The 2019 Nissan Altima goes into battle with models like the Toyota Camry, the Honda Accord and the Chevrolet Malibu, featuring a completely new design inside and out, more tech and a roomier interior.
The design was previewed by the Vmotion 2.0 Concept and gives the new Altima a more purposeful presence on the road, mostly thanks to the new front grille and slimmer headlights.
The dashboard adopts a rather clean design, featuring a tablet-like 8-inch infotainment system with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The seats are also new, with Nissan claiming they provide improved comfort.
Base models get a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 188hp and 180lb-ft of torque paired to a CVT transmission, which, according to Nissan, is also improved over its predecessor. For the first time in a Nissan four-door sedan, customers of the 2.5-liter version of the Altima will be offered the option of all-wheel drive.
The true newcomer of the range is the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that features variable compression. The 2.0-liter VC Turbo replaces the 3.5-liter V6 unit of the previous model as the range-topping version. Power is set at 248hp and 273lb-ft of torque, but the only transmission option is still the CVT and it’s available solely with front-wheel drive.
The range of driver assistance systems is really wide, including Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Rear Automatic Braking, Lane Departure Warning, radar-based Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and High Beam Assist.
The real highlight though is the inclusion of Nissan’s ProPilot Assist, a semi-autonomous function that groups together the Adaptive Cruise Control, the Lane Keeping Assist and a little bit of steering assist for a limited amount of time.
Is this enough for the 2019 Altima to tackle the champions of the segment, such as the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord? Let’s see what Edmunds has to say.