2001NissanAltimaNissan Altima2001 Nissan Altima GXESedanSedanFWDSmyrna, TNGXE is available with a new Limited Edition package, which includes goodies like an eight-way power driver's seat, remote keyless entry, floor mats, special badging and a security system.Fun to drive, strong reliability record, big rebates.Tinny construction, lacking powertrain refinement, vanilla personality.When Nissan introduced its Infiniti J30 knockoff, Altima, in 1993, it was an instant hit. The term "affordable luxury" became synonymous with the new sedan, and consumers rushed out in droves to buy this car. Five years later, the Altima was redesigned with the goal of improving on its original style and appeal. Unfortunately, the second-generation edition didn't include the upscale design details and cut-rate luxury cabin that the original car possessed. Sales suffered as a result. So Nissan made substantial refinements to the current-generation Altima just two years after its debut. Styling was cleaned up, cabin refinements were incorporated, and the powertrain was refined. Noise, vibration and harshness were quelled through the addition of sound-deadening materials, and a trick new automatically adjustable strut suspension improved the ride and handling. But sales remained stagnant, forcing Nissan to offer hefty customer rebates and dealer incentives to clear inventory. Dear consumer, what this means to you is a good deal on a decent, if not terribly exciting, car. If what you need is a reliable, roomy sedan that offers the ability to have a little fun when the road turns twisty, Nissan's Altima will fill the bill. Available in base XE, mid-grade GXE, sporty SE and leather-lined GLE trims, Altima is reasonably crashworthy, scoring average or better in government crash testing. Side impact airbags come standard on GLE, and are optional on GXE and SE. Our favorite, not surprisingly, is the SE, since the GLE can't be bought with a manual transmission or four-wheel disc brakes. When equipped with a stick shift, the standard 155-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine manages to get the 3,000-pound sedan to speed with surprising alacrity, running from rest to 60 mph in a hair over 8 seconds, though without refined noises emanating from beyond the firewall. Handling is an Altima strong point, with sharp steering and a nicely balanced chassis sporting an Acceleration Sensitive Strut Valving (ASSV) four-wheel independent suspension with rear Super Toe Control. Models with 16-inch wheels have a front strut-tower brace for increased rigidity and responsiveness. ABS is optional on all Altimas except XE. Simple interior design means it's easy to find and use controls and switches. Seating is comfortable front and rear, but beware that the leather used on some models ain't exactly high-quality hide. Wood tone accents dress things up a bit on GXE and GLE Altimas, in an effort to remind you that this Nissan's calling card is "affordable luxury." Our primary complaint with the Altima, aside from its utter lack of personality and rather gruff truck-based engine, is with the quality of the materials that have gone into its construction. It's too easy to see where corners were cut, and slamming doors and the trunk lid don't impart a sense of solidity. Nevertheless, the Altima represents a solid value. Want a nice set of wheels for less than $20,000? Drop by your local Nissan store. Mazda 626Oldsmobile AleroSubaru LegacyVolkswagen Jetta336,000560,0005UnlimitedNANANA42.4 litersInline155 hp @ 5600 rpm156 ft-lbs. @ 4400 rpm185.8 in.69.1 in.55.9 in.2945 lbs.103.1 in.39.4 in.37.7 in.55.7 in.54.8 in.52.5 in.52.6 in.42 in.33.9 in.13.8 cu.ft.OptionalNot AvailableNot AvailableOptionalNot AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableRating = GoodRating = Very GoodAverageAverageNot TestedNot Tested15.9 gal.23 mpg / 31 mpg21 mpg / 28 mpg366 mi. / 493 mi.334 mi. / 445 mi.Insurance costs can vary greatly for this vehicle, depending on such factors as driver age, driver gender, teenage drivers in the household, driving records, theft loss data for your particular geographic region, miles driven per year, and other widely variable factors. Additionally, some companies charge a premium for certain makes and models, while others do not.$15,016$16,3407.35%$540N/A3% of the Total InvoiceXE (5M): 2.4L I4 DOHC SMPI 16-valve engine; 5-speed OD manual transmission; 100 amp alternator; front-wheel drive, 3.82 axle ratio; steel exhaust; front independent strut suspension with anti-roll bar, front coil springs, rear independent strut suspension with anti-roll bar, rear coil springs; rack-and-pinion power steering with engine-speed-sensing assist; front disc/rear drum brakes; 15.9 gal. capacity fuel tank; side impact bars; front and rear body-colored bumpers; body-colored bodyside molding; monotone paint; aero-composite halogen headlamps; additional exterior lights include cornering lights; driver's and passenger's power remote black outside mirrors; 15" x 6" steel wheels; P195/65SR15 BSW A/S tires; compact steel spare wheel; rear heat ducts; window grid antenna; child-safety rear door locks, remote trunk release, remote fuel door release; 1 power accessory outlet, front lighter element, driver's foot rest, smokers' package; instrumentation display includes tachometer, watertemperature gauge, trip odometer; warning indicators include oil pressure, battery, lights on, key in ignition, low fuel, door ajar; driver's and passenger's front airbags; ignition disable; tinted windows, power front and rear windows with driver's 1-touch down function; fixed-interval front windshield wipers, sun visor strip, rear window defroster; seating capacity of 5, front bucket seats with adjustable headrests, driver's and front passenger's seats include 4-way adjustment; rear bench seat with fixed headrests; height-adjustable front seatbelts with pretensioners; cloth seats, vinyl door trim insert, full cloth headliner, full carpet floor covering; interior lights include dome light; steering wheel with tilt adjustment; dual auxiliary visors, passenger's side vanity mirror; day/night rearview mirror; full floor console, glove box, front cupholder, instrument panel bin, driver's and passenger's door bins; carpeted cargo floor, cargo light; chrome grill, chrome side windowmoldings, black front windshield molding, black rear window molding and body-colored door handles.
GXE (5M) (in addition to or instead of XE (5M) equipment): Driver's and passenger's power remote body-colored outside mirrors; driver's seat includes 8-way adjustment; 60/40 folding rear bench seat with fixed headrests, center armrest; premium cloth seats, simulated wood dashboard insert, simulated wood console insert and 1 seatback storage pocket.
SE (5M) (in addition to or instead of GXE (5M) equipment): Battery with rundown protection; steel exhaust with tailpipe finisher; sport-ride suspension; 4-wheel disc brakes; rear wing spoiler; additional exterior lights include front fog/driving lights; 16" x 6" silver alloy wheels; P205/55HR16 BSW A/S tires; air conditioning, rear heat ducts; premium AM/FM stereo radio, clock, seek-scan feature, 6-disc CD changer, 6 speakers, window grid antenna; cruise control with steering wheel controls; power door locks with 2-stage unlock, remote keyless entry, power remote trunk release, remote fuel door release; garage door opener; ignition disable, panic alarm; variable-speed intermittent front windshield wipers, front sports seats with adjustable headrests, driver's seat includes lumbar support; leather-wrapped gearshift knob; interior lights include dome light with fade, front reading lights, illuminated entry; leather-wrapped steering wheel with tilt adjustment; dual illuminated vanitymirrors, dual auxiliary visors; mini overhead console with storage, locking glove box with light, instrument panel covered bin, cargo net, cargo light and body-colored door handles.
GLE (4A) (in addition to or instead of SE (5M) equipment): 4-speed electronic OD automatic transmission with lock-up torque converter; 4.09 axle ratio; comfort-ride suspension; cassette player, single-disc CD player; 2 power accessory outlets; driver's and passenger's front airbags, driver's and front passenger's seat-mounted side airbags, leather seats and leatherette door trim insert.