to empty and mileage on two trip meters. There are also steering wheel controls for the audio system; unfortunately, none of these is illuminated at night. A dual-height armrest provides some support for taller drivers, but Karl felt it should lock into the raised position more securely. More than once he found the armrest slipping out of its raised position when he placed weight on it.

Other interior features worth mentioning are the one-touch down and up front windows, a Bose audio system that lives up to its reputation for sonic excellence (especially if you're into powerful bass) and plenty of room in the backseat. Mrs. Brauer, who previously used an Odyssey to cart the family's two toddlers around, quickly warmed up to the Altima. "It was really easy to get the baby seats installed in the back," she said. "How much does this car cost?" Upon hearing its price, she added, "Why don't we get one of these for ourselves?"

"Why not, indeed?" Mr. Brauer found himself answering. Actually, although Karl applauds Nissan's latest comeback product, he does have some gripes. "The center stack buttons are all the same size and shape, so you can't operate these controls without taking your eyes off the road. And some of the interior materials betray Nissan's methodology for keeping the price so competitive. However, for interior surfaces that really matter, like seating material and the upper door panels — areas where your skin is likely to come in contact with the car — the Altima feels fully adequate, if not particularly luxurious."

Karl's time in the Altima was almost completely limited to city street driving. This resulted in terrible fuel mileage (though the figure is based on only one fill-up, and the brand-new engine and Mr. Brauer's driving style likely contributed to the low number) and not much opportunity to experience the car's performance potential. Still, Karl felt confident in declaring the Altima "fast" (with a 240-horsepower V6, he's not exactly going out on a limb here), and he went on to add that the steering has "extremely solid weighting, contributing to a sense of security when negotiating turns."

As Karl handed off the keys, he remarked, "Nissan has set a new benchmark in the midsize sedan market, leaving everyone else to play catch up." Stay tuned for the next 12 months to see if the rest of the staff agrees.

Current Odometer: 497
Best Fuel Economy: 13.9 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 13.9 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 13.9 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None