Top of its class (40k mile update)

Maintenance: It has gone in for two oil changes, each at the recommended 3,750 mile intervals.

3,750 mile oil change: The first oil changed was paid for by the dealership entirely. It took a little long (1 hour) but the service department had just (re)opened for the first time on that Monday and I had shown up before my scheduled time, and they did apologize for the wait.

7,000 mile service: $45.00 The second oil change and tire rotation took only 35 minutes, and they checked my fluids. I was asked if I wanted to do "premium service" (which adds a visual inspection) and I declined.

11,000 mile service: $35.00 This took a little longer than the 7,000 mile service (55 minutes), which I think was due to another customer having some service issues (probably not the best sign.)

15,000 mile service: $138.00! When I made the appointment I was warned this one was going to take an hour (which it did) and was going to cost a bit (even without "premium" service.) You're looking at roughly $60.00 for labor and $78.00 for parts- the most expensive being the in-cabin microfilter. Other services included a visual inspection, tire rotation, oil filter/change , and a cleaning of the brakes. 
18,750 mile service: $35.00: Fairly quick service and fairly uneventful, which involved an oil and filter change.
22,500 mile service: $45.00: Another quick service (took about 45 minutes) involving a tire rotation and oil change.

Repair: There have been no repairs on the car, and nothing has malfunctioned.

 
Overall Impression after 9 months:
In many cars, by this time the New car novelty wears off, but in my case, the more time I've spent behind the wheel of the Altima, the more it has grown on me from what I considered to be my answer for 'basic transportation.' It's roomy, comfortable, handles well, is fun to drive, has plenty of power, the fuel efficiency of a compact, and it looks good to boot.
I've also come to appreciate the trip computer (giving you distance to empty) and the 20 gallon tank, which has saved me from a few of the recent hurricane related gas spikes. 
Overall Impression after 40,000 miles (1.5 yrs)
If the next 40,000 miles are as pleasant and as trouble free as the last 40,000 miles, Nissan has a winner on their hands. This car has been easy to live with, fun to drive, and headache free.
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Now on to the Main Review:

Say you're looking for a reliable, fuel efficient, reasonably priced mid-size sedan. Not the most exciting genre of car. Your Camry driving neighbor recommends, of course, the exciting-as-a-toaster-oven Toyota Camry. Your Accord driving neighbor recommends his brand new large-as-a-Buick 2008 Accord. But you're not 100% convinced, so unlike your brand-loyal neighbors, you decide to look around a little until for something less ordinary. That's probably how you came to this review.

The 2008 Nissan Altima is a (mostly) unchanged version of the all-new 2007 Altima. It competes head to head with the Accord, Camry, and Malibu for the coveted mid-size title. The Altima made a huge splash in 2002 and signaled Nissan's turnaround. Compared to Accords and Camry's of the time, Nissan's offering was far more edgy and a bit less refined. That's changed with the 2007-8 redesign, but you still won't mistake its less memorable competition.


The Altima I'm reviewing is the 2.5s , which I envision to be the most popular configuration (it's the "Lease Special" Altima. Even though this is basically the "base" model (no dealer I know of carries the "true" base model), it has practically every feature and then some you would want or expect. Some notable features included are:

Push-button Ignition
Anti-Lock Brakes
2.5L 175hp 4 cylinder "QR-Series" Engine.
Steel Wheels with Hubcaps
Six Speaker stereo with AUX jack and CD Text display
A/C , Power Windows/Locks
CVT Transmission with Manual Shift
Map Lights
Split folding rear seats.
Information Display (includes fuel economy, average speed, time/tripometer (why this car needs two tripometers I do not know!) , outside temperature gauge (will inform you to watch for ice when temperature drops low), and range. In addition to this, it will tell you what doors are ajar, calculate your maintenance schedule, and inform you of any issues with your car.

Styling A little Z, a little Infiniti, a Little Maxima, a little of the previous Altima rolled into one. The overall look is distinctive, but won't stand out like the original Altima did back in 2002. It's probably the best looking mid-size sedan sold today (Well, I think the Subaru Legacy looks quite attractive). Up front the T-shaped grille beats the Camry's "fat lady snout" , and out back... well, there's those taillights.

True, it's quite striking how, unlike most "Altezza" lamps (including the last-gen Altima's), the Altima's tail lamps actually tie in with the body lines and creases, but some people may prefer them "unpimped." At least they look better than the Camry's uninspired smattering and the Accord's BMW knockoffs, but they're definitely going to show the car's age in a few years.

Inside, the Altima fits the definition of 'austere sport.' The triple-barrel vents and exquisite electroluminescent "Fine Vision" gauges may fool you into thinking you're driving a far more performance-oriented machine. Remember that silver painted plastic that's been slapped everywhere on other machines? You won't find it here (save for the steering wheel and the shift gate.)

The Reviewer's Altima had the charcoal interior- which I'd recommend over the "elephant skin" gray ("Frost") or the that's-so-90's "blonde." (However, some may find it too dark in which case I'd recommend the Blonde.) Inside the black is broken up by tasteful use of chrome rings for the major knobs and HVAC vents and the orange LCD display.

