Auto
Car of the Week: Nissan Altima Ups its Sophistication
By Frank SWashington,
AboutThatCar.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Standing in the garage here at
Nissan’s North American headquarters what stood out
about the all new Nissan Altima was that the midsize sedan
looked much more sophisticated than the car it replaces.
Amid the dozen or so test cars that were parked, I noted
that the lines of the 2013 Nissan Altima were flowing. The
car also appeared lower and wider. Still, the foot print of the
all new Altima was about the same. In other words, the new
Altima had not increased in size; it was an inch longer, one
inch lower and one inch wider.
In fact, the car looked like a smaller version of the Nissan
Maxima. More important is that the new Altima has Nis-
san’s design DNA: Rounded fenders, horizontal grille and
angled lamps fore and aft.
I learned about the dimensions of the 2013 Altima during
the product presentation which started late because one of
the shuttles ferrying reporters here from downtown went to
the Nissan plant in Smyrna instead of Nissan’s North Amer-
ican headquarters which is in suburban Franklin.
Anyway, the new Altima has two engine choices; a 2.5
liter four cylinder that makes 182 horsepower and 180
pound-feet of torque. The 3.5-liter V6 makes 270 horse-
power and 258 pound-feet of torque.
Both engines were mated to the newest generation of Nis-
san’s continuously variable transmission (CVT). It accounts
for 40 percent of the improvement in the new Altima’s fuel
economy.
The four cylinder engine gets 27 mpg in city driving and
38 mpg on the highway. The six-cylinder gets 22 mpg in the
city and 30 mpg on the
highway. Part of the fuel
economy improvement is
due to weight reduction; the
2013 Nissan Altima is 79
pounds lighter than the
model replaces.
We were given a bunch of
information. The new Alti-
ma is quieter than the car it
replaces, Nissan said it is
more comfortable because
of a new seat design and it is
technologically better.
The car’s new communi-
cation system has Blue-
tooth, streaming audio,
hands free texting, internet
radio and an iPod interface
as well as auxiliary and USB
jacks. The new trend in auto-
motive communications sys-
tems is connectivity; that is
running Smartphone apps
through the car’s audio sys-
tem.
The 2013 Altima can be
equipped with blind spot
warning, land departure
warning or moving object detection. The car also has a tire
pressure monitoring system.
But its little things like the remote start has a range of 195
feet or the windshield wipers will complete their cycle after
the car is shut off that will undoubtedly make consumers
appreciate the new Nissan Altima. Or, when putting air in
the tires, the Altima will beep its horn when the correct
pressure is reached.
But how the car drives will determine whether consumers
embrace it. On a relatively short test drive to Lynchburg,
home of Jack Daniels Bourbon, I discovered a few things
about the Altima’s driving characteristics.
Nissan Altima
The car’s new communication system has
Bluetooth, streaming audio, hands free texting,
internet radio and an iPod interface as well as
auxiliary and USB jacks
My test vehicle was quiet; especially its CVT. Nissan has
done a lot of work to make the transmission which has no
gears operate quietly. Handling was sharp, the car went
were I steered it and it tracked well. I didn’t have to make
adjustments to keep it centered.
The roads in this part of the country are in great shape.
There were no potholes or ruts to speak of; so they were not
that much of a test for the Altima’s suspension. However,
my test car’s ride was firm without being harsh and the
shock absorber compression was minimal after going over
one of the numerous swells in this area.
My only quibble was the use of black piano finish in the
interior around the center stack. In effect its black plastic, it
looks good but I don’t how
a scratch, especially a siz-
able one will transform its
appearance.
Prices start $21,500 for
the
four-cylinder
and
continued from Quiz on page 3
$25,360 for the V6. What’s
more, it would not surprise
1. ANSWER: C The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was set up in 2011
me if a number of people
to give consumers protection in their dealings with the financial products and serv-
switched brands to drive a
ices industry. http://www.consumerfinance.gov/ It makes rules for financial servic-
new Altima.
es companies, enforces the rules, recovers money wrongly taken from consumers
and monitors the industry for problem practices.
2. ANSWER: E The examples all violate the Dodd-Frank law against “abusive,
deceptive and unfair practices.”
3. ANSWER: B
4. ANSWER: A. The agency has recovered $430 million so far from more than
175,000 complaints.
http://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201307_cfpb_2_year_graphic.jpg
5. ANSWER: D You can make a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau online at their website or by calling 855- 411-2372. http://www.consumer-
finance.gov/complaint/
6. ANSWER: C Mortgage lenders generated 85,200 complaints compared with:
36,300 credit card complaints; 25,700 bank account complaints; 14,200 credit
report complaints; 6,000 private student loan complaints; 5,700 consumer loan com-
plaints; and 300 money transfer complaints. The agency began taking debt collec-
tion complaints in July.
7. ANSWER: D
Find out more about paying for college, and compare costs at different institutions
on the CFPB website. http://www.consumerfinance.gov/paying-for-college/
8. ANSWER: A
Sen. Jeff Merkley has been an outspoken supporter of consumer issues such as;
foreclosure prevention; affordable education loans and to rein in Wall Street. While
in the Oregon Legislature, Merkley led the effort to cap interest rates on payday
loans and fees.
Merkley has been “a godsend,” says Robert Stoll, the Portland attorney on the
CFPB advisory committee. “I’m very thankful he has been there for us. He was a
brand new first-term senator, but he was the number one leader in the Republicans
finally agreeing to confirm Richard Cordray to the CFPB. Oregonians should be
proud of Sen. Merkley.”
Sen. Patty Murray has spoken out on the need to keep student loans affordable.
She serves on the powerful Senate Appropriations committee and its financial serv-
ices subcommittee among others.
Sen. Maria Cantwell serves on the Senate Finance Committee and has supported
attempts to reform Wall Street. A bill to regulate the derivatives market succeeded,
but attempts to restore the Glass-Steagall Act, which regulated banks, ensuring main
street banks and investment banks remained separate, did not pass.
Sen. Mark Begich voted to prevent the doubling of student rates and to confirm
Richard Cordray as executive director of the Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau. He serves on the Appropriations committee, among others.
Answers
Page 6 The Seattle Skanner August 14, 2013