Nissan has unveiled their sixth-generation Nissan sedan at the 2018 New York Auto Show
In the sedan world, the three best-selling midsize sedans are the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and this: the Nissan Altima. The current generation has been around since 2012, and received a facelift in 2016. However, with the recent updates of both the Camry and the Accord, it was time for Nissan to come in with an all-new design. Today, we were finally able to see how that new design looks. The Altima is one of the best-selling nameplates in Nissan’s stable, so it’s important they get this redesign right, but what all has changed? TFL is on-hand at this year’s New York Auto Show to show you everything you need to know about the 2019 Nissan Altima.
2019 Nissan Altima – Design
The all-new Nissan Altima took design cues from their Vmotion 2.0 concept, which featured at the 2017 North American International Auto Show. The car evokes Nissan’s latest signature design elements, including the distinctive V-shaped grille, a floating roof and boomerang headlights. The 2019 Nissan Altima’s exterior design also gives it a slippery aerodynamic profile, with a drag coefficient of just 0.26.
With this new design language, Nissan went for an altogether more angular presence than the swooping, curved design of the previous generation. Nissan’s senior Vice President of Global Design states, “[The Nissan Rogue’s redesign] gave us the opportunity to rethink the Altima outside the traditional sedan design box and create something more exciting and yet more sophisticated.”
The 2019 Nissan Altima is 1.2 inches lower in height (56.7 inches), 1.6 inches longer in length (192.9 inches) and an inch wider (72.9 inches) than the outgoing model. The interior has also seen a major redesign, the highlights of which are a 7.0-inch “Advanced Drive Assist Display” in the instrument cluster, one visual representation of Nissan’s ProPilot Assist system, and the 8.0-inch infotainment display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support.
2019 Nissan Altima – Powertrain
Gone is the 3.5-liter V6 from the lineup. We thought it might make its way over into the new generation, but it turns out that isn’t actually the case. Instead, we get two new engines. One is the same size as before – a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-four, while the other the V6’s replacement. Instead of the larger engine, we get the company’s 2.0-liter VC-Turbo variable compression engine, first displayed in the 2019 Infiniti QX50. Both engines come mated to Nissan’s Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission.
The VC-Turbo engine offers similar performance to the outgoing V6. It’s down on horsepower, but chucks out more torque The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine runs at compression ratios between 8:1 and 14:1 depending on engine load and driving conditions. At its top end, the engine puts out 248 horsepower at 5,600 RPM and 278 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 RPM on premium fuel. By comparison, the old V6 put out 270 horsepower and 251 lb-of torque. The engine is more compact than the larger unit, so that should help on the NVH (noice, vibration, and harshness) front.
Additionally to the VC-Turbo, we get a new version of the Altima’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. In this application, it makes 188 horsepower at 6,000 RPM and 180 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 RPM. The previous generation’s 2.5-liter unit put out 179 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Official fuel economy figures haven’t been released for either engine yet, but we should see some figures soon.
First ever for Altima – All-wheel drive
Now, for the 2019 Altima, you’ll be able to spec all-wheel drive. In response to customer demand in the northern states, Nissan’s decided to include the system in their most popular sedan. That ought to keep some drivers in the Altima, instead of losing those customers to compact SUVs. Before, those customers would have to go that route because no all-wheel drive system was available in the Altima.
The system is only available in the 2.5-liter engine. Nissan made no mention of its appearance in the 2.0-liter VC-Turbo configuration. The system uses an “advanced torque split control strategy” to distribute torque up to 50:50 between the front and rear. In most normal circumstances, the car sends 100% of the power to the front wheels.
ProPilot Assist Makes Its Way to the Altima
As Nissan’s lineup is refreshed, so too does their semi-autonomous ProPilot Assist system make its way into the cars. That’s the case with the 2019 Altima, as well. It’s standard on the SV, SL, and Platinum trim levels. A new feature for the 2019 model year is Rear Automatic Braking, where the car detects stationary or moving objects while backing up, and brakes for you.
Other safety features included as part of the ProPilot Assist suite in the 2019 Nissan Altima are Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, and a driver alertness feature, in addition to Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Keep Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control. There’s also Rear Cross Traffic Alert and High Beam Assist Systems.
The 2019 Nissan Altima will go on sale in five trim levels – S, SR, SV, SL and Platinum. Reservations open up in early summer 2018, with full sales starting later this year.
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