The subtle detailing and textures of the plastic keep it from being too monotonous, and everything feels of substantial quality. The headliner is of especially high quality, and the woven stuff (not plastic) extends down the A-pillar. The dashboard is all one piece (I don't know where the airbag cover officially is), which cuts down on cut lines (by comparison, the Accord's dashboard has four tiers and looks like a busy mess- yuck! The assembly is all clean and precise- only Volkswagen does a better job. I'd imagine most guys who prefer sports cars will rank it at the top of the class. I can't vouch for their wives!

Over time I've noticed only a few mis-aligned trim pieces, but the overall build has been solid and reassuring with nothing breaking. Interior surfaces have (so far) held up very well.

Design Bucking the gun-slit trend of recent years, the Altima's greenhouse is actually pretty big. So much so I didn't notice much a difference from my Oldsmobile Intrigue. Although the cowl line is higher, visibility is still excellent.

Also, "cab forward" would certainly apply here. The dashboard is huge, but because it's all one piece (and because the hood is short) , it's not a problem like it is in say, the new Civic Sedan. I personally tend to find that cut-lines in the top of the dashboard make the windshield feel as though it should be brought back. The dashboard comes down at a pretty aggressive slope, but seems to cut back at the right height to avoid banging your knee. Nice design overall.

The cockpit controls all wrap around the driver, and everything is well positioned. The HVAC unit is a model of ergonomic efficiency (and kudos to the number of fan speeds!) There's plenty of headroom, and thanks to its telescoping steering wheel, I'm pretty sure everyone will be able to get comfortable in this car.

Seat Comfort The seats are covered in a suede-like fabric for the side bolsters and your typical velour down the middle. The seats are firm but very comfortable, and the the side bolsters are more than adequate for some driving spirit. Lumbar adjustment is not available with the cloth seats, but there does not seem to be a major lack of lumbar support. So far it looks like this fabric will hold up very well, and it's very nice to touch.

Over some long trips I found the seats to be very comfortable and I had no issues. The seats are on the firm side after 6 hours, but it did not cause much of a problem.

The rear seat is adequate, nothing more. Headroom is barely enough for a 6'3 adult, but legroom is decent. Adjustable headrests are not available, though the fixed ones are of adequate height. On higher-end Altimas, the rear passengers get their own A/C vents, a feature I remember from Tauruses of yore but ignored by many manufacturers.

Dashboard Illumination - why do I cover this in its own subject? Because it's something that can go horribly wrong and ruin a car for people. Nissan, continuing their tradition of being quirky, has chosen orange. It's "ok." The main gauges are presented crisply and legibly with their orange rings, red needles, and white lettering. They would look at home in a car that costs twice as much. As for the rest of the dash, your eyes may need to re-adjust to read the controls. I find that this is more of an issue on dark, rural roads. The good news is that the ergonomics are simple enough so that for most this won't be an issue, and the radio head unit always remains legible. Also kudos to Nissan for choosing a very legible and attractive font for the buttons.

Start 'er Up - the Keyless ignition is a terrific feature. First off, you may ask what's so great about push-button ignition, and the answer is you never have to remove your keys from your pocket. Walk up to the car, press the button, and presto! Once you sit down, put your foot on the brake, and press the glowing button (which is a tactile delight) on the dash... 3...2...1.... ignition!

It also means you'll never lock your keys in your car again. It's about time. If your key battery does die, there is a slot for it to your left (that supposedly recharges the battery in the fob, though I have not verified this.)

One thing to remember is that if you wish to kill the engine but still keep the radio on, you press the button twice in rapid succession. A lot of reviewers have missed this feature, and indeed I would imagine many owners aren’t aware of it. I was only so lucky that the Nissan salesman was helpful enough to point it out. This was initially a gripe I had against the push-button start, but discovering this has made it a major plus.

The Engine You'd think a 175hp four cylinder sedan would be a slouch. Guess again- this car hits 0-60 faster than most mainstream sedans a few years ago. This is thanks to its marveous CVT transmission and its light curb weight (at 3,100 pounds, it weighs 400 pounds less than your average sedan.) There's plenty of "go" when it's just the driver, and even with the car full of passengers, you never become a liability. It’s hushed enough to keep from getting on your nerves, and has plenty of torque right where you want it.
For most daily driving, the engine provides plenty of torque (for a 4cyl engine) so that you'll rarely see the engine go above 2,500 RPM. Once the engine hits around 3,000 RPM, you really push forward.

The Transmission - the four cylinder engine can't take all of the credit to the Altima's pep. The "XTronic" CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) is a revelation. Typically, CVT's are power-sapping devices that make you long for traditional automatics. I've driven a Dodge Caliber with a CVT and hated it. I expected to dismiss the Altima based solely on its CVT, but I was wrong. Nissan’s CVT is hands-down the best automatic I’ve ever experienced.

Power is when you want it. No waiting for the transmission to kick down, no wondering if you should jab the throttle more to upshift. Just press the pedal and go. The Altima will sling you forward as if it were reading your mind, and do so with no shift shock. It’s smart enough to know when to use engine braking going if there’s a sudden change in grade (brilliant) , but doesn’t insist on getting in the way if you’re just trying to bring it up to cruising speed.

