The Nissan Altima: One of the Most Versatile Sedans on the Market

July 8th, 2022 by

A red 2022 Nissan Altima is shown driving at night after leaving a Goodlettsville Nissan dealer.

As your premier Goodlettsville Nissan dealer, located in Gallatin, TN, we here at Newton Nissan of Gallatin know that Nissan offers a wide range of models, from tough trucks and spacious SUVs to sporty coupes. Today we want to highlight the 2022 Nissan Altima, a midsize sedan that has earned its popularity among drivers with a mix of practical features, fuel efficiency, and style. Because the Altima has so many different strengths, it’s a great choice for all types of drivers. Let’s look at some ways you can use this versatile car and what features and qualities are likely to come in handy.

An Ideal Vehicle for a Small Family

When choosing a family car, safety is always the top priority. The Altima was named a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a trusted nonprofit organization that researches and evaluates the safety of motor vehicles. It also earned a 5-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If you have young children who still need to use a car seat, you can rest easy knowing that the Altima has two rear seating positions that have LATCH hardware; a dedicated system for attaching compatible child restraints in the back seat, so you don’t have to use the seat belts or a locking clip. Parents can find a list of child seats that fit in Nissan vehicles in the Snug Kids Child Safety Seat Fit Guide, which takes the guesswork out of finding the right car seat for your little ones.

Plenty of sedans can technically fit five passengers but have a backseat that feels cramped and can’t be expected to comfortably fit multiple adults. While this might be fine for little kids, it can become a problem over time as they start to run into growth spurts. Fortunately, the Altima also has a spacious back seat with plenty of legroom, so you won’t have to replace the family car as your little ones grow up.

A Fuel-Efficient Commuter

If you drive to work every day, fuel efficiency is probably pretty high on your list of priorities. Even if you’re lucky enough to live close to your job, those miles still add up over time. So you’ll be happy to hear that no matter which powertrain you opt for, the Altima is a remarkable fuel-efficient car for its class. Drivers can get up to 39 MPG on the highway, which means you won’t have to spend too much time or money at the gas station.

On top of that, the Altima’s infotainment system makes any drive more pleasant. With Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, you can easily hook your smartphone up to the car’s interface and enjoy your music or podcasts en route. Any audio you listen to can be enhanced by upgrading to the Bose premium audio system, which features nine speakers placed throughout the interior to provide a rich sound that can turn your commute into a daily concert. Some trim levels also offer active noise cancellation, so no matter how loud it gets outside, it won’t bother you.

An orange 2022 Nissan Altima is shown rounding a corner from above.

Excellent for Road Trips

If you like to take long road trips, then good fuel efficiency is certainly a big plus, but what you’ll really notice on a long drive is how comfortable the car’s interior is. The Altima offers comfortable seats with ample leg room in both the front and back. Independent rear suspension comes standard even on the most basic trim level, so uneven pavement and bumps in the road won’t bother you or your passengers.

Finding your way on unfamiliar roads can be tricky, but Nissan’s available Door to Door Navigation makes it easier. It gives you real-time traffic updates and can use voice recognition technology to let you control it hands-free. Another high-tech feature that’s available on the Altima is remote access. This lets you use the NissanConnect Services app to start your vehicle remotely, which can come in handy whenever the weather is scorching hot, freezing cold, or you’re off at a roadside attraction or a hotel that doesn’t have a sheltered parking lot. Simply start the car a few minutes before you get into it, and the air conditioning or heating will have already started making the cabin more comfortable.

Great for a New Teen Driver

For a parent, going through the process of teaching your child to drive can be difficult. Not only is driving complicated and tricky to teach, but watching your kid transition into a more independent young adult brings up a lot of conflicting emotions. Once they have their license, you want to give them a taste of freedom, but you also want to know that they’ll be safe. Making sure you can trust the car your teen is driving is one step you can take to help give you more peace of mind. The Nissan Altima has been named among IIHS’s picks for “Recommended New Vehicles For Teens,” and looking over its solid track record and helpful features; it’s easy to see why.

A sedan is a great body style for people just learning how to drive. Bigger cars and trucks can be intimidating for new drivers, and SUVs tend to be less safe in collisions. But on the other end of the spectrum, cars that are too compact can be an issue, too, as having a larger crumple zone can absorb some of the impact from a collision and protect the driver and passengers. So choosing a reasonably-sized vehicle with a low center of gravity like the Altima is a great call. Plus, the 2022 model has an advanced airbag system that includes seat-mounted side-impact supplemental airbags, knee airbags, and roof-mounted curtain airbags with rollover sensors, so if the worst does happen, your child will still have protection.

Nissan also has a number of available driver assistance features that make the Altima even better equipped for young drivers. Lane Departure Warning and Intelligent Lane Intervention can help them drive safely on highways. Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert can remind them to be fully aware of their surroundings. And every Altima has Intelligent Forward Collision Warning and Automated Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection to prevent drivers from hitting other vehicles, obstacles, or pedestrians. All these tools can reinforce the lessons they learned in driving school and help them form good habits that will come in handy for years to come.

A red 2022 Nissan Altima is shown rounding a corner in a city after leaving Goodlettsville Nissan dealer.

Perfect for Rideshare Drivers

If you drive for a rideshare company, having the right vehicle is crucial to your livelihood. Paying for gas can eat your profits, so a fuel-efficient car like the Altima can help keep your costs down. If you make airport runs, you want to ensure you have room for passengers and their luggage. Luckily, the Altima’s trunk gives you 15.4 cu.ft. to work with. If that’s not enough, the rear seats can fold down (either completely or partially) to provide 42.9 cu.ft. of cargo space.

While a stylish exterior may be harder to quantify, it can certainly help you make a good first impression. The Altima’s sleek, modern design is sure to impress riders of all stripes. There are plenty of exterior paint colors to choose from, so you can stick to something tried and true like black or silver or stand out from the crowd in a bold red or fiery orange.

A Car for All Kinds of Drivers

Whether you’re raising a family, exploring the open road, or just need a reliable car to get you to the office each day, the 2022 Nissan Altima is up to the task. Its impressive blend of solid fuel economy, a comfortable and spacious interior, and stylish exterior make it useful for a wide variety of drivers. No wonder the Altima is a perennial favorite that has stood the test of time for decades.