Test Drive: 10 Things To Know About the 2013 Nissan Altima

This is Nissan's biggest promotional angle about the new Altima. Above everything else, they want everybody to know that the 2.5-liter models are rated at 38 miles per gallon. They're so proud of this number that a hybrid option isn't even of major concern at this point. And why would it be with 38 standard? In its class, the only two cars that are within distance of 38 mpgs are the hybrid Ford Fusion and the Chevy Malibu Eco, both of which are more expensive optional models, at 37. To compare, the Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry are rated at 35, the Honda Accord at 34, and the VW Passat (non-diesel) at 31. This is a result of a new "smart" alternator, its redesigned CVT that has 40 percent less friction, a lower weight, and better aerodynamics.

In order to achieve that level of being "a class above," Nissan extensively studied and benchmarked luxury sedans like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Audi A4, and the BMW 3-Series. A main point on that checklist was handling. The '13 Altima is introducing connected bushings in its multi-link suspension, allowing for better camber control, and has premium ZF Sachs shock absorbers standard. The new car will also have active understeer control, which will brake the inside front wheel when taking a corner hard.

Let's be clear: This is still a four-door sedan, so in reality, most consumers don't need to be zooming off the line. They're probably driving in a kid-friendly neighborhood anyways. However, because it is affordable and now looks really sporty, there will be plenty of men, and certainly some high school kids, driving this car. And what do all guys and high school kids have? Lead feet. We tested both the four-cylinder and six-cylinder versions of the new Altima, and there was a pretty noticeable difference from the added 88 horsepower (270 in the V6 compared to 182 in the four-cylinder) you get from the 3.5-liter engine. We could actually pass a car on a country road without cheering for the engine to get up and go. Keep in mind, we're talking foot-on-the-ground responsiveness. The four-cylinder Altima still gets up to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds, which compared to its segment, is the fastest available.

Nissan is promoting that the new Altima is "a class above." In efforts to separate itself from the rest of its running mates, the affordable four-door sedan has picked up some cues from its classier big brother, the Nissan Maxima. The redesigned model includes more 3.5-liter V6 engine options, has a more aggressive stance like the Maxima, and offers a higher quality interior experience with options like double stitching, perforated leather, heavier sound dampening, and a premium Bose sound system. By closing the gap between the two vehicles, we're that much more interested to see what Nissan has in store for the new redesigned Maxima.

The Altima actually grew slightly in size, but still lost 79 pounds overall. It's like what happened when we hit our growth spurt in high school. The reduction comes from two main things: The engineers used more ultra-high-strength steel and aluminum in the construction, and the engines were redesigned with slightly lower weights. The Altima is now the lightest car in the segment.

For a car starting at $22,500, you won't find a better and more comfortable ride than this. The steering is responsive and the multi-link suspension and Sachs dampeners make for easy corners. The point is to not notice what you're driving on, and that's exactly how it felt.

Nissan added some pretty nifty features into this car. The easy-fill tire alert system takes tire rotation into account, gives you individual tire pressure numbers, and will even honk and flash its lights at you if you're filling the tire up too much. The backup camera includes lane departure warnings, moving object detection, blind spot warnings, and get this: It has its own automatic lens washer. Speaking of washers, the windshield wipers will trigger automatic lights after four swipes with integrated light-responsive headlights. They might not be necessary, but you'll definitely appreciate the the extra thought and time that went into these features. Plus, these are things usually found only on ultra-luxury cars.

This was our biggest issue with the car. Here at Complex, we're obviously heavy into hip-hop, and one of our favorite things to do is ride out with the windows down, blasting the newest Kendrick Lamar or A$AP Rocky so loud that we get disdainful looks from your grandparents. The new Altima is good about connecting our devices, with a USB port and bluetooth streaming, but that doesn't really matter when the six-speaker base system doesn't knock. You shouldn't be able to turn the dial all the way up without fear of blowing something. It's a bit unfortunate that the nine-speaker Bose sound system (that comes with two subs) doesn't come standard until the 2.5 SL trim, which starts at $28,050.

Nissan leads the auto industry in Continually Variable Transmissions, or CVTs, so for the launch of five new vehicles, a 70 percent design of the components was pretty important. For those who are unaware, a CVT virtually gets rid of fixed gears by using a metal belt that runs around two variable-diameter pulleys, traveling up the pulleys. This makes for incredibly smooth shifting. Nissan took it another huge step up by expanding to a 7.0 gear ratio range, reducing internal friction by 40 percent, and integrating better control logic.

Let's be honest. The first two generations of the Altima were pretty unattractive. It wasn't until 2001 that Nissan finally put out a vehicle that we wouldn't be a little embarrassed to pick up our girlfriends in. Since then, the Altima has continually matured into the sexy mid-sized four-door that the 2013 Altima is today. We touched on this a bit already, but the Altima has vastly caught up to its superior. The exterior, particularly the front end, is inspired by the Kamishimo, the overdress typically worn by Japanese warriors. Sedans usually look upright and proper, but the '13 Altima has a low, wide, forward-leaning stance for a much sportier feel. Add in small details like edgier front and rear lights, chrome accents, and a lipped deck lid, and you have a fantastic exterior.