2019 Nissan Altima Powertrain Leaves Reviewer Disappointed

First of all, the reliability of variable compression hasn’t been proven by Nissan or Infiniti despite the fact the VC-Turbo promises four-cylinder fuel economy with V6 performance. The biggest offender, however, is the continuously variable transmission that doesn’t understand how kick-down works.

Against rivals such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, the Altima will have a hard time convincing customers to buy Nissan instead of the more established competition. To make matters worse, customers who want a good ol’ V6 are now relegated to the Camry.

Both Nissan and Honda have embraced turbocharging like there’s no tomorrow, but Toyota remains faithful to natural aspiration thanks to advancements in internal combustion such as the thermal efficiency of the 2.5-liter engine. In regard to reliability, Toyota is ahead of Nissan and Honda as far as the mid-size sedan segment is concerned.

The Kelley Blue Book review of the Altima also reveals the touchscreen infotainment system is prone to fingerprints, made worse by the black bezels of the display. The dashboard might come as boring according to some people out there, but on the upside, the minimalist design gives the impression of roominess.

And roomy the Altima is, unless you’re planning to seat taller passengers in the rear. The sloping roofline eats into the headroom, but the longer wheelbase translates to more legroom. Another plus of the Altima is all-wheel drive, available in conjunction with the 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine.

Manufactured in Canton, Mississippi and Smyrna, Tennessee, the 2019 model year starts at $23,750 excluding $850 for destination and handling. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, along with Siri Eyes Free, 8-way power driver’s seat, and Nissan Safety Shield 360.