The Nissan Altima has long been the unsung hero of the used car market, being a midsize sedan almost everyone can agree on. It’s the second chance Craigslist superstar, a car you can pick up used for a song and flog like a rented mule until it finally gives out, having racked up hundreds of thousands of miles in the process. But to many drivers, a current-generation Nissan Altima is just a blip on their radar. In traffic, they tend to blend in with all the other midsize sedans on the road. Well, we think that’s a shame, as the 2021 Nissan Altima has a lot to offer a prospective buyer. In fact, these five cool things about the Nissan Altima might just be the thing that gives you that final push you need to head to your nearest Nissan Altima Dealership and try one for yourself!
1 – Dynamic Drive Technologies
The Nissan Altima offers Active Ride Control, which can apply brakes and adjust engine output to make your drive much smoother and more comfortable. When paired with Intelligent Trace Control, which can apply stopping power to each wheel individually as you turn, the act of driving your Nissan Altima is sure to be a thrilling experience. Also on offer is Hill Start Assist, which will hold the brakes for just a moment while on an incline so that when you switch your foot to the accelerator, the vehicle won’t slide backward those precious few inches.
The 2021 Nissan Altima uses adaptive electronic steering to change the steering feel as you drive, booting the power to help you navigate tight parking lots with ease and firm up the steering input needed to make spirited driving all the easier. You can lean into corners and drive like a pro with confidence. Using the standard 2.5-liter direct-injection gasoline engine, you can enjoy the drive, all while making 188 horsepower and getting an astounding 39 miles per gallon on the highway.
2 – Safety Built In
Modern cars are marvels of safety technology, using cameras and sensors in ways thought impossible just a few decades ago. While similar technologies exist in almost every car offered on the market, especially in the Altima’s price class, Nissan is on the cutting edge with its Safety Shield suite of driver-assist features.
- Forward Collision Warning: This system will monitor your speed and distance from the car in front of you, warning you if there is a potential collision and giving you enough time to stop.
- Lane Intervention: The Altima will monitor the lines on the road to ensure you stay centered in your lane and can gently apply the brakes and steering to nudge you back into the correct lane.
- Traffic Sign Recognition: No more wondering what the speed limit for this road is. The Altima can monitor road signs and let you know the current speed limit based on the signs posted, rather than having to rely on map data that may become outdated.
- Intelligent Driver Alertness: Using this system, the Altima can monitor how you’re driving by sensing things such as your steering input and alert you if you are starting to get drowsy, suggesting that you take a break.
However, all of these features are just the beginning of the Nissan Safety Shield suite, and the 2021 Altima offers even more standard and optional features designed to protect you on the road.
3 – Smart Convenience Features
The 2021 Nissan Altima offers driver’s a suite of features once only available to those buying into the luxury segment. For example, you can get a Remote Start System with Intelligent Climate Control that will allow your car to be at the perfect temperature and ready to set out as soon as you get in. Nine speakers are placed throughout the interior with the available Bose Premium Audio System, which is specially tuned to deliver fantastic sound in the cabin of your Altima.
Dual Zone Climate Control can help keep individual front seat occupants pleased, allowing them to set their own temperature for comfort. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel can make even the coldest drives more pleasant, while the power-operated moonroof can cool the car down on hot summer days. The Altima gives you more than the cost may suggest, and all of these features are just the beginning.
4 – Accessories for the Altima
Nissan allows you to customize your Altima inside and out with unique accessories. That way, you might well see another Altima in your same year, of your same color, but you can rest easy knowing that the two aren’t as identical as they seem. You have exterior options to choose from, such as a chrome cargo loading plate, a rear spoiler, splash guards, special seventeen-inch exclusive chrome and black wheels, and even Nissan branded tire valve stem caps. To add to the interior, you have options such as carpeted or rubber all-weather floor mats, a Nissan branded cargo mat for the trunk, and a road emergency kit to have just in case.
5 – A Revolutionary Engine
We’ve saved the best for last in this list. The VC-Turbo engine, otherwise known as the Variable Compression Turbo, features one of the most unique designs seen in any engine to this day. It uses a complicated series of actuators and multilink crankshafts to adjust the height of the piston travel inside the combustion chamber. This allows the engine to drop compression by lowering piston travel to take in more air and make a huge boost to power in the process.
On the flip side of the same idea, it can also increase piston travel time and boost compression, making the engine as thermodynamically efficient as it is possible to be. This engine was introduced in 2018 and has remained a marvel of engineering ever since. It is currently offered in the top trim levels of the 2021 Altima and provides 248 horsepower with 273 lb-ft of torque for impressive acceleration.
Check Out The Altima Today
There are far more reasons to buy the new 2021 Altima than just these five, but hopefully, you see why you ought to stop by and check out one for yourself. The Altima is designed to make your drive more exciting with adaptive technologies like intelligent Active Ride Control and Intelligent Trace Control. It is designed to keep you safe with Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, and Lane Intervention. You can equip your Altima with Remote Start and a Premium Sound System, once features found on only the most expensive luxury cars.
The 2021 Altima offers you many accessories to personalize your car to suit you, with special wheels, floor mats, and cargo organizers. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, you can outfit your Altima with one of the most technologically advanced engines ever installed in a passenger car. The VC-T engine is sure to be a game-changer in the coming years and will remain one of the coolest things about this car. So the next time you see a new Altima, keep in mind all the neat things going on behind the scenes.
