2020 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL
Nissan Altima Details
Automatic
4 Cyl, 2.5L
Super Black
FWD
Gasoline
69,696 Miles
152046
1N4BL4EV8LC152046
2.5 SL
Features & Options
- 4 Cylinder Engine
- ABS
- 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
- A/C
- A/T
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Adjustable Steering Wheel
- Security System
- Aluminum Wheels
- AM/FM Stereo
- Automatic Headlights
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Back-Up Camera
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Brake Assist
- Bucket Seats
- Child Safety Locks
- Climate Control
- Temporary Spare Tire
- CVT Transmission
- Cruise Control
- Daytime Running Lights
- Driver Air Bag
- Driver Illuminated Vanity Mirror
- Driver Adjustable Lumbar
- Driver Restriction Features
- Driver Vanity Mirror
- Multi-Zone A/C
- Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror
- Stability Control
- Fog Lamps
- Front Wheel Drive
- Gasoline Fuel
- HD Radio
- Heated Front Seat(s)
- Heated Mirrors
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors
- Intermittent Wipers
- Keyless Entry
- Keyless Start
- Knee Air Bag
- Lane Departure Warning
- Lane Keeping Assist
- Leather Seats
- Leather Steering Wheel
- MP3 Player
- Navigation System
- Pass-Through Rear Seat
- Passenger Air Bag
- Passenger Air Bag Sensor
- Passenger Illuminated Visor Mirror
- Passenger Vanity Mirror
- Power Door Locks
- Power Mirror(s)
- Power Driver Seat
- Power Passenger Seat
- Power Steering
- Sun/Moonroof
- Power Windows
- Premium Sound System
- Rear Bench Seat
- Rear Side Air Bag
- Rear Defrost
- Rear Head Air Bag
- Rear Parking Aid
- Remote Engine Start
- Remote Trunk Release
- Requires Subscription
- Satellite Radio
- Front Side Air Bag
- Front Head Air Bag
- Smart Device Integration
- Steering Wheel Audio Controls
- Generic Sun/Moonroof
- Tire Pressure Monitor
- Tires - Front Performance
- Tires - Rear Performance
- Traction Control
- Trip Computer
- Universal Garage Door Opener
- Variable Speed Intermittent Wipers
- Engine Immobilizer
- Bluetooth Connection
- Woodgrain Interior Trim
- Black Grille w/Chrome Accents
- Black Side Windows Trim and Black Front Windshield Trim
- Body-Colored Front Bumper
- Body-Colored Power Heated Side Mirrors w/Manual Folding and Turn Signal Indicator
- Body-Colored Rear Bumper w/Body-Colored Rub Strip/Fascia Accent
- Chrome Door Handles
- Clearcoat Paint
- Compact Spare Tire Mounted Inside Under Cargo
- Express Open/Close Sliding And Tilting Glass 1st Row Sunroof w/Sunshade
- Fixed Rear Window w/Defroster
- Front Fog Lamps
- Galvanized Steel/Aluminum Panels
- Intelligent Auto Headlights (i-Ah) Fully Automatic Projector Beam Led Low/High Beam Daytime Running Auto High-Beam Headlamps w/Delay-Off
- Laminated Glass
- Light Tinted Glass
- Speed Sensitive Variable Intermittent Wipers
- Steel Spare Wheel
- Tires: 215/55R17 AS
- Trunk Rear Cargo Access
- Wheels: 17" Alloy
- 1 12V DC Power Outlet
- 2 Seatback Storage Pockets
- 60-40 Folding Bench Front Facing Fold Forward Seatback Rear Seat
- Air Filtration
- Analog Display
- Cargo Area Concealed Storage
- Cargo Space Lights
- Carpet Floor Trim and Carpet Trunk Lid/Rear Cargo Door Trim
- Compass
- Cruise Control w/Steering Wheel Controls
- Day-Night Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror
- Delayed Accessory Power
- Distance Pacing w/Traffic Stop-Go
- Driver And Passenger Visor Vanity Mirrors w/Driver And Passenger Illumination, Driver And Passenger Auxiliary Mirror
- Driver Foot Rest
- Driver Seat
- Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning
- Engine Immobilizer
- Fade-To-Off Interior Lighting
- FOB Controls -inc: Cargo Access and Remote Engine Start
