Five Reasons to Love the 2023 Nissan Altima

The Nissan Altima got its start in the United States about thirty years ago. Originally, the Nissan Altima was being produced for a foreign market, but when it hit the states, it proved to be a good move on the part of Nissan. Nissan Altima sales grew, showing there was serious interest in the sedan. The Stanza Altima, as it was first called, offered a sedan with responsive handling and control, which was appreciated by the masses.

The Altima was well received, but it lacked a distinct personality of its own. At least, that was the case until Nissan decided to branch out and make the Nissan Altima completely unique. The third-generation Altima was redone to stand out against other mediocre sedans. It was this reinvention that earned the Altima “North American Car of the Year” in 2002, cementing its place in the midsize sedan class. Nissan continued to improve and evolve the Altima, and by the end of 2018, they were celebrating over five million Nissan Altimas sold. There is a lot to love about the Nissan Altima; almost too many things to discuss. Instead, let’s cover the top five reasons people love the Nissan Altima.

1. All-Wheel Drive

Most sedans are front-wheel drive because manufacturers don’t expect drivers to take them off-road or through adverse conditions. But the truth is, many drivers will face adverse conditions, even while on the road. That’s why the Nissan Altima offers an Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system.

This system is designed with yaw control. Yaw is when the center of gravity of the vehicle shifts from side to side when cornering. This is also known as body roll and can cause loss of control when taking corners. Yaw control does exactly what it says; it gives you back control when cornering by adjusting torque in response to steering wheel input. Using sensors to predict driver intention, the system will send torque to the front or rear wheels depending on the intended outcome.

This also applies to driving through unfavorable road conditions. If the road becomes slippery from rain, ice, or snow, the 4X4 system will use the same sensors to determine where there is a loss of traction and can divert torque. After all, as car dealers in Nashville know, not all days are sunshine and straight roads ahead.

2. The VC-Turbo Engine

The Nissan Altima has been given an ace up its cladding. In 2019, Nissan dropped in a brand-new engine that would (and does) have automotive enthusiasts squealing. The VC-Turbo Engine is the world’s first production variable compression ratio engine. That mouthful of car jargon means the VC-Turbo is a powerful and intelligent engine that works with the driver to produce the most optimal outcome.

This is achieved by replacing the conventional connecting rod with a multi-link system and an actuator motor. With the traditional style system using the connecting rod, the compression ratio is fixed due to the constrictions of the design. For improved performance and efficiency, the multi-link system allows for the compression ratio to adapt to the load placed on the engine.

The VC-Turbo produces up to 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, which is impressive for a sedan. Thanks to the unique engine design, the Altima can still rake in fuel efficiency in combination with the horsepower and torque. The Altima is estimated to get up to 25 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway.

3. Xtronic CVT with Sport Mode

The Nissan Altima is equipped with Nissan’s exclusive Xtronic transmission. The Xtronic is a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with a specialized design that uses a broader numerical transmission ratio. By increasing the ratio, the vehicle is able to divert more torque to select tires when needed to handle engine load. One potential problem with increasing the ratio is that it can decrease fuel efficiency, but Nissan has addressed that as well. By making the transmission smaller and lighter, it has improved the fuel efficiency, counteracting the increase in the rotation ratio.

Nissan uses fewer components to create this transmission masterpiece, which is one reason it is lighter and smaller. The result of this design is that the Nissan Altima offers improved acceleration without impacting fuel efficiency. You will also get to enjoy a silky-smooth shifting experience as well. The Xtronic doesn’t use a traditional gear setup, so the shifting is almost seamless.

The broader transmission ratio improves acceleration from takeoff, so you have immediate and smooth acceleration. The same applies to other events where acceleration is necessary. Nissan’s Continuously Variable Transmission is so well designed that in 1993, it was banned from a very well-known racing series due to its effectiveness and the advantages it provides. The Sport Mode portion of the transmission is one of the available drive modes. Sport Mode pushes the redline higher, allowing you to hit higher RPMs. Experience what it’s like to zip around the track without ever having to lay a wheel on the asphalt.

4. Zero Gravity Seats

Nissan has adapted the idea of a “neutral posture” to create fatigue-reducing seats. Research was conducted to determine the ideal formula to replicate the weightlessness of space to improve the impact on the body, as the body can become fatigued from sitting too long. By changing the shape of the seats, Nissan has been able to drastically reduce this fatigue.

Nissan teamed up with Yamazaki Laboratory to do further research before perfecting their ergonomic seats. They used a human body model and a seat simulator to study how the body is impacted by the structure of the seat. The seats are specifically designed to create support for the lumbar region. Taking some of the strain off your body, long rides will be a breeze.

5. Altima ProPILOT Assist

ProPILOT Assist is a Nissan safety and driver assistant suite. ProPILOT Assist utilizes tech from Intelligent Cruise Control and Steering Assist. Through the use of cameras and sensors, ProPILOT Assist can help on both the highway and on the road.

On the highway, set your desired distance from the car in front of you. As the traffic comes to a stop, ProPILOT will bring the vehicle to a stop. Once traffic begins to move again, so does the Altima. Using sensors that can read road markers, ProPILOT keeps you in your lane whether you are hitting a curve or not. Driver assistance programs such as this add confidence when driving, providing a virtual set of helping hands.

The Most Exciting Sedan You’ll Ever Drive

Nissan has packed the 2023 Nissan Altima with some pretty nifty features designed to give you the ride of your life. Experience the all-wheel drive sedan that will take on slick roads with ease. You can also choose to go the performance route, taking the VC-Turbo to the max. Do it all while riding in seats that will make you feel like you are floating on clouds.

There are plenty of options to choose from when considering a Nissan Altima, making it easy to customize your car to your own liking. With so many features available, the Nissan Altima is a great choice. There are far more reasons to love the Altima than the five listed here, but we have to say, these five are pretty great. The 2023 Nissan Altima is doing its part to keep the sedan market alive, showing that you don’t need an SUV or a truck to get the performance and capabilities you need.