Used 2002 Nissan Altima Consumer Reviews
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Excellent Package
This is a really nice car. The 4 cylinder has plenty of power for most needs. In comparison to a similarly equipped camry, you can see the difference in materials used on the interior. The camry has better interior materials. The light color for the readouts is a bit weird but you get used to it. Overall, this is an excellent vehicle. The leather seats are very comfortable. The ride is excellent, very similar to the camry's ride that has been hailed so much. I'm very happy with my purchase.
What a car!
Under the guise of buying a "family sedan" I chose the Altima over the Accord and Camry because it blows those cars away in performance. I keep reading about how cheap the interior is but I strongly disagree. My interior is terrific, as is the sound system, and everything else about the car.
- 2.5 S SedanMSRP: $3,90089 mi away
- 2.5 SL SedanMSRP: $4,990212 mi away
- 2.5 S SedanMSRP: $6,400527 mi away
Excellent Car
This car is great. No mechanical issues over the three years I have owned the car. I bought it used with 31K miles and have put over 60K miles. Oil change and brakes and tires over the three years. Excellent design inside and out. Very fast with great pick up from dead stop. Takes corners like its on rails. Going to buy a 2007 Altima in a couple of days.
Very Happy Customer
The new design for 2002 is a real eye- catcher. Luxury car look inside and out at a middle class price. I couldn't be much more happier with my new Altima 2.5 SL!
my review
blistering performance, and a great kid hauler to boot. The perfect combination of family car/sports car
mine
This car is the best, it has good handles on the turns and the design of the inside and outsies is the best.
Chose Altima over Maxima
Altima: 5 speed; 245 hp; new styling; independent rear suspension; bigger; less expensive; moderate fit/finish interior Maxima: 6 speed; 255 hp; dated styling (makeover pending); beam rear susp.; smaller; more expensive; better fit/finish interior I thought that I got more for my money with the Altima since the performance was equivalent, and there were more pluses with the Altima. BTW, my other car is a 97 Maxima.
2002 Altima Review
The four cylinder model offers suprising power when coupled with the five speed transmission. The large windows offer great visability and ease of driving. Rear passenger accomodations are excellent and capable of supporting three adults comfortably. Fit and finish fpr this car are exemplary. Ergonomically the car is near perfect with a telescopic and tilt steering collumn. The stock audio selection is adequate and crisp. Over the road noise is minimal.
farro
This is a great car. It is fast, comfortable and it turns heads. I have gotten so many complements for it.
Wings and afterburners!
I bought this 2001 Altima with the 4 cylinder,moonroof,leather..fully loaded... and have not looked back! Tried the Lexus and others and I found that the Altima had the power, the looks and room that I required. If you want a fun ride..its either this car or the Chrysler/PT Cruiser. These two are the best rides for the money. Now I have to buy my wife one..or else! Do yourself a favor..live a little..get one!
Unbelievable!
I fell in love with the appearance of this vehicle months before it was available. As soon as I test drove one, I knew I had to purchase it. Every one of my friends has an Accord, Camry, etc. But I wanted something different and much more exciting. VALUE, ROOM, SPEED, GAS MILEAGE, & GOOD LOOKS, this car definitely has it all!
Better than average vehicle
While this car has had many recalls since first purchased it has been a very reliable vehicle. It was my parents before they gave it to me, and as a student, I find it great to own. It's fun to drive, looks nice, and gets average fuel economy. Other than the recalls, I have only had minor issues with the vehicle. I have no complaints. Love it!
02 Altima
Great car, superior handling, more fun to drive than the Camry (I know, we have one), and looks way better than the new 4-door Accord... although 2- door Accord does look good (but isn't a fair comparison).
Velvet Is In All Year!
I purchased my 2.5SL in October '01 (around the time it first came out). Took a test drive and was hooked. It's a beautiful car (Velvet Beige of course). Drives smoothly. Definitely an eyecatcher. Gets a lot of double takes. And the best part about it is -- I look good driving it!
