The Nissan Altima, like the Maxima, is a descendent of the Bluebird that launched in 1957. Bigger, more powerful, and more luxurious than the Sentra and smaller than the Maxima, the Altima is a mid-sized sedan that was officially launched in 1993 and continues to be available today. In non-US markets the Altima is sold under the brand name Nissan Teana.
From 1993 until 2002 — or the third generation of Nissan Altima — the vehicle remained essentially the same with only a few cosmetic and performance related changes. In 2002, Nissan completely redesigned the car to meet changing customer needs. They dramatically increased the size of the interior to an impressive 118 cubic feet — bigger than even the Maxima at the time. Critics and members of the press were impressed by the newer version of the Altima and consumer sales increased as a result.
The newest generation of the Nissan Altima debuted at the New York Auto Show in 2006. It was the first Nissan to use the new and smaller D platform, a platform that will be integrated into the Maxima and the Murano in 2009 vehicles. New features on the Altima include standard push-button start, Bluetooth capabilities and a camera to help you park. The vehicle comes standard with many features not found in vehicles several price ranges above, including an impressive eight speaker sound system.
Recently the Altima has been released in a coupe version, as well as the Altima Hybrid. Originally the hybrid was only available in select states, but Nissan has been rolling them out across the country since.
If you’re looking for a new Nissan Altima of your very own — or any other Nissan car — stop by Classic Nissan to take the car of your choice out for a test drive, or visit the website for information on new inventory and specials.
