2008 Altima 3.5SE
Monday, May 21st, 2007
The brand new Altima coupe is an unusual short-wheelbase version of the sedan, measuring 105.3 inches between the axles (a full four inches shorter than that of the sedan) and is 7.1 inches shorter overall, at 182.5 inches long. Underneath the dramatic panelwork, the coupe is pure Altima sedan, save for stiffer suspension tuning. There are two engines, also shared with the sedan: a 175-hp 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder and a 270-hp, 3.5-liter V-6, both of which are mated to either a six-speed manual or the so-called Xtronic continuously variable transmission.
Suspension is by struts up front and a multilink arrangement out back, while four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes are standard. Four-cylinder models are fitted with sixteen-inch wheels and tires, while the V-6s have seventeens. Stability control is available only on V-6 models.
From the driver’s point of view, the coupe’s interior looks just like an Altima sedan’s except that it is sportier and has heavier bolstered front seats and a hand-operated parking brake lever for CVT models instead of the foot-mounted device found on CVT-equipped sedans. Features such as a smart key with pushbutton starting, a 60/40 split folding rear seat, and power windows are standard, while a touch-screen navigation system, a Bluetooth hands-free phone setup, and a rear parking camera are on the options list. There’s the usual panoply of airbags, including full-length curtain bags for both front- and rear-seat passengers.
Prices start at $21,115 for the 2.5-liter S with a manual transmission, rising to $26,015 for a 3.5-liter SE with the CVT like we had. The more comprehensive SE trim package includes a glass moonroof, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, and an eight-way power driver’s seat. A premium package is available on both S and SE, adding niceties such as leather seats and shifter knob and a nine-speaker Bose audio system. Fully equipped, an Altima coupe boasts a heady blend of techno features, and the Bluetooth integration is the best hands-free phone system we have encountered.
Up front, the new seats give a lot more support than those in the sedan, but the seriously raked rear glass impinges on back-seat headroom for anyone over five feet, eight inches tall. Rear-seat ingress is aided by a release lever on the front seats, but physical agility is still an asset in order to get back there. The cabin materials and fit and finish are pretty good, but the overall ambience is a bit gloomy.
The coupe drives very much like a slightly lighter, stiffer, and smaller Altima sedan. That means it is pretty darned fast in V-6 form, with 0-to-60-mph acceleration happening in 5.8 seconds (0.1-second quicker than the sedan) and a quarter-mile time of 14.6 seconds at 97 mph. The 3.5-liter V-6 in our tester sounded terrific, with a deep, growly exhaust note. The CVT is nicely matched to the engine, is smooth and efficient, and has a quick shifting manual mode, from our experience of the notchy shifter in a manual transmission Altima sedan, the CVT is the better choice. We managed 21 mpg in our lead-footed time with the coupe, respectable, but hardly a fuel guzzler.
Despite 270 hp, the Altima is largely bereft of torque steer, although the trade off is slightly inert steering. The Altima coupe handles tidily and rides slightly stiff leggedly, but lacks the playfulness of similarly quick, but smaller cars such as the Mazdaspeed 3, Mini Cooper S, and VW GTI. Ultimately, the Altima coupe trades sporting duds for style, so if you want a good-looking, value priced coupe that has plenty of standard equipment and performance, it’s got a lot going for it.
Tags: 2008 nissan, nissan altima, 2008 altima, altima 3.5se, 3.5se
Share This: Email This To A Friend or Social Bookmark It!
If you were interested in 2008 Altima 3.5SE, you may also be interested in:
2008 Nissan Altima Coupe: The brand new 2008 Altima Coupe, which is scheduled to go on sale in September 2007, fills a desire among target customers for a more
Nissan Testing Car-to-Car Communication System: Beginning this October and running through March 2008, Nissan will be equipping 2,000 drivers with an experimental system that aims to make Japan's roads a
2008 Pontiac GTO: The new 2008 Pontiac GTO is going to come in the showrooms in 2007 as a 2008 model. With the spy shots we could see