- Front And Rear Map Lights
- Front Center Armrest and Rear Center Armrest
- Front Cupholder
- Full Carpet Floor Covering
- Full Cloth Headliner
- Full Floor Console w/Covered Storage, Mini Overhead Console w/Storage and 1 12V DC Power Outlet
- Gauges -inc: Speedometer, Odometer, Engine Coolant Temp, Tachometer, Trip Odometer and Trip Computer
- Heated Front Bucket Seats -inc: 8-way power driver's seat w/2-way power lumbar and 4-way power front passenger's seat
- HomeLink Garage Door Transmitter
- HVAC -inc: Underseat Ducts and Console Ducts
- Instrument Panel Bin, Driver / Passenger And Rear Door Bins and Audio Media Storage
- Interior Trim -inc: Simulated Wood/Metal-Look Instrument Panel Insert, Piano Black Door Panel Insert, Piano Black Console Insert and Chrome/Metal-Look Interior Accents
- Leather-Appointed Seat Trim
- Leather/Metal-Look Gear Shifter Material
- Leatherette Door Trim Insert
- Locking Glove Box
- Manual Adjustable Front Head Restraints and Fixed Rear Head Restraints
- Manual Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column
- Outside Temp Gauge
- Passenger Seat
- Perimeter Alarm
- Power 1st Row Windows w/Driver And Passenger 1-Touch Up/Down
- Power Door Locks w/Autolock Feature
- Power Rear Windows
- Proximity Key For Doors And Push Button Start
- Rear Cupholder
- Remote Keyless Entry w/Integrated Key Transmitter, Illuminated Entry, Illuminated Ignition Switch and Panic Button
- Remote Releases -Inc: Power Cargo Access and Mechanical Fuel
- Seats w/Leatherette Back Material
- Smart Device Remote Engine Start
- Sport Heated Leather/Metal-Look Steering Wheel
- Systems Monitor
- Trip Computer
- Valet Function
- 120 Amp Alternator
- 16.2 Gal. Fuel Tank
- 4-Wheel Disc Brakes w/4-Wheel ABS, Front Vented Discs, Brake Assist, Hill Hold Control and Electric Parking Brake
- 4.83 Axle Ratio
- 60-Amp/Hr 510CCA Maintenance-Free Battery w/Run Down Protection
- Electro-Hydraulic Power Assist Speed-Sensing Steering
- Engine Oil Cooler
- Engine: 2.5L DOHC 16-Valve 4-Cylinder
- Front And Rear Anti-Roll Bars
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Gas-Pressurized Shock Absorbers
- Multi-Link Rear Suspension w/Coil Springs
- Quasi-Dual Stainless Steel Exhaust w/Chrome Tailpipe Finisher
- Strut Front Suspension w/Coil Springs
- Transmission w/Driver Selectable Mode
- Transmission: Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable)
- ABS And Driveline Traction Control
- Airbag Occupancy Sensor
- Blind Spot Warning (BSW) Blind Spot
- Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags
- Driver And Passenger Knee Airbag and Rear Side-Impact Airbag
- Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
- Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
- Intelligent Forward Collision Warning with AEB
- Intelligent Lane Intervention (I-LI) Lane Departure Warning
- Intelligent Lane Intervention (I-LI) Lane Keeping Assist
- Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts -inc: Rear Center 3 Point, Height Adjusters and Pretensioners
- Rear Child Safety Locks
- Rear Parking Sensors
- RearView Monitor Back-Up Camera
- Side Impact Beams
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
- -
2020 Nissan Altima Review
Looking more like a baby Maxima, Nissan’s bread-and-butter midsize sedan has recaptured its mojo to once again become an alluring choice for those still not enamored with the pivot towards crossover SUVs. Improvements abound returning the Altima to your family car shopping list.In their words, Nissan’s goal with this car is to reenergize the sedan segment. And though buyers are largely choosing to bypass traditional cars in favor of their SUV counterparts, the offerings are as impressive as ever.
