This week I am taking a look at the 2024 Nissan Altima SR, a terrific sedan that is roomy, gets really good fuel economy, and is a very attractive sedan. The Altima was redone and all-new in 2023, but they did make a few tweaks for 2024. The SR turbo is the top of the line, but there are 7 trims levels below this starting at just a little over $25,700. My tester is front-wheel drive, but it does come in all-wheel drive should you so desire.
Under the hood of this beauty is the 2-liter VC Turbo 4-cylinder engine, putting out 238-horses and an impressive 287-pound feet of torque. It is mated to a continuously variable transmission, which we all know I am not a fan of, but I will say that this one is livable. Nissan programs in simulated shifts and it really makes a difference in how it feels, and it is really good to increase gas mileage. Keep in mind that the tried-and-true 2.5 4-cylinder non-turbo engine is still available, but it only puts out 185-horses.
Open the door and you’ll see a well-done interior with pleated leather seats. Stitching is abundant across the dash, around the seats, and surrounding the steering wheel. I was pleasantly surprised with all the soft touch materials, especially for a vehicle in this price range.
The 7-inch gauge cluster is colorful and easy to read and is highly configurable, including a digital speedometer. All the controls are on the heated, leather wrapped steering wheel. Glance to the right and you’ll see a massive 12.3-inch touchscreen that is easy to operate and actually moves quite quickly. From there you operate the navigation system, the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa, SiriusXM, and the Nissan Connected suite of apps. The Bose stereo with 9-speakers sounds fantastic and the resolution from the rear camera system was extremely good.
The center console is nicely appointed, has a couple of cup holders, two USB-C ports, a wireless phone charging pad is available, the pushbutton start, electronic emergency brake, and the Auto Hold button, which is always one of my favorite features.
Back seat leg and headroom were surprisingly large. There are air conditioning vents, a USB and USB-C port, and there is more stitching around this portion of the cabin. Trunk room was also surprisingly good and has a nicely cut opening to make loading things easier. Both rear seats fold down for more room if needed.
Options include: 19” aluminum alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, floor mats and trunk mat, and one cool feature which is exterior ground lighting underneath the car and a Nissan logo projects on the ground.
On the safety front, you get Nissan Safety Shield 360 which includes Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Rear Automatic Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and High Beam Assist. Also standard on all grades is Intelligent Forward Collision Warning and Intelligent Driver Alertness.
You also get ProPILOT Assist which blends steering assistance with Intelligent Cruise Control, helping the driver stay in the center of the driving lane while maintaining a preset speed and preset distance to the preceding vehicle. ProPILOT Assist can also slow the vehicle to a complete stop and hold the vehicle during traffic jam conditions.
The bottom line with this 2024 Altima is that this is an impressive sedan that drives and rides very well, interior quietness is actually good, and the acceleration is strong when that turbo kicks in and there is no turbo lag or torque steer under heavy acceleration.
Fuel economy is 25 in town and 34 on the highway. MSRP on this top-of-the-line model is $38,100 and if you are in the market for a midsized sedan, this one has to be on your shopping list.
2024 Altima in a few words: A safe and extremely pleasant sedan that is an exceptional value.