As standard, the 2019 Nissan Altima is equipped with a 2.5L inline-4 that is capable of producing 182 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. This engine is available as the base engine on all the trims except the Edition ONE. It comes paired with a CVT and can be had either as FWD or AWD. The SR and Platinum (as options) and the Edition ONE also can be equipped with Nissan’s new innovative engine with variable compression-ratio technology. This 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder pumps out 236 horses and 267 lb-ft of torque. It’s also mated to the CVT but power is only routed to the front wheels.
Nissan made a weird choice by not offering AWD on the turbo engine, but the engine is still very impressive. Torque on the low rev range is impressive and the CVT also offers smooth gear shifts, though it's not the quickest transmission in the world. The throttle response is also crisp. However, the base engine is not very frugal and can get quite noisy at high RPMs. The base engine covers the 0-60 MPH mark in around 7.4 seconds and reaches the quarter-mile in 15.7 seconds. Meanwhile, the turbo lag-less engine does it a lot quicker, at 5.9 seconds, and races past the quarter-mile in 14.6 seconds. Top speed is capped at around 140 miles per hour.
Models
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2019 Nissan Altima
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2019 Ford Fusion
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2019 Kia Optima
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2019 Hyundai Sonata
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MSRP
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$24,925
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$23,835
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$23,195
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$23,580
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Engine
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2.5L Inline-4
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2.5L Inline-4
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2.4L Inline-4
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2.4L Inline-4
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Drivetrain
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FWD
|
FWD
|
FWD
|
FWD
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Transmission
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CVT
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6-speed automatic
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6-speed automatic
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6-speed automatic
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Power
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182 hp @ 6000 RPM
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173 hp @ 6000 RPM
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185 hp @ 6000 RPM
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185 hp @ 6000 RPM
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Torque
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178 lb-ft @ 3600 RPM
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174 lb-ft @ 4500 RPM
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178 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM
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178 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM
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0-60 MPH
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7.4 sec
|
8.9 sec
|
8.0 sec
|
8.3 sec
|
Quarter-Mile
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15.7 sec
|
16.7 sec
|
16.2 sec
|
16.4 sec
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Top Speed
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140 MPH
|
133 MPH
|
137 MPH
|
130 MPH
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The Altima is the quickest on the list, and the others are left behind when compared. The Fusion has the lowest power output, while the torque figures remain nearly similar in all of the sedans. All the competitors come with FWD but only the Nissan comes to AWD coupled with a CVT gearbox.
How does the 2019 Nissan Altima handle?
The Altima has decent handling characteristics. It might not be the most fun to drive, but it still will please you in daily drivability. The steering is precise and direct. You can also feel what the wheels in front are doing quite well. The SR comes with larger wheels and a sport-tuned suspension, which allows it to swerve around corners with confidence.
Body roll is not too high and the higher trims offer pretty excellent cornering capabilities. However, the SR trim sacrifices its ride quality for sportiness. With larger wheels, the ride comfort is compromised a tad bit. Otherwise, the Altima is a very comfortable family cruiser, easily able to soak up imperfections on the road.
2019 Nissan Altima Braking Performance
The Altima comes equipped with all-wheel disc brakes with ABS. The front rotors are 11.7” in size and the rear rotors are 11.5” in size. It also features Automatic Emergency Braking as a safety measure. The pedal is quite linear and offers very good feedback. It has a good bite and will inspire confidence in drivers. Being responsive too, it comes to a dead stop from 70 MPH in around 170 ft, and from 60 MPH in 119 ft, which are two very impressive figures.
Model
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2019 Nissan Altima
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2019 Ford Fusion
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2019 Kia Optima
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2019 Hyundai Sonata
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Brake Rotors Front (in)
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11.7
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11.8
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12
|
12
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Brake Rotors Rear (in)
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11.5
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11.9
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11.2
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11.2
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Curb Weight
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3212
|
3410
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3230
|
3247
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60-0 MPH (ft)
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119
|
122
|
N/A
|
120
|
The sizes of the brakes are pretty comparable, but the Fusion is the heaviest. This means it takes the most distance to come to a halt, although just 2 feet more than the Sonata. Overall, all the sedans have pretty good stopping power. Nissan Altima with its lowest curb weight and good big rotors gives an impressive braking performance, stopping in at just 119ft from 60MPH.