Nissan has delivered on their promise of providing an affordable and sporty two-door model with the introduction of their all-new 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe. Never before has the popular midsize Altima been offered with just two doors.
Over the past several years, Nissan has been a spectator as some of its competitors rolled out sedan-based coupes. While Nissan is a bit late to the Coupe Party, they've made a grand entrance with the Altima.
The Altima Coupe looks nothing like the Altima Sedan it's based on. In fact, the only exterior panel shared with the sedan is the hood. The Altima Coupe's unique exterior design is intended to stand out in a crowd of sedan-based two-door models.
I believe Nissan has accomplished that goal. When I look at the all-new 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe, I see the best-looking coupe in the segment. The exterior styling is dramatic, sporty and edgy with curves in all the right places.
The Coupe is obviously shorter and features a lower center of gravity. When compared to the Altima Sedan, the Coupe features a shorter (4-inches) wheelbase, shorter (7.1-inches) overall length and lower (2.5-inches) height.
With its attractive exterior styling, some say the Altima Coupe looks a bit like the Infiniti G35. You might even say that the Altima Coupe is a "Poor Man's G35."
The starting price for the Altima Coupe 2.5 S is about $21,000. The 3.5 SE is priced at about $26,000.
You get plenty of bang for the buck with the Altima Coupe. One of my favorite standard features found on the Altima Coupe is the smart key. It provides keyless operation. With smart key, the vehicle can be entered without fumbling around for a key or fob. Plus, starting the engine is as easy as pushing the Start/Stop button on the instrument panel.
Under the hood of the Altima Coupe 2.5 S is a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. A potent 270-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine is featured in the Altima Coupe 3.5 SE.
Both models feature a standard Continously Variable Transmission (CVT). The CVT, when teamed to the V-6, features a "Sport" mode controller with a high-speed central processing unit and Adaptive Shift Controller with adaptive logic for faster shifting in both normal and manual modes. The adaptive logic feature delivers the best shift pattern based on the driving environment and driver's perceived intentions.
For those that prefer to shift their own gears, a six-speed manual gearbox is available in both models. My 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe 3.5 SE tester featured the six-speed manual.
The clutch feel was good and the gearbox was likable for its smooth and predictable operation. I had no problems clicking the shifter into each gear regardless of how hard I was getting on my Altima Coupe 3.5 SE tester.
The 270-horsepower V-6 in my tester provided excellent acceleration both from a stop, and for passing. The engine responded quickly to my inputs.
As expected, the Coupe feels sportier than the Sedan. The Coupe is very fun to drive and does well at staying planted to the pavement while taking turns at speed.
The Coupe's suspension is tuned on the stiff side, yet the ride in my Coupe 3.5 SE was quite compliant when driving at boulevard speeds on rough roads.
I like the Coupe's cockpit feel, too. The front seats are unique to the Coupe and they're supportive and comfortable, even for a six-footer like me. However, the backseat is another story. Because of the sloping roofline, there isn't much headroom for rear passengers. I saw seatbelts for three passengers in back, but there's barely enough room for two. That shouldn't stop the typical coupe buyer, though.
The Altima Coupe 2.5 S and 3.5 SE come well-equipped. A long list of options is offered including a navigation system and rear back-up camera.
My tester came with the Premium Package ($3,200), which added goodies like leather upholstery, heated front seats, Bose audio, XM radio, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, high-intensity headlamps, dual-zone automatic climate control, and more.
I'm glad Nissan decided to produce a coupe version of their popular, now fourth-generation Altima. The Altima Coupe is now one of my favorites in this segment.
2008 Nissan Altima Coupe 3.5 SE
Engine: 3.5-liter (270 hp) V-6
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Drive type: FWD
Fuel economy: 19 city/27 highway
Base price: $24,890
As tested: $29,575 (includes $625 for destination)
Web site: www.nissan-usa.com 