Nissan says new Altima gets 39 mpg on highway
Nissan unveiled a sleek new version Tuesday of its best-selling Altima midsize sedan that will get 39 miles per gallon on the highway and start at $22,500.
The significantly upgraded sedan goes on sale in November, Nissan executive vice president Jose Munoz told the Automotive Press Association in Detroit.
An EPA fuel economy rating of 39 miles per gallon for the 2.5-liter four-cylinder Altima would top other midsize sedans like the Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry, giving Nissan a significant edge. Midsize sedans are the second-best selling class of car in the U.S., accounting for 2.5 million sales last year, Munoz said.
Nissan made more changes than usual to the 2016 Altima, which last got a complete overhaul in 2012 for the 2013 model year. The changes cost four times the usual investment in a mid-cycle update to a car, Munoz said.
In addition to higher fuel economy, the 2016 Altima has:
•New body panels for all four fenders, hood, and trunk
•An interior designed to look like Nissan' stylish new Maxima sedan and Murano SUV
•More soft interior materials
•Dramatic new front fenders reminiscent of the Maxima
•LED headlights and daytime running lights
•A sporty new SR trim level
•Safety features including automatic braking to avoid collisions, adaptive cruise control, blind spot and cross traffic alerts
•Siri Eyes Free voice recognition for iPhone users
"What both the Camry and Accord lack in luxury, the Altima more than makes up for by offering interior materials and features that generally feel above par for the midsize sedan segment," Autotrader executive editor Brian Moody said. "It's one of the best sedans around at any price."
The fuel efficiency improvement is due mostly to improvements in Nissan's continuously variable automatic transmission and aerodynamics. The 2016 model uses grille shutters and underbody panels to reduce drag. It now has the same coefficient of drag as Nissan's $101,700 GT-R exotic sports car.