Nissan’s sporty, front-wheel-drive Maxima sedan returns for 2010 with no changes to its standard 3.5-liter V6 engine.
The Maxima’s VQ35DE engine is part of Nissan’s ubiquitous VQ engine family, also used in the Altima, Murano, Quest, and earlier versions of the 350Z sports car. The VQ is one of the most respected engines in the auto industry, appearing on Ward’s 10 Best Engines list every year from 1997 to 2007.
The VQ35DE is an all-aluminum, 24-valve DOHC V6, with Nissan’s continuously variable valve timing system (CVTCS) on both the intake and exhaust cams. In 2009, Nissan made extensive changes to this engine, revising the intake and exhaust manifolds; raising its compression ratio from 10.3 to 10.6:1; reducing internal friction and reciprocating mass; and adding CVTCS to the exhaust cam, as well as the intake. Those modifications raised the engine’s output to its present level of 290 horsepower and 261 lb-ft of torque.
The 3.5-liter engine endows the Maxima with strong performance. Some reviewers find off-the-line response slightly lazy, a function of the standard Xtronic continuously variable transmission, but once on the move, acceleration is impressive. Fuel economy is also reasonable for the engine’s size and power. The EPA rates the Maxima at 19/26 city/highway, although the V6 requires premium fuel.
While it is powerful and reasonably frugal, the 3.5-liter V6 is also noticeably gruffer and less refined than the 3.0-liter version of this engine found in earlier Maximas. While some critics like its throaty growl and sporty full-throttle roar, others find it excessively noisy, and complain that it drones at cruising speeds.
A more sophisticated 3.7-liter version of this engine, the VQ37VHR, has replaced the 3.5-liter V6 in the 370Z and most six-cylinder Infinitis. Nissan has not yet announced plans to offer the 3.7-liter engine in the Maxima and Altima.
See more information about Nissan Maxima Engine and other industry topics
The 2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid Engine is identical to the 2009 model. The hybrid engine is designed to be a responsive, powerful machine. It has responsive handling and quick acceleration. It has been developed to provide a fun driving experience with the added benefit of better fuel efficiency. The Altima comes equipped with a CVT Transmission that allows the engine to smoothly shift between all gears, without noticeable change. Some reviewers have noted that the Altima does not smoothly accelerate at all speeds and the transition between gas and electric power was noticeable.
The engine produces 198 HP total. The breakdown is 140 hp from the gas engine and 58 hp from the electric motor. The gas and electric portions can function separately or together. The engine is a 4 Cylinder, 2.5 liter engine for that produces a combined 198 hp. The 4 cylinder in-line engine provides one of the most efficient and cleanest running engines on the market today. The gas mileage is 35 mph in town, 33 on highway. In comparison to the Toyota and Ford hybrids, the three are very comparable in fuel efficiency.
A major drawback to the Nissan Altima Hybrid itself is limited availability. So far the Nissan Altima Hybrid is only available in 8 states, California, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Rhode Island. Another issue with the vehicle is the pricing. Options are tiered so that the basic model is affordable but any upgrades move the price point quickly past the standard versions of the Altima.
The Nissan Altima Hybrid offers advantages over the Fusion and Camry in handling and speed and is close to these two mid-size sedans with its excellent gas mileage. The Altima can go from 0 to 60 in 7.6 seconds.
Ronnie Tanner
Improvements for the 2010 Nissan Altima include a redesigned front body style, upgraded audio systems, larger touch screen navigation systems, and standard stability control. Sedan models previously labeled 3.5 SE are now called 3.5 SR and see the loss of the manual transmission option. iPod and Bluetooth connectivity have been standardized as well making them either more affordable additional options, or standard features on high-end models. As a mid-size sedan or coupe, these cars offer sporty styling, high safety ratings, high quality interiors, and a lot of available features.
