Four Great Nissan Altima Achievements and How They Compare to Its Rival, the Kia K5
Have you ever noticed that “‘Altima” ‘sounds very similar to “‘Ultimate?”‘ While this is down to coincidence and regional pronunciation, there is a reason that our minds make the connection. Since rolling off the assembly line in 1992, the Nissan Altima has stood for the ultimate attributes of a great sedan: quality, dependability, affordability, style, and innovation. Those same values have held steady for over thirty years across six generations of Altima models and millions of cars sold.
The Kia K5 is the biggest rival to the Nissan Altima, so what happens when you look at the 2024 Nissan Altima vs 2024 Kia K5? Both are well-made, midsized sedans that have received kudos from both critics and drivers. While there are differences between the two that should be taken into account when deciding which to purchase, we’d like to discuss something else first: history. How does the history behind the Nissan Altima compare to the history behind the Kia K5?
2002: North American Car of the Year
The North American Car, Truck, and Utility Of The Year Awards (also known as NACTOY) started in 1994 with the mission of recognizing the best of the best in the automotive industry. All of the nominees have proven a dedication to innovation, performance, design, and technology. They focus on exceptional safety features, high driver satisfaction, and an outstanding user experience. Winning one is a true honor.
In 2002, the Nissan Altima celebrated both its tenth anniversary and the third generation of the model in spectacular fashion by bringing home this prestigious award. This was a year with some stiff competition, pitting the Altima against the Ford Thunderbird and the Cadillac CTS. Both cars have a rich history of their own.
The Kia Factor: The Kia K5 has been in production since 2002. Originally it was under the nameplate of Kia Optima, with the name change to K5 coming in 2021. It has not been nominated for a NACTOY award under either the K5 nameplate or the Optima nameplate.
2007: Nissan’s First Hybrid
Ten years after Toyota rolled out the Prius, the first mass-market hybrid vehicle, Nissan released the manufacturer’s first hybrid. The Nissan Altima Hybrid was a huge step forward both for Nissan and for the hybrid industry. Sticking to the strict standards of California environmental laws, the Altima was only sold in eight states. At a time when a middle-of-the-decade recession was causing rough times across the country, sticking to its ethics instead of its bottom line was a radical act for Nissan. By the end of the hybrid’s four-year run in 2011, the Altima Hybrid had been used as a police cruiser for the NYPD and was a favorite of taxi companies.
The Kia Factor: The K5 has not yet released a hybrid version. The first Kia hybrid was the Optima Hybrid, released in 2011.
2012: Kelly Racing Brings the Altima to the Track
Kelly Racing, an Australian motor racing team, revealed plans in 2012 to enter four custom Nissan Altima race cars into the 2013 V8 International SuperCars Championship. That race led to a six-year partnership between the Altima and Kelly Racing, ending in 2019. During that time, the team and car duo had three wins and many podium finishes. After 2019, the Nissan Altima campaigned with MW Motorsports in the Dunlop Super 2 Series. When their fleet of four Altima V8s would no longer make the qualifications in 2022, MW Motorsports brought the Altima to Super3 racing, where it remains on their team today.
The Kia Factor: While Kia launched its first race car in 2010 at the Daytona 500, it was Forte Koup. To this date, there has not been a K5 race car.
2018: The First Variable Compression Turbo Engine in the Industry
There’s always a special distinction to being the first manufacturer to debut a new technology. In 2018, the Altima became the first Nissan to deploy a variable compression turbo engine, and the second vehicle to feature the technology across all nameplates and manufacturers. The technology adjusts the ratio of internal combustion to increase fuel economy and counteract efficiency loss. The increase in compression ratio causes a better mixture of fuel. This is another feather in Nissan’s cap, proving their commitment to innovation and creating environmentally friendly vehicles.
While there were initial missteps, Nissan took immediate action to update the technology. The engine is still in use today and the manufacturer is committed to making adjustments if they are needed in the future. You can tell a lot about a company by how it handles adversity; it’s often more telling than how it handles success.
The Kia Factor: The K5 does not use a variable compression turbo engine. In 2019, Kia did put its own spin on the concept with the Continuously Variable Valve Duration technology. It offers similar benefits of fuel efficiency and increased performance, but is hard to make a true one-to-one comparison with the VC turbo. The CVVD is available on the 2024 Kia K5.
The Latest Step in the Altima’s Revolution
The Nissan Altima has brought its best to the table every year since its inception, and 2024 is no exception. Fresh from the redesign of 2023, this model year’s small exterior and interior design tweaks have created a sedan that is sleek and stylish. It has a generous fuel economy, getting 27 MPG in the city and 39 MPG on the highway. The 12.3-inch infotainment screen and a variety of wireless connectivity options open a world of entertainment at the touch of a finger. The Nissan Safety Shield 360 comes standard on every Altima, protecting you and your passengers every mile of every drive. The NHTSA has given the 2024 Nissan Altima its highest rating of 5 stars. With five trims that range from $26,370 to $33,070, there’s an Altima that is perfect for both your lifestyle and your budget.[a]
The Kia Factor: The 2024 Kia K5 has a sporty, elongated exterior and a practical, colorful interior. Its fuel economy sits at a wallet-pleasing 37 MPG on the highway. The infotainment system has a variety of smartphone integration options for accessing music, podcasts, and news on the 10.25-inch touchscreen. The Kia advanced driver assistance suite offers six features that will help the driver prevent or minimize crashes and assist with parking. The K5 also has a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. There are five trims available for the K5, with MSRPs that range from $25,590 to $31,990.
A History of Milestones That Continue Today
In the end, the best choice of a sedan for you can only be determined by you. However, history can be as important to the future as to the past. When you look at history, there’s a clear winner, and it’s the same clear winner of the present. Nissan has created a name with the Altima that will always be remembered in the automotive industry, whether it’s the praise of its older models or looking ahead to the future and wondering what’s next for this iconic sedan. Come in today and experience this history for yourself.
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