Now in its 2nd model year since the 2019 redesign, this 2020 Altima is my introduction to this 6th generation car – Nissan’s best-selling model not named Rogue. And I really like what I both see and feel. Similar to the fresh competition from Honda and Toyota, Nissan has also taken a look-at-me approach with the Altima’s styling and it works. Family sedan no longer equals boring. The car I have is the Platinum VC-Turbo – the most lavish and powerful trim – priced from about $36,000. Lower, longer and wider with the wheels pushed farther to the corners, this Altima looks decidedly more athletic, especially on these 19” rims though they’re fitted with some Hankook tires more interested in comfort than sport. But that’s OK because the Altima should have a more compliant ride and in fact it does. There’s a light, nimble, easy-going nature to the drive that now possesses a higher degree of sophistication as to how it steers, handles and brakes. In many ways it reminds me of the Volvo S60 I recently tested though not quite to those premium levels.
Most of the buzz surrounding the new Altima centers on the optional VC-turbo engine. It replaces the V6 as the top engine choice, available exclusively on front-drive models. VC stands for variable compression and Nissan/Infiniti is the only one doing it. It’s taken 20 years to bring it to market and it’s an engineering feat. Changing the volume of each of the engine’s 4 cylinders on the fly allows this 2.0 to go big for higher efficiency or shrink for higher performance. I’m impressed by its elasticity, smoothness and fun turbo punch when pushed. And my stellar fuel economy has been well above the EPA estimates. Just remember – high compression engines want high octane fuel.
Rated at 248 horsepower and making a healthy 273 pound-feet of torque, the VC Turbo produces similar output to the Accord 2.0T, the car I consider best in class. However, the Altima’s EPA estimate of 29mpg can’t be beaten by any of them in an apples-to-apples comparison and my 34mpg for the week is outstanding. Beyond the new engine technology, the Altima’s CVT is a huge factor in its fuel economy advantage. I know, I know, you don’t want a CVT but this xTronic unit from Nissan is as good as they come – right up there with the new variable transmission from Hyundai/Kia. It’s smooth with gentle faux shift points yet not noisy or disengaged. It works very well with this engine and should not discourage an Altima purchase. And a little unmarked button here takes you to Sport mode where the Altima feels a little livelier. Now, I’ve never cared for paddle shifters in a CVT car so I don’t mind that they’re reserved for the SR grade. It is interesting to note though that in the multiple drive mode world in which we live, the Altima doesn’t offer more than what you see here. And that plays into the overall cabin persona – it’s simple to use. Not overdone nor does it showcase a wacky new shifter, the Altima plays it old school in its ergonomics approach and it’s welcoming.
(Rear seat stand-up)
The Zero Gravity front seats are also super comfy with heating and a heated steering wheel. But the infotainment feels old right out of the box. It’s not terrible in its appearance or its ease of use – it’s a touchscreen after all so it has that going for it – but it’s also a little drab and not particularly well conceived. The 9-speaker Bose stereo system is also a letdown but the around view monitor with its easy to access button is a great addition. Quiet cabin, too.
As for ProPILOT Assist – it’s very well executed for a semi-autonomous driving system and if you spend lots of time in mind-numbing traffic you’ll like it. I found myself using it a lot this week when I was doing driving a monkey could do. Basically it’s adaptive cruise control that keeps the car in its lane while also helping you steer. There are a handful of these systems on the market – some better than others – and Nissan’s is very, very good. Of course, I’d rather not have to grab the wheel every 12 seconds and just let the car completely drive itself but until then it’s a welcome feature.
Also new on this Altima is an all-wheel drive option – an attractive choice for some of us and, other than on the Subaru Legacy, something you can’t get with the aforementioned heavy hitters. Though not with this engine – only with the base 2.5-liter motor.
Is the Altima a better car than the Accord? No. The Camry? Very close. Either way, they’re all solid selections and your decision will likely come down to intangibles and what you prioritize in a car. MSRP of my tester is $38,840.