Parents who need a family style sedan, yet still want to have some fun with the car they buy will be more than impressed with the new 2010 Nissan Altima. It is fairly hard to notice that they fit the standard family sedan profile. Models equipped with the V-6 engine offer a lot of power and feel a lot closer to a sports car than anything else. The increased amount of interior accessories and modern appearance make them wonderful additions to the Nissan line of cars.
Available body styles include both sedan and coupes. Basic models are the 2.5 that have only a few standard accessories and can easily be upgraded to consumers preferences. Basic features are cruise control, remote keyless entry, trip computers, AC, and a tilting steering wheel. Most noticeable on 2.5 models is the absence of a stereo, though the wiring and speakers are already included. The next step up is the 2.5 S trim offered on both sedan and coupe body styles. Standard features for these models include remote keyless entry, 17 inch alloy wheels, CD player, remote car starting, and convenience packages include even more features.
2.5 S models equipped with convenience packages (sedan) come with dual zone climate controls, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, satellite radio, Bose stereos, rearview cameras, and a sunroof. 2.5 SL trim models are upgraded to complete leather upholstery, heated seats for front passengers and drivers, and xenon headlamps. Consumers looking to optimize 2.5 models will do better with sedans than the limited options available for coupe models.
The high end model of the 2010 Nissan Altima fleet is the 3.5 SR edition. Offered with a V-6 engine, 17 inch alloy wheels, enhanced suspension, Bluetooth and iPod ports, sunroof, new xenon headlamps, optional spoilers and fog lights, it is as sporty as any car in the market. Navigation systems are available that can inform drivers of traffic conditions as well as a full weather report.
Under the hood consumers will be offered two different engines. base models get a 2.5 liter four cylinder that has a horsepower output of 175. There is also a CVT (continuously variable transmissions) one sedan models, while coupe packages come with a 6 speed manual transmission. Fuel economy for the smaller engine ranges from 23 mpg in city driving, and 32 mpg highway. For a family sedan those numbers are more than fair, but not quite the best in the market. The larger engine is a 3.5 liter V-6 that puts out 270 horsepower. Fuel economy for these models range from 20 mpg city to 27 mpg highway.
As a family sedan, the car market really doesn’t offer any sportier of an option than the 2010 Nissan Altima. Properly equipped packages come with a lot of accessories and more than enough power to impress consumers who don’t want to admit they are running errands for their kids. Even younger consumers will be impressed with all the available options these cars have to offer. Pricing is relatively fair, and for what is offered it is hard to say there is a better deal in the mid-size sedan class.
Dan Legal is a member of the web development team that runs the website LemonFree.com Cars. LemonFree is a car search engine which currently over 1.8 million new and used cars for sale.
If your interested in purchasing a 2010 Nissan Altima; give LemonFree a test drive today!
The Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is now ready to take on the coming year. It has already set out a list of vehicles that it would be setting off in the auto market. And the whole Nissan line up of vehicles is sure quite something to look through. With auto parts for a Nissan vehicle quite plenty in the market, interested parties need not worry about any replacement parts or Nissan accessories if they are going to purchase a Nissan car, truck, or SUV for their own.
For 2007, the Nissan line of vehicles includes the new Nissan Versa. Aside from this, you would find other Nissan vehicles like the Nissan Altima and Sentra in the line up. You can also find the Nissan Maxima, and Quest in the list.
The Nissan Altima would be available for 2007 and this time around, it would already be in its fourth generation. The 2007 Nissan Altima has been redesigned and it comes available with the new Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission, or CVT. This would also be having a new and restyled platform for better and improved body rigidity.
Entering the sixth generation, the 2007 Nissan Maxima would now be sporting off a restyled exterior. As per its interior, you can most certainly find it very refined. A pack of high technology made for the next generation has also been added in the vehicle. What makes the 2007 Nissan Maxima quite different this year is that it is much more sporty and luxurious at the same time.
As per the Nissan Sentra of 2007, this car offers style along with quality, and optimum performance. Owners would most surely find an abundance of space with this vehicle. Sure enough, Nissan has made certain that this popular car from the company would remain to be one of the topnotch choices of consumers in the auto market.
