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2005 Nissan Altima SE-R Mid-Size Sports Sedan
…Continued
Heart of the Z, body of the Altima
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Changes also extend to the interior, where leather seats with big side bolsters are standard and a unique gauge cluster looks like it came right out of the Z car. It also comes with some luxury goodies at no extra cost, including a great Bose stereo CD changer with steering wheel controls.
However fun the SE-R is to drive, it still falls well short of the BMW benchmark for a couple of reasons.
One, it's just not as polished and refined as a car that was intended to be a high-performance sports sedan in the first place. Its acceleration and handling are good, but there are a few little annoyances like numb steering that feels too much like an old lady's Altima. It has bits and pieces of greatness, not an overall great package.
Second, it's still front-wheel-drive. While sending power to the front wheels is fine for everyday driving -- and is safer for the average driver -- a great sports sedan must send power to the rear wheels. Under hard acceleration, the Altima's front-drive layout has far too much torque steer, which tries to jerk the steering wheel to the side in a corner, not to mention too much understeer, which is when the front of the car keeps going straight even when you steer it in a different direction. That's unacceptable for anyone who wants to take it to the track from time to time.
To be honest, comparing the SE-R to a BMW isn't fair because of the enormous price difference. While the SE-R starts at $29,200, a similar BMW 5-Series would cost at least $11,000 more.
But that doesn't matter. Nissan simply has a sedan that can be mentioned in the same breath with BMW, which is a major accomplishment and definitely something to brag about.
And, despite their better sales, Toyota and Honda don't have a performance car that comes close.
Pros: It's Nissan's answer to the BMW 5-Series, only a lot more affordable. It has the practicality of a four-door family sedan, and it's nearly as fun to drive as a sports car.
Cons: Despite its great performance, it doesn't feel nearly as polished and refined as other longer-running sports sedans -- especially the benchmark models from BMW. Its steering feels especially numb in comparison, and its front-wheel-drive layout isn't best for performance.
Ratings (1-10)
- Style: 7
- Performance: 9
- Price: 8
- Handling: 9
- Ride: 5
- Comfort: 4
- Quality: 7
- Overall: 8
More Data
Where Built: USA
Major Options: Leather wrapped steering wheel, Leather upholstery, Power driver seat, Alloy wheels, Heated seats, Power sunroof, Xenon headlights, Anti-lock brakes, Front side airbags, Traction control, Navigation system, Fog lights, Bose stereo.
Seating: 5.
Number of Rows: 2
Length in Inches: 192.3
Warrantees: 3 years/36,000 miles bumper to bumper, 5 years/60,000 extended powertrain, 5 years/unlimited miles corrosion protection.
Weight in Pounds: 3001 lbs.
Cargo Capacity in Pounds: Not available
Gross Maximum Vehicle Weight in Pounds: 4200 lbs.
Towing Capacity in Pounds: Not available
Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 20.0
Destination Charge: $580
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