Long before I ever got behind the wheel, I had heard plenty of hoopla about the 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe, so my expectations were set slightly higher than normal. That usually spells trouble for the vehicle I'm about to review.
Luckily for me (and Nissan), the Altima Coupe did not disappoint.
The auto world of V-6 coupes is varied and none to equal while comparing power, handling and comfort. That's the nature of the beast when it comes to this class of vehicle that wants to be more sports car than sedan. Just comparing like-equipped models is only one way to try to evaluate rear-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive options.
The Altima is a front-wheel-drive coupe whose handling and performance is very accurately represented in its sloping lines and aggressive exterior styling. If you think the Altima looks great, you will not be disappointed once you get behind the wheel and jump on the accelerator.
The coupe is predictably shorter in length next to the sedan. This compresses the key Altima features such as a heavily sloped A-pillar, lean vertical headlights chiseled into the hood and a thick, anchoring C-pillar. The final product is a more dramatic, compact style reminiscent of the 350Z or Infiniti G37. Not bad company in the looks department, I'd say.
Altima Coupes come standard with 17-inch alloy rims, chrome tipped dual exhaust, and swept-back side-view mirrors. These details accent the overall swooping lines running from front to back. Altima Coupe looks aerodynamic because it is designed to look the part.
Inside the cabin things feel a bit tighter, though taller passengers will be comfortable driving or riding in the front seat for short or long trips. The front seats are deeper bucket-style seats with heavy bolstering to feel more like a performance enthusiast's choice. The backseat is fine for kids, but I wouldn't relegate an adult to that space for long periods of time. The 60/40-split rear seat folds flat to enhance utility space in what I felt was a rather smallish trunk (7.4 cubic-feet).
I am a big fan of the Altima sedan and the coupe is predictably just a smaller version of all the fine points in the four-door version. Starting with the dash treatment, it is a balanced and easy-to-see cluster. Look for the parking brake to be mounted up on the console for a sportier feel and metallic accents are scattered sparingly around the cabin. The general sightlines are pretty good, with the exception of a little less visibility near the C-pillar.
My tester had the Premium Package ($3,200) that featured heated leather seating, Bluetooth hands-free communication, dual-zone heating and cooling, speed sensitive volume, radio data system (RDS), compass, leather-wrapped gear shifter and auto-dimming rearview mirror. Part of the Premium Package was an XM Satellite Radio, which when played over the amazing (upgraded) nine-speaker Bose audio system with in-dash CD player, was an experience unto itself.
Nissan will sell a lot of Altima Coupes in 2008, whether they be the entry four-cylinder 2.5 S or the V-6 3.5 SE version. Both engine variations are pretty fun, though the difference between the 2.5-liter DOHC four (175 horsepower) and the 3.5-liter SE twin-cam V-6 (270 horsepower) is noticeably more than just a mere 95 ponies.
Transmission mates are either a six-speed manual or an automatic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT); Nissan claims 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 to 6.5 seconds with either transmission. I didn't clock it myself, but I believe it. While the Coupe's Xtronic CVT delivers super-smooth shifts in full-auto setting, there is a Sport mode with six virtual gears that can be utilized via the shift lever.
I found the Altima Coupe to be a fun car to drive whether it was shooting around town on short errands or jumping in and out of 70- mph-plus traffic on the tollway. This car is responsive and handles with precision in response to the overall quickness.
The base price for the SE tester was $25,390, but with several option packages added on there was a final tally of $32,980. Looking at the competition from Camry and Accord coupes, the Altima has the style points to make it stand above the rest. With fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, Altima is right where it needs to be. |
