The Exciting Process of Choosing a 2021 Nissan Altima

Exciting things are happening at Illini Nissan, your local Illinois Nissan dealer, including the debut of the dynamic 2021 Nissan Altima. Two years off a complete redesign, the Altima still is Nissan’s best-selling sedan, and with good reason. The Altima embodies the best of what the sedan body style has to offer at a price even budget-conscious buyers can afford.

It seems everyone is focused on building giant SUVs, but all the cargo space in the world is no substitute for the refinement of a sleek sedan, especially when it comes to ride handling and maneuverability. Nissan celebrates the classic sports sedan in the 2021 Altima, with an infusion of next-generation safety technology and available all-wheel drive.

Which Altima is right for you? We focus on two of the most sought-after trims in the lineup: the energetic SR VC-Turbo and the elegant, luxurious all-wheel drive Platinum. If you love a little performance to go along with your practicality, or if you refuse to sacrifice even a single creature comfort, you’ll find a fit with one of these Altima trims. Add next-gen driver-assist and connectivity, and the Altima is hard to beat.

The Altima SR VC-Turbo: Game-Changing Technology

If a 248-horsepower Turbocharged Variable Compression engine sounds like your cup of tea, consider the Altima SR VC-Turbo. It’s quick and nimble, with driving characteristics that rival far pricier high-performance sports cars. Don’t worry – you don’t have to be a technical car enthusiast to appreciate that the VC-Turbo is a first-of-its-kind performance powertrain that’s designed for responsive and agile ride handling.

Next-Generation Variable Compression

The 2.0-liter VC-Turbo is Nissan’s first-ever variable compression turbo engine, an engineering feat 20 years in the making. This is a 4-cylinder engine that performs like a V6 without the loss in fuel economy. It does so by continually adjusting the compression ratio to simultaneously maximize fuel efficiency and performance.

In traditional combustion engines, the compression ratio is fixed, and because a continuously high compression ratio generates too much heat and therefore increases the risk of engine damage, engineers are forced to compromise. As a result, most engines – specifically turbocharged engines – are built with a low compression/big turbo boost characteristic. This can lead to lag upon acceleration and an overall reduction in performance capability.

Varying the engine’s compression ratio is a way to gain extra power without increasing the size of an engine (or risking a shorter engine life), which is how engineers are navigating increasingly tight emissions standards. The simple explanation for how it works is this: varying the compression ratio on-demand allows the engine to continuously offer optimal fuel economy or access to torque (power), depending on driver input.

The Altima VC-Turbo Features

As the only Altima trim equipped with a VC-Turbo engine, the Altima VC-Turbo stands out as the lineup’s high performance option. Featuring front-wheel drive and a companionable Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission, drivers can confidently accelerate into turns and enjoy exhilarating ride handling while the powertrain adapts instantaneously for optimal output.

Drivers will love the VC-Turbo’s 0-60 time of just 5.8 seconds, among the fastest time in its class, but even more importantly, that level of performance combines with the best fuel economy ratings in the segment. The Altima delivers 25 MPG city and 34 MPG highway, better than that of any of its competitors. It’s nice to know all that power doesn’t come at the cost of fuel economy.

The VC-Turbo includes several upgraded features, including a standard power sliding glass moonroof, outside mirrors with LED turn signal indicators, and a sport cloth interior with a power driver’s seat and heated front seats. Also included is a remote engine start system and active noise cancellation for a whisper-quiet cabin. It’s the best Altima trim for driving enthusiasts.

The Luxurious Altima Platinum

Mid-size sedan buyers looking to surround themselves with creature comforts need not look further than the sophisticated Altima Platinum. Sitting atop the Altima lineup, the Platinum carries a mid-$30,000 price tag and a slew of standard equipment you’d normally expect to see on a much more expensive European import. The best part? This fully-equipped Altima won’t empty your wallet.

Powertrain and Performance

The Altima Platinum comes standard with a 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine that delivers 188 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. The big headline on this high-end trim is the standard Nissan Intelligent All-Wheel Drive. The system automatically shifts power to the tires with the most traction, reducing slipping and increasing grip, especially in bad weather conditions.

All-wheel drive brings the capability of four-wheel drive without compromising fuel economy and performance. By automatically distributing torque between the front and rear axles, the system can adapt in seconds to changing road conditions. All-wheel drive is commonly found on SUVs and crossovers; the Altima is one of the only mid-size sedans available with this feature.

The best thing about Intelligent All-Wheel Drive is its default mode. In normal driving conditions, the system stays in a front-wheel drive setting. The Platinum’s 2.5-liter engine and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive powertrain are coupled with the same Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission found on the VC-Turbo.

Luxury Features and Technology

When you slide behind the driver’s seat in the Altima Platinum, you’re instantly surrounded by luxury and next-generation technology. The Platinum comes standard with an upgraded Bose Premium Audio System, featuring nine speakers and custom-tuning for optimal cabin acoustics. Heated front seats, a driver’s seat and outside mirror memory system, and a heated steering wheel are also included.

The Altima Platinum features an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation and Apple Car Play/Android Auto connectivity. Also included is an Intelligent Around View Monitor, a 360-degree bird’s-eye camera that displays the multiple exterior camera angles on the vehicle’s touchscreen. Nissan’s advanced semi-autonomous driving technology, ProPILOT Assist, is also part of the Altima Platinum’s list of standard features. The system uses adaptive cruise control to continuously adjust the vehicle’s speed, so it travels a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, as well as slows down and speeds up in response to traffic conditions.

Altima Safety Features

The Altima is also available with Nissan’s comprehensive suite of driver-assist safety technology. Called Safety Shield 360, the systems include Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Lane Departure Warning. The systems work together to alert the driver to potential hazards and perform corrective steering and braking when necessary.

Additional safety features include Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Driver Alertness, Rear Door Alert, and Hill Start Assist. The 2021 Altima earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick+, the agency’s highest rating. It earned the distinction in part because of a comprehensive network of airbags strategically located throughout the cabin.

The depth of the 2021 Nissan Altima lineup is highlighted by both the luxury Platinum and the performance-oriented VC-Turbo. These two models, along with the rest of the lineup, represent one of the most well-equipped and well-rounded mid-size sedan models on the market. Even the affordable base Altima S is loaded with the features buyers demand.

The Nissan Altima Stands Out

With fierce competition from rivals Honda and Toyota, Nissan has to stay at the top of its game. It does so unapologetically – and fiercely – with the 2021 Altima, delivering a value-priced alternative with sporty, aggressive exterior styling and fuel-efficient practicality. For sedan lovers, it’s a breath of fresh air in a segment that’s otherwise not aging well. For Nissan fans, it’s yet another example of the automaker’s fierce commitment to innovation.