White-knuckle performance and luxury in a vehicle don’t have to be mutually exclusive, and, when found together, they don’t have to cost an arm and a leg. With the 2009 Nissan Altima, performance and luxury have never been so affordable. Togetherness is a good thing.
There’s little questioning the visual appeal of Nissan’s newest Altima. Modern design is enhanced by gently sculpted features and intense aerodynamics. Available 17-inch five-spoke alloys, corner mounted HID headlamps and heated side mirrors contribute to the vehicle’s substance and style. At heart, however, the 2009 Nissan Altima is a driver’s car. Its specs, its structure, its very makeup have all been intricately designed to provide one of the most exhilarating drives on the market today.
Constructed from lightweight aluminum and steel and powered by an available 3.5-liter V6, the Altima 3.5 SL easily delivers 270 hp and 258 lb/ft of torque (an impressive 2.5-liter four-cylinder powers 2.5 and 2.5 S trims). The pistons are molybdenum coated, ensuring smooth performance with less friction and exceptional efficiency while other components are polished and finished to spin and function smoothly. A variable intake system boosts low- to mid-rpm torque by shortening the distance air has to travel into the manifold. More air means more power, precisely when and where you want it.
Keeping the desires and demands of a new generation of drivers in mind, Nissan has also constructed an available hybrid system, which ingeniously balances a conventional combustion engine with an incorporated electric motor resulting in a spectacular 35 mpg fuel efficiency rating in city driving. In addition to low emissions, the Altima’s Hybrid system uses this electric motor at low speeds and full stops, conserving fuel (and the combustion engine) for higher speeds and cruising. During braking, the system converts the generated kinetic energy back into electricity and the system begins anew.
The Altima’s Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control System combined with its Xtronic CVT transmission creates enormous amounts of low-end torque and acceleration without the shift shock you’d expect from a performance-based vehicle. In essence, both systems actively work to eliminate the rough gaps that occur when a vehicle is changing gears while accelerating. Without the harsh and jarring gear transitions, the Altima still has tremendous power off the line, but maintains significant smoothness as well.
Handling is both tight and responsive. The Altima’s quick-response suspension works to ensure firm control at all times by employing front independent struts and a rear multi-link system. Steering is reminiscent of a racecar and made even easier with Nissan’s speed-sensitive, variable-assist power rack-and-pinion steering. Turning is easier at lower speeds and becomes tighter as speed increases, resulting in a much more confident and exciting experience.
Despite its penchant for performance, the 2009 model has been designed to feature as much luxury and convenience as it does power and control. The cabin design alone features a unique blend of both classic elegance and modern innovation. An eight-way power-adjustable leather seat with lumbar support (on 3.5 SL trim) places you comfortably in command of an array of advanced electronic systems while a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shiftknob put sheer exhilaration at your fingertips.
In addition to available features that include Bluetooth hands-free phone technology, automatic temperature control and touchscreen DVD navigation, the Altima also offers a nine-speaker digital Bose audio system with MP3 and XM Satellite Radio capability, as well as an auxiliary audio input for easy iPod connectivity. Truly, the 2009 Altima is a vehicle predicated on luxury and innovation.
With the 2009 Nissan Altima’s starting MSRP of just $19,900, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more affordable combination of unbeatable performance and unforgettable luxury.
