Driven: 2024 Nissan Altima 2.0 SR VC-Turbo
2024 | car reviews | nissan | nissan altima | sedans
Sporty might not be the first word that pops into your head when you think of the Nissan Altima, but the 2.0 SR model surpassed our expectations. The top-of-the-heap for Nissan’s mid-size sedan has a zippy turbocharged engine, a performance-tuned suspension, and sport wheels. It’s no supercar, but we came away entertained after a week behind the wheel.
Bathed in a sparkly Deep Blue Pearl paint and accented with black trim, the Altima 2.0 SR is really appealing. It rolls on 19" aluminum alloy rims in a dark finish with a distinctive snowflake spoke pattern. It also has a black rear diffuser, dual exhaust pipes with finishers, black mirror caps, body-color door handles, and a small rear spoiler. As a front-wheel drive model, it rides about 0.5" lower to the ground than all-wheel drive Altimas.
Unique to the Altima SR 2.0 is Nissan's variable-compression turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. This engine makes 236 hp and 267 lb-ft. of torque, sending that power exclusively to the front wheels via a CVT. That combo launches the sedan from a standstill to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds. We found acceleration to be plentiful for everyday driving and highway passing. The CVT is smooth and unobtrusive at lower speeds, though we're not fans of the rubberband noises it makes as the revs climb towards the top of the torque curve. On the plus side, fuel economy is excellent - achieving 25 MPG in the city, 34 MPG on the highway, and a combined 29 MPG.
It's easiest to identify the SR trim from the front. It's got a special dark chrome version of Nissan's V-Motion grille, along with active grille shutters, which help with cooling and aerodynamics. That's flanked by LED projector headlights. Its sport-tuned suspension is stiffer than the standard Altima setup. Combined with the larger wheels, these provide better road feedback without feeling harsh or choppy. The steering feel is a bit on the light side for a sports package, but there's no noticeable torque steer. Engine noise is well controlled in the cabin.
Our car came equipped with light-up kickplates and ground lighting with Nissan logos. Unlike other puddle lights that are all about the logo, these are exceptionally bright and give the Altima an added presence when approaching it at night. They're almost like those aftermarket neon lights but not as tacky.
Inside, you'll find comfy leather-trimmed "zero-gravity" sport seats with 8-way power adjustment for the driver and 4-way power for the front seat passenger. Nissan makes some of the most comfortable front-row seats. These are no exception. They're supportive, well-padded, and comfortable. These seats are also heated for chilly days. Leather can also be found on the D-shaped sport steering wheel, the center console, and the gear shift boot. A glossy plastic finishing piece runs across the dashboard and does a convincing job of looking like carbon fiber. Visibility in the cabin is good, and technology like blind spot indicators, automatic high beams, and automatic emergency braking further contribute to its safety features. Nissan ProPILOT Assist helps maintain highway speeds and centers the car in the lane. The intelligent cruise control works well, though we found the lane centering tends to bounce between the lane markers more than some competitor's vehicles.
The Altima's center console isn't too fancy, but it's got some things to like. First, we appreciate the traditional gearshift lever. Too many vehicles are getting fancy with knobs and buttons, which are never as intuitive as this classic setup. In front of that, you'll find a pushbutton start/stop switch, a wireless phone charging pad, and USB-C and USB-A charging ports. The well-sized 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen offers standard support for Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 9-speaker Bose sound system produces crisp and enveloping audio.
We were happy to find better-than-average legroom for backseat passengers. There's plenty of space for people with longer legs, even with tall people in the front seats. However, headroom is limited because of the added ceiling space needed for the sunroof mechanism. Dual HVAC vents and USB-A and USB-C ports are also standard for the second row. These seats can be folded down in a 60/40 split for cargo-carrying versatility. The trunk is a good size, too, at 15.4 cubic feet.
With prices starting at $35,430, the Nissan Altima 2.0 SR VC-TURBO is the most expensive Altima in the line-up. It's also the quickest, best handling, and has the sportiest aesthetics. We enjoyed our time driving it, and it's a worthy challenger to the Honda Accord Sport and Toyota Camry XSE. Definitely add it to your test drive list if you're considering either of those cars.
