Find the best price deals on the 2012 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR.
The Nissan Altima has been around since 1993, but it can be argued that it is the continuation of the Nissan Bluebird line, which started in 1957. Either way, it has been around for awhile. Currently, it is in its fourth generation, with a fifth generation scheduled to begin with the 2013 model year.
The Altima is a unique car. It isn’t a full-blown sport car, but it has some sporty tweaks. It isn’t a luxury car, but it has consistently been slightly ahead of the curve in technological innovations. It isn’t a boring family car, but it makes a great family car.
The Altima 3.5 SR is the highest of three trim levels. Due to the fact that the higher trim level costs less than $5,000 more than the base trim, we feel that it gives the biggest “bang for your buck.” It has a 3.5 liter, V6 engine that produces 270 horsepower. It has 17-inch alloy wheels, front-wheel drive, and a continuously variable transmission. It is rated at 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, and goes from zero to sixty in 7 seconds flat.
The Altima 3.5 SR comes with a leather-covered, tilt-telescope steering wheel that houses the audio and cruise controls, an 8-way power driver’s seat with lumbar and height adjustment, a 60/40 split-folding rear seatback, velour upholstery, keyless entry, keyless ignition, remote window operation, power locks, power windows, heated mirrors, speed-proportional power steering, 12-volt power outlet in front, air conditioning, turn signals in side mirrors, a rear defogger, automatic headlights, and a trip computer. The audio system has Bluetooth, 6 speakers, AM/FM radio, a CD/M<P3 player, and an audio jack.
The Altima also comes with side front airbags, side curtain airbags, stability control, traction control, antilock brakes, and active front head restraints to prevent whiplash. In US government tests, the Altima received 4 stars for front impact and 5 stars for side impact. It got perfect scores of “good” in front, and side impacts from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, while getting their second-best score of “acceptable” for roof strength and rear impacts.
Conclusions and driver feedback:
The interior is very nice. The design is understated, but the workmanship and materials are top-notch. The dash is well-organized, and the controls are easy to use and easy to understand. Everything is in the “right place,” making the Altima very easy to drive.
The combined front seat headroom and legroom is 84.7 inches, while the same measurement in the rear is 72.6 inches. This means that the front seats are extremely roomy, while anyone over 6 feet might not want to take long trips in the rear seat. The seats themselves are quite comfortable, though. The trunk has 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space.
There is another reason we chose the 3.5 SR to review: the engine. The 3.5 is more than enough engine for this car. It provides very nice acceleration, and allows the car to cruise with very little effort at highway speeds. Really, the entire ride is quiet. Between advances in suspension and aerodynamics, the amount of gratuitous road, wind, and engine noise has gone down considerably the last few years. The Altima is a great example of a modern, quiet car.
The suspension and steering are tuned for sport in this trim level. Steering feedback is immediate due to the power assist, and the suspension is very responsive as well, helping the Altima hug the road even when taking turns a little fast. Somehow, though, the ride quality is surprisingly compliant. There is a little road feel, but it is actually quite pleasant within the context of the car’s performance.
All in all, the 2012 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR is a great car for a single, couple, or small family. As long as having a cushy ride isn’t the main consideration.
The verdict: highly recommended.
Options, other trims, and various caveats.
First of all, we have a confession to make. Nobody here has a degree in rocket science. Consequently, we are unable to fully understand the options packages. We love this car, but the options packages are so full of ifs, ands, and buts, that they are virtually impossible to fully describe here without confusing everyone, starting with us.
Some highlights: 9-speaker Bose audio system, HD-based navigation system with realtime weather and traffic, digital music storage, 2-zone climate control, sunroof, foglights, iPod interface, rearview camera.
There are two other trim levels. The base, called the 2.5, is sparsely furnished. It comes with a 2.5 liter, 4-cylinder engine that produces 175 horsepower, or 95 less than the 3.5 engine. It also gets the tilt-telescope steering wheel, full-power accessories, a trip computer, air conditioning, and 16-inch steel wheels. that is pretty much it. There is basically no optional equipment, and there isn’t even a stereo. They do wire the car for four speakers, though.
The second trim is the 2.5S. It adds keyless ignition and entry, the 6-speaker sound system, and 17-inch wheels. Here is where it gets tricky. You can start adding options to the 2.5S until you almost have a 3.5 SR without the large engine. That is another reason why we recommend the 3.5 SR. If you want a bigger engine and the optional equipment, it is easier to just to right to the top and not try to sort out all of the myriad optional packages.
The 2.5 trims are very nice for conservative family use. They get 23 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway, and are tweaked for passenger comfort and ride quality. You get a bit less steering and suspension feedback, a bit more body roll, and the trade-off is a ride that borders on being an entry-level luxury car. It obviously has a bit less zip, and it does labor a bit during acceleration and at higher speeds.
So, the lower trims are great if driven conservatively, while the 3.5 SR is great for someone who wants sporty performance without driving a full-fledged high-performance variant. There is really something for everyone here. Now, if they could just dumb down the options structure, they could approach icon status.
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