The Nissan Altima is a sensible sedan that can suit any number of people needing it for any number of different roles. Therefore, it needs to be a good all-rounder, and the latest CNET review tries to find out if that’s the case, from their usual tech-oriented perspective.

It begins with an in-depth look at the Altima’s inside infotainment features, and while everything works, it doesn’t do it well. It’s amazing how smartphones nowadays work so well and seamlessly, and touchscreens fitted to most cars are pathetic in comparison.

Despite the fact that the reviewer doesn’t directly state it (only complaining about the on-screen buttons), moving through the various screens, menus and maps looks slow, laggy and low-def.

At least it comes with integrated Google search, though you need to have your phone paired and already connected to the internet for it to work.

The driving experience is smooth and uneventful, and here the CVT gearbox is seen as an exponent of efficient tech. However, as the only acceleration bit in the entire video reveals (six minutes and fifteen seconds in), it’s really as annoying as any that’s out there, even if it’s smoother overall – the noise might not be bearable for all.

The bottom line about the car is that “it doesn’t measure up” to the competition, in the end.

By Andrei Nedelea

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