One-Year Test Update: 2002 Nissan Altima
"I'll take the smile-inducing liveliness and flexibility of this Altima over a Camry any day." --Ron Sessions
Photography by the author
For the past 12 months, our Altima SE has been a mixed bag: We're enamored with the potent 3.5-liter V-6, but detest the five-speed manual's stick-in-Jell-O shifter.
2002 Nissan Altima
Base price: $22,349
Price as tested: $26,632
Vehicle layout: Front engine, fwd, 4-door, 5-pass
Engine: 3.5L V-6, DOHC, 4 valves/cyl
Horsepower @ rpm: 240 @ 5800
Torque @ rpm: 246 @ 4400
Transmission: 5-speed manual
0-60 mph, sec: 6.3
EPA mpg: 21 city/26 highway
Total mileage: 16,962
Average test mpg: 20.6
Problem areas: Creaky rear window
Non-warr cost: $154.33 |
The edgy styling has grown well on us, but the Altima's cheapish interior materials are Sentra-level at best.One aspect our staff can agree on, however, is handling: The Altima is a consummate highway cruiser that's equally at home on mountain curves.
At the 15,000-mile-service interval, our dealer replaced the oil, filter, in-cabin microfilter, and rotated the tires for $154.33. We asked to have the creaky rear window tended to, but, like taking most kids to the doctor, no symptoms emerged during the checkup. Through its One-Year Test tenure, we rolled nearly 17,000 miles on the clock, and while it wasn't one of our stellar performers, the Nissan clearly represents great value and shows that "sport" can be found in a family car.