Watch out for the new 2020 Nissan Altima
A continuation of its Bluebird line, Nissan’s Altima is a mid-sized car that came into production way back in 1992. An interesting fact is that the first four generations of the sedan were exclusively manufactured in the country, specifically in Smyrna, Tennessee. The high demand led Nissan to start the production of the Altima in its Canton plant in Mississippi, from 2004. The sedan was officially on sale across North and South America as well as Australia and the Middle East.
The Nissan Altima® 2020
With a spacious cabin and latest tech, the Nissan Altima® 2020 is the right mid-size sedan for families looking for comfort as well as convenience. The design of the car was completely overhauled in the 2019 model. The last time the Altima was redesigned was way back in 2013. The 2019 model and subsequently the 2020 model come with better styling and a new cutting-edge variable-compression turbo-charged engine for maximum fuel efficiency and performance. What’s more, is that the Nissan Altima® 2020 is the only sedan in its class to offer an optional all-wheel drive.
Trim levels
The Altima was redesigned in 2019. Additionally, the 2020 model has up-ed the ante with a handful but useful changes such as driver-assistance technology on the entry-level models—S and SR. Earlier these two models only have a standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking. The trim levels of Altima 2020 are still consistent with the previous Altima 2019 which included S, SR, SV, SL, and Platinum. The only difference is the addition of new safety and driver-assist features The higher-end Platinum models are equipped with a memory function for the side view mirrors. Also, all the models (except the base model S and SR) have glossy-black interior accents.
The essential specs
The Nissan Altima® 2020 is powered by a standard 188-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that comes with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Additionally, there is an optional 248-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that also uses CVT. However, only the 2.5-liter engine with all-wheel drive has Nissan’s innovative variable-compression technology.
On most test drives, the Altima has been observed to go from zero to 60 mph in about 6 seconds on city roads; on highways, the same acceleration is covered in about 4 seconds. This is mostly due to the VC-Turbo engine.
Fuel economy
According to estimates, the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine allows the Altima 2020 to earn up to 25-28 mpg on city roads and 34-39 mpg on highways. This is in alignment with EPA estimates that state that all-while drive models usually earn up to 26 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. Furthermore, models with the VC-Turbo engine can go up to 25 mpg city and 35 mpg highway.
What’s on the inside?
The Nissan Altima® 2020 has a straightforward dashboard with easy-to-use switchgear. The interior materials vary according to the trim levels, but certain features are consistent; these include a standard 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. The infotainment interface comes with a customizable menu and can be upgraded to incorporate a dealer-installed 4G LTE mobile hotspot.
Safety features
All Altima 2020 models come with forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking. The SR trim and above have additional safety and driver-assist features such as blind-spot monitoring, high-beam assist and rear cross-traffic alert. The top-of-the-line models also have a semi-autonomous drive mode called ProPilot Assist. All models include lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist, rear automated emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control.
Pricing
The base price for 2020 Nissan Altima® ranges from $24,100 to $35,180. According to Nissan’s official website, the following are the price points of the various Altima 2020 trims.
- S FWD: $24,110
- S Intelligent AWD: $25,450
- SR FWD: $25,700
- SR Intelligent AWD: $27,050
- SR VC-Turbo™ FWD: $29,750
- SV FWD: $27,880
- SV INTELLIGENT AWD: $29,230
- SL FWD: $30,240
- SL INTELLIGENT AWD: $31,590
- Platinum FWD: $32,180