This is one AWESOME vehicle
I bought a Nissan Altima after owning 3 different SUVs, all 6 cyl. This 4 cyl. Altima outruns everyone of them and they were some pretty expensive SUVs, we are not talking Rodeos here. This vehicle made it to Disneyland, CA from Las Vegas, NV in a little over 3 hours! Incredible.
Very Happy!
We got a 2002 2.5 SL with ABS/side airbags, seat warmers, sunroof for $290 a month with $4000 down--a pretty good deal. We leased the car at Quirk, but also spent a lot of time at Frost. Frost was great, but they weren't able to match the price at Quirk. So far (it has been almost a month), we are very pleased with the car. As the other reviews have mentioned, it really does turn heads. It's a peppy drive, and a great buy for the money.
Just bought my new Altima...
I've driven Toyota's exclusively since the age of 16, but instead of another Camry, I bought the Altima this time, and FOR LESS MONEY. I have to say, originally, I wanted it because of the way this car looks. It is super- super. You know? But as far as the nuts and bolts, I find the 4 cyl to be PLENTY zippy, especially over 3500 RPM's when it really kicks in. I'm not wild about the placement of the air vents in the severely slanted dash - too far from my face. But other than that, the interior and exterior of this car are wonderful. That BOSE stereo also makes my rearview mirror vibrate some, but who can really complain about that?
altima
very fun car to drive, still get lots of compliments on looks. needs lighting at night for door controls and cruise controls.
Excessive noise in Altima 3.5S
I own 3.5SE 5-speed manual Altima for two weeks and I really enjoy it’s performance. However, I had to visit dealership two times due to excessive noise problem coming from back suspension. It is some kind of rolling-metallic-hollow noise, sometimes reminding kicked-basketball sound. It occurs at any speed and it's frequency is not related to speed - just the volume which peaks at around 90km/h resonating and piercing ears. Dealership so far was not able to fix this problem
More Fun for the Buck
Fast and fun to drive. Plenty of room inside and in the trunk. Lot's of creature features. Just a joy to drive
Fabulous Car!!!
I am 100 o/o happy with this car. I have had many cars, and this one is right at the top. The only negative is the steering wheel radio and speed controls are not lighted. The rest is Perfect!
Not worth the money
If the Altima truly wants to compete with the Accord and the Camry, then Nissan has to stop adding on all the extras, that already come with on the Accord and Camry. I love the engine and the color but that's about it. The BOSE system that came in most of the pewter colored cars that had the other features I wanted is definitely not worth the extra $800. I paid for it.
Concerned consumer
This car is a real improvement over the pevious year models. I have owned a 98" and 99' and never had any problems with either of them. The 2002' model looks and drives great and is a real improvement overall compared to previous years. One thing that does concern me is a thumping noise that occurs during acceleration and while turning. It has been getting worse over the months and we have 4,300 miles. According to a Service rep at Bankston Nissan of Dallas it isn't normal. I will have it checked out soon.
A FUN car to drive
It is much more than a sedan. If you can't afford an expensive sports car and you are married but still want some fun, buy this. I once unintentionly travel at 65 mph on a 40 mph curving ramp. i am not proud of it. My point is that this is more than a sedan
BEST CAR FOR THE MONEY
BEST CAR FOR THE MONEY EITHER FOREIGN OR DOMESTIC.GREAT HIGHWAY CAR WITH 25 MPG RESULTS.GOOD LOOKING WITH A VERY COMFORTABLE INTERIOR.I HAVE 2 NEGATIVES.FROM DAY ONE I HAVE A VALVE TAP AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANS IDLES QUIETLY OUT OF GEAR AND VERY ROUGH IN GEAR.AT MY 1500 MILE FIRST OIL CHANGE THE DEALER TOLD ME HE HEARS AND FEELS NOTHING.I'LL SEE WAHT HE SAYS AT 4500 MILES.
Outstanding
This is the most wonderfull car i never had. Since 1 bought it may 2002, i had No problems. The car is very fast, lost of style and very well equiped for the price. Its is a sport sedan that beats up very easly, the Honda accord, pontiac Grand Am, Grand prix GT, toyota camry and others.
