Drivetrain and transmission

We tested a 2025 Nissan Altima SR and found that although there’s a lot about it that’s just OK, some things rose to the top, and some sank like a brick.

While it’s likely seldom done, some vehicles’ maintenance schedules do include an interval for changing the differential fluid, though perhaps only under “severe service” conditions.

Limp Mode allows your car to be driven a limited distance at reduced speed when something is wrong and may cause severe damage or stop the vehicle from running.

All-wheel drive is great to have, but buying and driving a vehicle with it can entail significant cost premiums.

Continuously variable transmissions allow the engine of a car to continuously operate in its most effective rpm range.

Driving a fuel-efficient hybrid vehicle can make you feel greener, but if you live where winter is more white than green, you might want to consider one of the hybrids that offer all-wheel drive.

In the past, the factory-recommended interval for changing the automatic transmission fluid was typically between 30,000 and 100,000 miles, but some newer vehicles have what’s referred to as “lifetime fluid.”

For all the clear benefits of hybridization, there are a few drawbacks — both minor and major — that should be considered before locking in your next purchase.

Read here to find out which model-year 2023-24 EVs on sale in the U.S. feature all-wheel drive.

The list of model-year 2023-24 cars with manual transmissions skews mostly to affordable models and those that are more enthusiast-oriented, but there’s still a decent range of choices.