2008 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE Lockhart TX

November 3, 2009   By Alison Lakin, Associate Editor



2008 Nissan Altima
DriverSide Overview
The 2008 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE places a high performance engine underneath the hood of a reasonably priced four-door sedan. The upgraded V-6 engine produces 95 more horses than the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder base Altima, and impressively, this extra boost in power comes at no expense to passenger comfort or five-star crash rated safety. Nissan has also made available technology options like touch screen navigation, making it ready for whatever the roads throw at you. If this is the happy consequence of blending a sporty engine and a reliable family sedan, we’re all for it.








What's to Like
This fourth-generation Altima has a sport-tuned suspension and 270 horsepower, two of many features dedicated to the driving enthusiast. Body-hugging seats and an intuitively designed instrument cluster have spiced up the interior. There are also – count ‘em – nine cup holders: the only true testament of a car’s worth, right?

What's Not to Like
The rear headrests aren’t adjustable, and rear headroom is tight for those over six feet tall. Hard plastics covering the center console make for an uncomfortable armrest. There are some very enticing options, but watch out for the pricing – you could end up driving away in a $32,000 Altima.

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
The Altima is nothing short of a fun car to drive. The refined V-6 feels powerful maneuvering along the roads, and the handling, sans a miniscule dead spot in the steering, is taut. Remarkably solid suspension accommodates city-driving comfort; and there’s enough torque to neatly curl you around hairpin turns. We liked the manual’s long gears, but felt that the car would have a friskier drive if the ratios were a little shorter – an unfortunate compromise. The Xtronic CVT’s uncomplicated manual mode allows the driver to easily blip between gears for a more lively drive experience.

Engine and Drivetrain
As an upgrade from the 2.5-liter inline-4 engine in the base Altima, we think the 3.5-liter DOHC V-6 engine gives this car a much-needed power boost. 270 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque propel the front-wheels energetically. Both the 6-speed manual and Xtronic CVT with manual mode provide exciting drive options. You can find this engine in three of Nissan’s models: the 350Z , Maxima and Quest .

Interesting Vehicle Features and Options
The Altima’s features are directed toward a more sports-oriented driver, evidenced by their standard push button ignition, but most options come in the form of expensive add-ons. A sport package, priced at $1,300, gives you a moonroof, rear spoiler and fog lights. If you add the premium package on top of that, with features like leather seats and an upgraded Bose stereo system with Bluetooth capability, your wallet will be $4,200 lighter. We t...

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