These are just a few of the vehicles that Nissan has to offer for 2007. The list of 2007 Nissan vehicles include the 2007 Nissan Versa which has been created so as to set standards and not compromise the features that it has with the norms of the auto world. You also can find the Nissan Quest, the Titan King Cab, Titan Crew Cab, Nissan Armada, Frontier King Cab, Frontier Crew Cab, the Pathfinder, the Xterra, Murano, and the 350Z coupe and roadster included in the list.
The Nissan Sentra is a total luxury car which has great looks both at the exterior and also in the interior. It is one of the muscle cars as described by car fanatics. This car has extra safety features which make it a good choice when it comes to a luxury car.
The Nissan Sentra also has got lots of accessories which are a lot more interesting than other luxury cars and hence you can customize it as you like. All these make the Nissan Sentra a good rated car which has been awarded maximum of five starts in automobile magazines by customers.
While getting a Nissan Sentra insurance you must do proper research on all the competitive auto insurance companies. As it is a fact that though the price of the Sentra is lesser than that of Altima, the insurance rates have doubled in the present economic conditions than the Altima.
Still you can keep your rates low by following some precautions while applying for insurance. The one thing you must do is spend some time and make it a point to search for a good rate Nissan Sentra insurance provider before buying the car. Check for two to three providers.
You can save nearly 1000 on your annual insurance cost by choosing the best car insurance company and hence you can save a lot of amount on the total cost of the vehicle. Another thing you can do is to check with your local insurance providers, as the costs can vary greatly depending on your locations and area too.
It might also depend on your age and gender and on your previous driving records. Therefore what is needed is a good ground work on getting a much reduced premium that could save quite a large amount on the annual cost of your insurance.
I Went from Paying 600 a month for Car Insurance to only 111 a month! To do the same Visit Best Auto Insurance and Enter your Zip code and within a few minutes you’ll have quotes which will help you save hundreds per month!
Each year, the Nissan Altima is one of the world’s best selling mid-size sedans. The automobile sells well largely because of its reputation for reliability and also because of its competitive fuel economy. The 2010 version of this car comes with various engine and style options, each of which comes with different fuel economy ratings.
One of the best selling versions of the 2010 Nissan Altima is a four-door sedan which comes with 4 cylinder 2.5 liter engine, and an automatic transmission. This version of the car gets an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated 23 miles per gallon in the city and 32 miles per gallon on the highway. If the sedan with automatic transmission is upgraded to a 6 cylinder 3.5 liter engine, EPA estimated efficiency drops to 20 miles per gallon in the city and 27 miles per gallon on the highway.
The 2010 automobile can also come as a two-door coupe. The coupe comes with the same engine options as the four-door sedan and it receive similar gas ratings.
If either version of the Altima is matched with a manual transmission, highway gas mileage will remain the same, but city fuel efficiency will fall off by about 10%.
For those looking for even more impressive fuel efficiency, the 2010 Nissan Altima can come as a hybrid. The hybrid version of this year’s model get a very impressive EPA estimated 35 miles per gallon while driving in the city and 33 miles per gallon while driving on the highway. The hybrid Altima comes standard with a 2.5-liter, four cylinder engine and an automatic transmission.
Ronnie Tanner
If you haven’t paid attention to the Altima since Bill Clinton was president, know it’s grown from a compact economy car into a powerful, confident-handling, midsize, entry-level luxury sedan that maintains Nissan’s sporty flavor and, especially for 2010, offers assertive styling.
The four-door Altima Sedan comes as the 2.5 CVT, 2.5 S and 3.5 SR CVT. Also, under the Altima umbrella is the Altima Coupe and Altima Hybrid sedan. (We’ll leave the coupe and hybrid sedan for future reviews.) Here’s how to decode Nissan’s model nomenclature. The “2.5″ indicates the car is fitted with a very strong 175-horsepower, 2.5-liter, four-cylinder. The “3.5″ means it enjoys the awesome 270-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. All Altimas are fitted with a “CVT,” which stands for “continuously variable transmission.” More on CVTs later. Prices start around $20,000 and go to almost $30,000 for the gas-engine cars.
