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A sportier Altima?

It’s hard to imagine Nissan making its great midsize sedan any snazzier than it already was, but hold on – that’s exactly what’s happened with the introduction of the Altima 3.5 SE-R sport model for 2005 (base price $29,200 plus $560 freight).

This is the top-of-the-line model for the midsize sedan that Nissan introduced in the mid-90s and then completely restyled for the 2002 model year, making it larger, more powerful and definitely more appealing.

In fact, unlike Japanese rivals Honda and Toyota, Nissan put some real edgy styling in the Altima, giving consumers something other than an appliance to choose from when they go shopping for a midsize sedan.

Besides the addition of the sporty SE-R model, the entire Altima line moved up a notch or two with a partial redesign for 2005.

This time, not having to mess much with an exterior that already was best-in-class by far, Nissan’s designers turned their talents inward. The result is an interior for the 2005 Altima that makes the car look more like a luxury car than a family sedan whose prices begin just under $20,000.

Here’s a well-kept secret: the new Altima’s interior looks more like that of an upscale Infiniti sedan, finally putting to rest the only real complaints I had with the 2002 Altima, that its interior wasn’t designed and put together as well as the rest of the car. Forget I ever mentioned that – this car has no deficiencies now.

Among the interior improvements were a new instrument panel, center console, trim, and three-spoke steering wheel, along with upgraded seat material and headliner. Chrome accents and door handles were added, and new interior options include a DVD-based navigation system – usually reserved for more-expensive cars.

The beautiful shape of the Altima remains, but there were some trim changes: new smoked headlamps and taillights, a restyled smooth front fascia with a raised-hood design, a new grille that resembles others introduced recently throughout the Nissan lineup, chrome accents on SL models, new wheels and two new exterior colors.

This past fall, though, the SE-R model joined the lineup, added a whole new dimension to the Altima. Nissan says it “shares all of the refinements” that went into the redesigned ’05 Altima, but it has lots more.

First, look under the hood. The SE-R gets a version of the base Altima 3.5-liter V-6 engine that Nissan says has been “retuned to a higher level of performance.” Translation: You get 260 horsepower instead of the 245 in the standard Altima V-6.

This is the same power you get in the premium Maxima sedan, using the same engine, and is close to the power of the Infiniti G35 sedan (270 hp.), which also uses a version of this engine. Maximum torque is 251 foot-pounds.

This engine can be connected to either a five-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift feature, which was on our test car, or a six-speed manual gearbox for those who want more control over the vehicle’s performance.

The suspension also has been enhanced for the SE-R, the company says, with new front struts and rear shocks, stiffer front and rear springs and thicker front and rear stabilizer bars. On the four corners are special 225/45R18 Y-rated tires and 18-inch forged-aluminum wheels.

Styling touches that differentiate the SE-R from lesser Altima models include unique front and rear fascias, fog lights, rear spoiler, side-sill spoilers, and large dual exhaust outlets.

Moving inside, we find sport front bucket seats with red or gray perforated-leather inserts, dark chrome trim and a three-section center-mounted gauge cluster that Nissan says was based on the gauges in the 350Z sports car (which, by the way, comes with another version of the 3.5-liter V-6 found in the Altima).

The SE-R comes very well equipped. Among standard features are a distinctive raised hood; high-intensity xenon headlights; four-wheel antilock disc brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist; aluminum floor pedals; a new three-spoke steering wheel; a premium Bose audio system with in-dash, six-disc CD changer and eight speakers; and a power tilt/slide sunroof.

The car also includes power windows/mirrors/door locks with remote; heated outside mirrors; variable-intermittent wipers; dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors; 60/40 split-folding rear seat; leather-wrapped tilt and telescoping steering wheel rear and side-window defoggers; eight-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support; air conditioning; cruise control; front map lights; auto-dimming rearview mirror; speed-sensitive automatic volume control on the audio system; automatic headlights; trip computer with outside air temperature gauge; immobilizer security system; and a universal garage/gate opener.