Look out the Nissan is coming
THe new ALTIMA is way better than any other car in it's class. Pickup , accelatation and the comfort of the Altima shouldn't be compared with the CAmry. It's like 10 timeas faster then the cars in it's class.
Excellent Car
Great car!. If you don't want all the bells and whistles you can get it for well under $20K. The stick shifts well. The 2.5L has plenty of power. I've had mine about 8 months now and still love it. When I went away for a week for vacation and came back my heart was pounding from anticipation of driving this car! Getting 25-29 mpg depending on conditions. A/C and heat are almost instantaneous. Seats are very comfortable. Steering is solid and it holds the road very well. I've gotten so many complements on this car! If you're looking for a good solid car that moves, is fun to drive, practical, and won't break the bank, this is it!
beautiful!
looks like a lexus, but half the price, what more could you ask for, excellent car
V-6
Love the car. It's fast! Handles great! Looks Great! Stereo is great!
Already having problems
I loved my 2002 Altima when I first bought it in June. It was fun to drive and a lot faster than my old car even though it is just a 4-cylander. But now, only 4 months later, I am having transmission problems, the center console is really difficult (the compartments are very hard to open and the arm rest doesnt stick into place). Besides that, I find the Altima roomy and comfortable. The back doors open wider than the average car and are very easy to get out of.
Altima Valus (Ultimate Value)
We had a used 94 Altima SE for 3 years, enjoyed the car and had good resale value. We now have the 02 Altima SE. My wife and I believe it is truly the sexiest auto on the road.The V6 deserves its acclaim. Power and decent MPG (21.6). I love to drive it. It meets our expectations and more.
I tested them all ... this is the one!
Ideally, I was looking for a car that was fun to drive, 6 cylinders, comfortable, with a higher level of features (luxury) than I had previously. I drove many cars: camry, accord, millenia, some SUV's. So I went and drove the Altima. This car is fun, responsive, comfortable, and while not as quiet as a camry, it is certainly much quieter then my other cars and I consider it VERY acceptable at highway speeds. Altima has won the North American Automobile of the Year. It is a well deserved award for a sports sedan in the mid $20,000's. Test drive this car after the others and you should feel the differences.
Exhilirating Ride with 175 Ponies
Bought mine 4/13/02 as my first new car. Whate a rush :) I was considering the 3.5L SE (more power) but changed my mind when I test drove the 2.5L S. Very smooth ride and with today's gas prices cannot beat the 32 miles per gallon on the highway. All models have the same interior unless you get leather. I am extremely happy with the purchase and I totally recommend it, especially for a young woman, you will turn heads, I was told that it looks like a new Lexus.
Oh what a ride!
If you're looking for a car that is refined and distinguish looking. Then the 2002 Altima SE is your pick. If you're looking for a car that is so fast you can blame your receding hairline on. The 2002 Altima SE is your pick.
I Like It!
Great performance, power you can feel in the small of your back. Compliments from everybody on the looks of this sporty sedan.
Ultima 2002/2003
I am a first time Nissan owner. I have always purchased Hondas in the past. I have enjoyed the drive on the new Ultima. It's handling is great, I like that it has more power considering it's a 4 cylinder vehicle. I bought it for it's sleek new lines and of course the color. It's definitely a fun drive on the open road.
surpasses extremely high expectations
After reading reviews here on Edmunds and other car sites, I narrowed down my search for a 4 door sedan between the Altima, Passat and Accord. THough I initially leaned towards the Passat, with its nice interior and good mileage,I liked the overall value the Altima gave me. Even with the premium package, whch included the Bose 8 speaker stereo, leather wrapped wheel, moon roof, and steering wheel controls, for the stereo and cruise control the Altima came in ~ 1 -2k cheaper than the similarly equipped Passat. After a test drive in the Altima, I was hooked. Overall, a great package for the money you pay.
Great, Nice, Power - BUT.....
Beautiful body design, great power, turn circle is to way to large, cheap plastic interior, turns to easy (light steering) when you are up in speed.
Anyone else with WIND problems??
Great car, really euphoric to drive. Would improve the interior quality, as others have stated. Little dissapointed in the wind noise, but it's still fun to drive. Haven't read this complaint anywhere, but the car handles EXTREMELY poorly in windy conditions, almost dangerously difficult to handle. also, sometimes the transmission seems to stick.