If you’re looking for an affordable, very roomy sedan, consider the 2.5 CVT. If you’re willing to pay a bit more for Nissan’s sporty feel, the 2.5 S CVT is an excellent choice. Those who like to go BMW hunting in the stoplight Grand Prix or on a curvy back road will be very entertained by the 270-horsepower 3.5 SR CVT.
Changes for 2010 feature a more assertive hood, grille and front bumper cover. Inside, the Altima received new fabrics. Electronic stability control, which Nissan calls VDC, now comes on all Altimas, but that’s not too newsy as it will soon be government-required on all passenger vehicles. The 3.5 SR CVT (formerly called the SE) now comes with high-intensity discharge headlights.
Rather than physically changing gears like a conventional automatic, a CVT uses a belt and pulley system. It’s designed to keep the engine at its most-efficient speed for the task required, regardless of whether that’s optimum fuel mileage during highway cruising or maximum acceleration for merging into traffic. Few drivers will notice a difference between a CVT and a regular automatic, except for improved fuel economy and strong acceleration. Gearheads: The Altima’s CVT also employs a small gearset to increase its effective ratio range. Don’t take this too hard, gearheads, but the CVT does a far better job of maximizing the engine’s performance than you could with a manual transmission.
The four-cylinder delivers 23 miles per gallon in the government’s city driving test and a very impressive 32 mpg on the highway. The V6 is rated at 20 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway. Altimas are made in Tennessee and Mississippi.
The 2010 Altima received “Good” crash safety ratings by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in both front offset and side impact tests. In the government’s crash test studies, the Altima Sedan scored high marksfive starsin both driver and passenger frontal impacts, as well as side driver impacts, and four out of five stars in the rollover category and side rear passenger impact test.
If you’re thinking about ditching the SUV for a spacious and sporty sedan, think about the 2010 Altima.
Once again, Nissan is putting into practice with its all new Sentra model something that has succeeded for them in the past: push the model up market. As it first did with the Maxima and later with the Altima, Nissan has now promoted the Sentra to make room for the pending introduction of the subcompact Versa. With the all new model, Sentra fans will find a better equipped, more polished model then any other car that has ever worn the Sentra nameplate. Intrigued? You should be: the car simply goes where no Sentra has gone before: up market.
Over the years, plenty of automakers have taken a popular selling model and elevated it one notch. Why? For a few reasons: to capitalize on demand for the model a more luxurious version typically carries more profits with it then the base model. Instead of losing customers to another model [or worse, another make] when they are ready to trade up, why not move up the model instead? Another reason: the introduction of a newer, but smaller model in the line up. For Nissan, the latter reason holds especially true as the subcompact Versa, a car built to compete against the likes of Scion enters the Nissan line up at about the same time.
The new Sentra is much more roomier than the previous model. In fact, it could be mistaken for a midsize car as it packs in an additional 10 cubic feet of interior space. Other surprises found with the 2007 Sentra include a center consoleshifter and dual folding high back rear seats to maximize carrying potential. Importantly, front and side impact air bags are now standard and a whole host of options not previously available with the model can now be had. These options include: smart key accessibility, Bluetooth wireless, a sound system to die for.
Best of all, fuel mileage is exceptionally good. Mating a 2.0L I4 to a six speed manny tranny yields EPA estimated fuel results of 29 city36 highway. These figures are likely to be at or near the top for any car in its category.
Yes, the Nissan Sentra is a pleasant surprise, one that the Nissan company hopes that you will notice. For people looking for a bargain basement model, the Sentra no longer qualifies. Instead, the tiny Versa takes over and it will deliver two things that Nissan knows you will love: exceptionally high gas mileage and an affordable price starting around 12,000. Look for well equipped Sentras to retail for around 18,000.
|
|