But it gets better- even on the base 2.5S, you can opt to manually shift through preset "ratios" on the Altima. It's not a real manual, but it's quicker than the "manumatics" at this price class, far more smooth, and virtually lag free. Best of all, it doesn't "second guess" you. If you want to drive in 6th gear at 30mph, "sure thing."

The CVT is simply the best automatic in this class. By comparison, 2008 Honda Accord (LX)'s transmission is a a gear-hunting wreck (I did not cross-shop with a Toyota Camry, so I can't offer a direct comparison, and the Chevy Malibu's transmission at this level offers only four speeds.) Some reviewers such as Michael Karesh have complained that it feels "removed" compared to a traditional automatic, and I have to disagree, and there's no automatic I've found in this price class that I would choose over the Altima's CVT.

Handling is at the top of its class, providing you exclude the sporty Mazda6 (the one on its way out.) The steering is light at low speeds but remarkably clear, weighting up naturally through the twisties. It's not going to break any lap records, but even in 2.5 trim, a sporty-minded driver will have a good knowledge of the car's limits and safely have fun right at the edge that most Camry drivers stay far away from.
Feedback is excellent, and thanks to the car's solid platform, handling is confidence-inspiring. Even on the highway at high speeds, imperfections are dealt with quickly without any pitching or backlash. Yes, there's a little body roll, but driving the Altima is an enjoyable experience.

Highway Driving (new I've had more time to put highway miles on the Altima, including some hilly interstates with 4 passengers (adults, too). Although the back seat is a bit tight for 3 across (what back seat isn't?) , they reported that air circulation was excellent, and everyone was comfortable.

More importantly, if you're going to take a 'family road trip' in a sedan, this is the one to take it in. With the exception of (just barely) audible changes in the engine noise and tachometer, the CVT goes about its business invisibly. The engine did not drone, and passing power was still ample. For this reason, if you're looking at a four-cylinder sedan with an automatic transmission, The Altima should be your first choice. Fuel economy averaged was still an impressive 31mpg. This may be one of the best automatic transmissions in any price class.

Safety The Altima got 5 stars in the front and side impact crash tests. ABS is standard, however, stability control is not found on the four cylinder models. Headlight illumination is superb (even without the HiD Xenon Lamps) , and Nissan has given the high-beams a panoramic field of illumination. Great work!

Versatility Sedans aren't really all that Versatile, but the Altima makes the most of what it has, with split-folding rear seats (the Accord's only folds as one piece) , a giant glove box large enough to fit a laptop and textbooks, a two-tiered center console (with power outlet inside), an in-dash storage cubby, sunglass holders, and 9 (yes, 9!) cup holders, including 3 upfront. Given the audio input port on the stereo, 3 cupholders (you usually chuck your iPod into a cup holder anyway) makes perfect sense.

Reliability 10 years ago, Nissan had a bulletproof reputation for reliability- Maximas and Altimas of the late 90's run like they do when they were new. The 2002-3 Altimas were a different story, and are known for having engine issues at 100k due to a poor Catalytic converter design. The 2007 Altima is a completely different car than the last generation, so it remains to see how reliability will factor in overall, but it appears Nissan has spent time addressing initial quality issues with this latest generation.

Fuel Efficiency Although the Nissan Altima has a reputation for being the sports car of family sedans (except for the oft-overlooked Mazda6) , its greatest benefit is that it offers greater fuel efficiency than its competitors. (Roughly 1-5 mpg, depending on whose numbers you want to believe.) This is thanks in no part to its CVT transmission and the fact it weighs about 300-400 pounds less than its competition. What's especially helpful is that unlike a lot of its competitors, Nissan also included fuel economy gauges in the digital display- using them can help you achieve those EPA numbers as opposed to simply guessing after every fuel-up. So far I've been averaging about 30.5 miles per gallon overall by changing my driving habits according to the meter and taking the most fuel-efficient routes.

Against the Competition Here's a quick look at my impressions of other cars I looked at and test drove against the Altima:

Chevrolet Malibu - The Altima has a bit more grunt and handles better. The Malibu feels a little smaller, which may be a benefit for people looking for an easier car to park. The Malibu I was in had a misaligned trim piece on its dashboard, though this seemed isolated to the car I was in. The interior looked nice, but the transmission was only a 4 speed. There are a lot of clever touches in the Malibu (full power outlet, for instance) - something typical of a GM product, and it offers a better warranty. IF long-term reliability holds up, this car is a contender.

Honda Accord - This car handles almost as well as the Altima despite being a larger, heavier car. The interior of the car is garbage- the dashboard is simply a train wreck of different plastics that is both hard on the eyes and ergonomically wrong. The controls are all easy to reach, but there are simply too many buttons laid out in an unmemorable fashion with oversize text. Honda should study the control layout on the Altima's dashboard, which integrates just as many functions with practically no learning curve. The 5 speed transmission is not good, and thee rear seats do not split-fold. However, the rear seat offers more room than the Altima, and if reliability were my primary buying point, I would pick the Accord.