Despite the propensity of most North American shoppers to gravitate solidly towards crossovers and SUVs, there remain a few gloriously stubborn souls who prefer the look and feel of a four-door midsize sedan. This explains why a vanishingly few companies still sell the things, taking advantage of holes in the marketplace left by the exodus of brands such as Ford.
Nissan has decided to re-up its Altima for 2022, giving it a nose job and infusing its interior with updated technology.
That tweaked front fascia introduces a new take on the so-called ‘V Motion’ grille and incorporates the brand’s new minimalist logo. LED headlights are now standard across the board, plus the usual smattering of midcycle refresh items like new paint colors and wheel designs. Heady stuff here, folks.
More notable improvements await inside the 2023 Altima, most notably a new 12.3-inch display which is the same size as the jumbotron found in the zooty Nissan Armada full-size SUV. It replaces the previous 8.0-inch display, which could have passed for an oversized smartphone, and – if it’s anything like the screen in that Armada – will feature a high-res display providing clear images and crisp graphics.
The 12.3-inch screen is optional in mid-level trims and is standard on the top tier. Pro tip: Spend the money and get it. Bose-branded gear is available, as are the likes of an active noise cancellation kit and Amazon Alexa in case you just simply can’t wait until you’re home to order a fresh package of paper towels.
Under its hood, the 2023 Altima is available with a choice of two four-cylinder powerplants: A 2.0-liter Variable Compression turbo or a more pedestrian 2.5-liter four-banger. All-wheel drive is available with the latter. For those of you with short memories, the VC technology utilizes both multi-point injection and Nissan’s Direct Injection Gasoline system to change its compression ratio between 8:1 (for high performance) and 14:1 (for high efficiency). A trick multi-link system inside the guts of this thing continuously raises or lower the pistons’ reach to change the compression ratio.
We’ve opined on the VC Turbo before but it bears repeating that the technology must have cost a king’s ransom to develop and produce. In theory, it seems like the golden ticket for ICE-powered vehicles to blend power and efficiency but official EPA fuel economy stats don’t really bear fruit, at least for the ’23 Altima: The 248 horsepower VC is rated at 29 mpg combined while the 188 hp 2.5L is rated at 31 mpg combined in front-wheel-drive applications. The VC also requires premium fuel to make all its horses.
The 2023 Nissan Altima will go on sale this autumn.
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People must really like the Lexus grill, I guess.
This would be something I might consider leasing except I know at the price point they’ll be asking I’d rather have something else without all the compromises you get with a 2020s Nissan.
Altima drivers putting in premium fuel? Good luck with that.
And the VC system sounds like something prone to fail quickly.
I think it’s a bit too gimmicky for this level car. It didn’t go over well at all in the QX50, the tech’s first introduction.
A complicated variable compression turbo and a CVT constantly trying to figure out the best combination to the user input and acting upon it. I can’t imagine trying to engineer so many variables and physical delays associated with such mechanical system.
I have a feeling this VC turbo will probably work better with series hybrid where the battery can work as a buffer for the varying input and output.
This VC engine has been available in the Altima since the new model rolled out in 2019. It’s NOT a new feature.
Mr Guy, the least informed writer on the TTAC roster, has the gall to question people’s memories, when it’s he that has a dreadful one.
And his writing? Technical understanding? Take this sentence: “the VC technology utilizes both multi-point injection and Nissan’s Direct Injection Gasoline system to change its compression ratio between 8:1 (for high performance) and 14:1”
Good lord, who knew dual injection changed the compression ratio?
Back to selling deluxe Chinese wiper blades and bad LED kits. That’s about the level this writer excels at.
Wow, someone must be on the rag.
The Altima, along with the Korean midsizers, are picking up where the domestics left and being the darlings of fleets and people with eventful credit histories nationwide.
I don’t think I watched a single review that had any positive comments about that turbo engine.
The variable compression engine is not new to this model. Worth noting: it’s only available with a CVT, which may explain why it hasn’t gotten positive reviews.
“The 248 horsepower VC is rated at 29 mpg” “The VC also requires premium fuel to make all its horses.”
I wonder how it does on regular.
But the car looks nice, anyway.
A Variable Compression turbocharged Altima is still an Altima.
Much like my ’16 Fiesta ST, you can run 87 octane or 91; the car runs fine on the 87 but doesn’t produce the rated horsepower or torque on the cheap stuff. If you want max HP and torque you need to put premium in, on my Fiesta ST you’re looking at a difference of maybe 10HP and 5-10 torque, honestly I’ve run both low test and high test in may car, I can’t notice the difference in performance.
I think the concern is less about overall performance and more about how robust is the knock sensor adjustment.
Engines requiring 92 octane for max power and being able to run well on 87 is not a new thing. If Ford can do it, successfully, then certainly so can Nissan.
“is not a new thing”
Neither are many things that cause engine issues. But it’s your money if you want to buy a turbo Altima and put 87 in it. I’m not saying it’ll definitely be a problem but I can’t say it definitely won’t be either.
If I bought one I’d use 91.
BAT recently had a listing for a 90’s Maxima – the 4DSC. What a sad reminder of what Nissan has lost.
Since around 2000, the Altima has been an Oster blender. A dull appliance pushed on people with bad credit and big rental car companies to charge $40, err, $140/day.
The new Z shows that there’s someone deep at Nissan that actually likes cars. May that person get promoted and look to the 90s for more inspiration.
Bravo on standard LED headlights across all trims. Good night lighting should be a high priority with our aging population and halogens just aren’t as good as LEDs.
It doesn’t make sense to me to add this VC engine that requires premium, matched to a CVT. Then, use a 2.0 that uses regular fuel, but that’s the only way you can get AWD, a more premium feature.
This trim lineup is a bit of a mess right now.
The lack of 2.0T/AWD looks to me like a tell that Nissan doesn’t actually want to sell 2.0T cars, but just wants the good publicity and better comparison test numbers that the 2.0T brings. I expect the margin on the simple-as-dirt 2.5 is higher than ifor the 2.0T.
“The lack of 2.0T/AWD looks to me like a tell that Nissan doesn’t actually want to sell 2.0T cars, but just wants the good publicity and better comparison test numbers that the 2.0T brings.”
I question that sentiment given that Nissan has only one other application (the QX5x) with which to recoup their investment in the VCT, and its sales performance has been weak despite a market hot for crossovers. AWD makes sense here with respect to better metering out performance, but that just hasn’t proven essential in this segment. The Chrysler 200 and Ford Fusion were no more relevant for it, and the makes who’ve since offered it in their mainstream midsizers are running a similar play of pairing it with the entry level engine.
Nissan loves their 91 octane on normie vehicles.
248hp and 29combined mpg in a midsized sedan is pretty good.
Honda accord 2.0t with 252 horsepower gets 26 combined.
Toyota is down on power, unless you get the v6 and then it’s down on mpg’s.
If you want a chivy the malibu has a 2.0 that seems like it has similar power and better mpg’s.
Interior looks decent and I’m sure the seats will be comfortable.
Looks like a fine rental.
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