The overall look is quite impressive, which, I suppose, it ought to be with a base price of nearly $30,000. With options, our test car topped out at $30,680, including freight. You could buy a G35 sedan for not much more, so keep that in mind when looking over the Altima SE-R.

Options on our car included side air bags and traction control in one package ($800), and splash guards ($120). Everything else was included in the $29,200 base.

This is a fun car to drive, and would be very similar to the driving experience of the G35 except that the Altima has front-wheel drive, and the G35 rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. Of course, you can’t get a G35 with all of this equipment for the same price, and all-wheel drive runs the G35’s price up even more.

In cold-weather climates, the front drive of the Altima would be preferable to the rear drive of the G35, but for sporty driving on dry pavement, most enthusiasts would prefer rear drive.

Four exterior colors are offered – black, silver, smoke and, exclusive to the SE-R, what Nissan calls “code red.”

Of course, you don’t have to spend $30,000 to get a nice Altima. A well-equipped 2005 four-cylinder 2.5-liter S model with automatic transmission lists for just $19,550. That’s a bargain, especially for those of us who expect some styling to go along with our well-built Japanese midsize sedan.

This latest generation of the Altima is much nicer than the first. Although it was a good-seller for Nissan, it never really caught on with consumers as a viable alternative to the Camry and Accord, which by the late ’90s had a stranglehold on the midsize-sedan segment.

The first Altima was a very good car, and there are lots of happy current and former owners out there. But its biggest drawback was its size – it was more of a compact than a midsize, when compared with the Camry and Accord, and for that reason, it never was considered an equal of the segment leaders.

That all changed with the introduction of the second-generation Altima for model year 2002, a completely redesigned vehicle bearing no resemblance to its predecessor. Larger, more powerful, and much more striking in its appearance, the new Altima quickly became a best-seller for Nissan, one of a string of amazing successes for the No. 3 Japanese automaker over the past five years.

The new Altima proved that an affordable Japanese family sedan could look great as well as give consumers years of troublefree service, which as we know is really the hallmark of cars such as the Camry, Accord and Mazda 626 (now Mazda 6).

As with the previous models, the new Altima is built at Nissan’s plant in Smyrna, Tenn., a suburb of Nashville.

The SE-R’s EPA fuel-economy ratings are 20 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. The tank holds 20 gallons of fuel, and premium unleaded is recommended but not required.

G. Chambers Williams III is staff automotive columnist for the San Antonio Express-News and former transportation writer for the Star-Telegram. His automotive columns have appeared regularly in the Star-Telegram since 1995. Contact him at (210) 250-3236; chambers@star-telegram.com.

2005 Nissan Altima SE-R The package: Midsize, four-door, five-passenger, V-6 powered, front-drive sport sedan. Highlights: Nissan’s bread-and-butter sedan gets a new sport variation for 2005: the SE-R, with special suspension, more horsepower, and unique exterior styling and interior appointments. Oh, yeah – it’s a blast to drive, too. Negatives: A bit pricey, especially when compared with some entry level premium sedans such as Nissan’s own Infiniti G35 that cost not much more. Engine: 3.5-liter V-6. Transmission: Five-speed automatic or six-speed manual. Power/torque: 260 horsepower/251 foot-pounds. Length: 185.8 inches. Curb weight: 3,296 pounds. Trunk volume: 15.6 cubic feet. Fuel capacity/type: 20 gallons/unleaded premium. EPA fuel economy: 20 mpg city/30 highway (automatic). Major competitors: Volkswagen Passat GLX, Acura TSX, Buick LaCrosse CXS, Honda Accord EX V-6, Saab 9-3, Volvo S60. Base price: $29,200 plus $560 transportation. Price as tested: $30,680, including freight and options (automatic model). On the Road rating: ***** (five stars out of five).

Prices shown are manufacturer’s suggested retail; actual selling price may vary according to manufacturer and/or dealer rebates, discounts and incentives, if any.