A Big Disappointment
I was really looking forward to this car as a replacement for my 1995 Maxima, but I had to forget it. 1)The slight torque steer in my Maxima is absolutely outrageous in the Altima; driving this thing aggressively on anything but absolutely dry pavement would be suicide. 2) The interior material quality approaches a Yugo. Even the 3.5 liter has the worst interior quality ever. 3) The 3.5 has performance tires rims that fit snow tires - hello new rims and tires.
Looks better than Lex gs400
Great car. It looks better than the lexus Gs 300 and 400 although they do look quite similar. Altima has everything in its class beat. it looks much more expensive than what it is. I have had car since October and I have 14,000 miles on it. sure I drive alot but its fun to drive. the car is simply great. What a beauty. ALTIMA 2.5SL. pEOPLE CANNOT BELIEVE ITS NOT A LEXUS. pARK AN ALTIMA NEXT TO A Gs 300 or 400 and tell me which looks better. The is 300 dosent come close to the altima in s. Great car everyone should buy one. Nissan altima has the accord and camry beat this time. Go altima all the way. you are a beauty. simply the best
Excellent Value
We got the 2.5S model with the standard transmission. We're glad we got the standard, it is so peppy and poweful, I can't even tell that it is a V-4. We're both very tall, over six feet, and can fit comfortably in the front of the back. Excellent ride. We hope to have it forever.
Altima 4 cylinder
Fun to drive.Very peppy for a four cylinder.Still love looking at it. Averaged 30MPG on my last trip out of town,with a.c. running and cruise set at 85. My only regret is the cheap looking interior.
New Owner of Altima
My 2.5S (Altima) is beautify, however I thought it would be a lot smoother on bumps. I'm wonder if I should get different tires.
Do not buy this car!
I had my engine and cat converter replaced in Aug of 07 free of charge due to only having 78,000 miles on my car. But they charged me for replacing my O2 sensors which was $450.00. Just last month in April one of my ignition coils went bad. Dealership wanted to replace all four. I declined and just got the bad one replaced. Two weeks ago my car stalled out on me when I was getting off the freeway, and I was barely able to drive it to the nearest dealer. Intake manifold and gaskets were damaged; they also recommended changing my spark plugs. Bottom line is these cars are pieces of crap, no matter how much money you invest in these cars to fix them something else is bound to go wrong.
Will never buy a Nissan again!
The transmission went in this car with less then 3,000 miles on it and left me stranded on vacation. I wanted a new transmission they said no it had to be repaired. The car now gets 13 miles to the gallon city and about 20 on a trip compaired to 22 and 30 prior to this happening. I spoke to both the dealer and Nissan and they both pointed the finger at the other and were willing to do nothing about it. Worst customer service I ever dealt with. Save your money!
What a ride!!!
I have only had this vehicle for 3 months now but.....Wow! This car is a keeper. The ride is extremely smooth and the style (interior and exterior) are outstanding. I have had a ton compliments on the luxury look of the car often comparing it too much more expensive cars such as the Passat and Lexus. There is room galore. This car is great bang for the buck...tons of value. Plus there is also the HID headlight option, truly outstanding lighting. I never would have thought that headlights could be so great.
Just What I Was Looking For...
My 2002 Nissan Altima 2.5 S was just the car I was looking for. It's 4 cylinder engine has more horsepower (175)than the V6 (170hp) Chevrolet Malibu that I traded in. This is much more car than I have ever had in the past! The convenience package is a definite PLUS... as is the power sunroof and the rear spoiler. The keyless entry allows me to roll down the front windows with just the touch of the button. This is VERY nice on a simmering hot day when the car has been locked up. To top is off, the body style is S-L-E-E-K!! You won't regret purchasing a 2002 Nissan Altima 2.5 S!!
In Your Face Camry
Best 25K i ever spent, leather, moonroof, bose system, 17" rims, 240 horsies to paly with? what is there not to like? Can the camry even compare with its fish looking tail end and sorry 192hp engine?