NISSAN GOES ALL IN ON ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE ALTIMA
Automaker makes a bold statement in otherwise stagnant sedan category
I’m not sure what I was more thankful for: the heated seat or the studded tires. Racing around a frozen lake in an equally frozen La Belle Province seems a rite of passage for any car-crazy Canuck, but sadly this was my first time kicking up ice and staring down quickly approaching snow banks. But what a place to do it. The Mecaglisse track is renowned for its winter driving courses, and proved the ideal location to slide around in the newest all-wheel-drive sedan to come to Canada.
Only there wasn’t too much sliding going on. True, the studded tires helped with the grip, but the sure-footed traction worked hand in hand with the all-wheel-drive system.
What was more remarkable was that I was in a Nissan Altima, a run-of-the-mill family sedan you’d never choose for such a frosty adventure. Run-of-themill until now. The all-new, sixth-generation Altima comes standard with all-wheel drive, a move that can either be looked at as extremely bold or extremely foolish.
All-wheel-drive sedans, of course, aren’t that unusual if you consider the long tradition of luxury automakers — primarily German — bringing grippy four doors to market. And yes, Subaru has sold all-wheel-drive sedans in Canada for decades. But in the segment and price point the Nissan Altima occupies, the aforementioned Subaru Legacy is the only competition when it comes to mid-size all-wheel-drive sedans. Segment leaders Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are strictly front-wheel drive, while larger sedans like the Dodge Charger and Kia Stinger are a big step up in price.
Why? Consumers who want the confidence all-wheel drive delivers buy SUVs and CUVs, and as any Costco parking lot will attest, they buy a lot of them. Utilities, large and small, have all but relegated the sedan segment to “niche” status. Ford is down to just two cars, and GM recently shuttered the lines on a halfdozen car models.
Not only has Nissan made a statement with the all-wheeldrive Altima — namely, the sedan is not dead — it’s backed that up with the largest investment ever in the Altima’s 27-year history.
The 2019 car is lighter, stronger and faster than the outgoing model. The 2.5-litre engine, though the same displacement as the outgoing engine, is completely new. It’s more powerful — granted by just three horses for an output of 182 — it has more torque and is more fuel-efficient (7.9 L/100 kilometres combined). Likewise the steering, CVT transmission and brakes are all new.
Inside it gets a full makeover too, with comfortable yet supportive seats front and rear, easyto-read and intuitive displays and a very slick 8-inch centre stack screen. And Nissan’s ProPilot Assist, and its driving aids, makes their way into the Altima with this new model. In addition to that system, designed to ease driver stress in commuting conditions, there’s a full suite of other safety features, including traffic sign recognition and intelligent driver alertness.
As much fun as ripping round the Mecaglisse circuit was, it was the real-world driving on snow-packed and icy Quebec backcountry roads that truly demonstrated the appeal of the new Altima. No studded tires were required to reveal the grip provided by the AWD system, which is calibrated for three driving conditions. There’s a 50/50 split on power front to rear when starting off from a standstill; a fuel-efficient front-wheel-drive mode when cruising on solid ground; and a 70/30 split when things get slippery. All-wheeldrive purists might pooh-pooh this limited slip control, but systems that provide a wider range of traction control, often to individual wheels, are found on luxury vehicles in a much higher price bracket than even the topof-the-line 2019 Altima.
The sub-200 horsepower output never felt wanting, even under hard acceleration, and the CVT transmission has some finetuned mapping that would make you swear there is a multi-gear transmission making up- and downshifts. The exhaust note when you run through the gears at speed is also very respect- able. So too is the list of standard features, which seems tailored to Canadian winters when paired with the all-wheel-drive system, including things like heated front seats and heated outside mirrors.
Pricing begins at $27,998 for the base S model, moves up to $31,498 for the mid-range SV, and tops out at $34,998 for the Platinum trim. The vehicle is in Canadian showrooms now.
After spending a day in the new Altima being thoroughly impressed with not only Nissan’s gambit on an all-wheel-drive sedan but also the vehicle itself, I was left with one question: does Nissan know something the rest of the motoring world doesn’t? Namely, are we at or near “peak Utility?” Are SUVs and CUVs fated to become the “minivans” of this generation, tossed on the scrap heap of history as objects of suburban ridicule?
Time will tell, and sales of the new all-wheel-drive Altima will provide a hint if the sedan segment can officially be taken off life support.
We’ll be watching closely, as will the competition.