In my first post-covid trip, I ventured to Northern Michigan for a long weekend. A car rental was a must to properly explore the region and thus I reserved a “full size” vehicle. Of course, you never really know until you arrive at the rental car booth which car you’ll be getting the keys to. As an extremely anxious person with endless automotive opinions, this level of excitement is nerve-wracking to say the least. Alas, I was assigned a 2021 Nissan Altima SR.
Now, I must admit, this is my first time renting a car 100% on my own. I also am not one to drive long distances, simply because I tend to always be driving in the same 45-minute radius. As uninspiring as a midsize sedan might be, this Altima experience changed me. I drove 360 + miles in a place I had never been. While I wish I felt the same way driving my own car, the Altima made me realize I am lot more comfortable driving in new places and for longer distances than I originally thought.
As for why I loved the Altima – it gets a lot of things right. Even as someone who is used to driving an SUV, the seating position in the Altima felt perfect. Visibility was excellent too. It can be trickier to reverse in a sedan because many have a high rear decklid, but I had no problem. I liked the flat bottom of the steering wheel which was perfect for resting a hand.
For the most part, Nissan created a great balance of tech analogue components to prioritize user friendliness. For instance, I appreciated the old school foot emergency brake.
I might be easy to please as my primary car is an SUV, but I found this sedan to be very fun to drive with great handling and acceleration. I had no problems passing, as is customary on the fast Northern Michigan backroads, and I didn’t notice any lag in acceleration or noise from the CVT. The comfortable seats of this well-equipped “SR” model and excellent fuel economy help round out a solid package.
I was at the New York Auto show when this generation had its global debut. Nissan sadly had the slot immediately after the RAV4 which was revealed to much fanfare. At the time, I found the Altima to be a bit blah. The larger 19 inch wheels on the SR and silver paint combine to bring out the best of the design and it is a sharp sedan. I found myself excited to drive it each time. It’s longer than my SUV so I was concerned about parking but never had an issue. I was also apprehensive about driving on dirt, but it handled a range of surfaces flawlessly.
My main gripes are minor. The gear selector would shift from Drive down to L too easily. Lane-Keep Assist could become too intrusive when I would have to cross over to make way for pedestrians or to pass another vehicle. The radio tuner is too far of a reach for the driver. I didn’t find the redundant steering wheel infotainment controls to be very user friendly.
With more and more people each day flocking away from sedans to crossovers, it disappoints me to see highly capable models like the Altima being ignored. And if you live in a northern state and want winter traction, the Altima offers All Wheel Drive. With sportier looks and handling, the 6th generation harkens back to the acclaimed 3rd generation before it, while providing buyers a fun, yet practical alternative to being just another truck or SUV on the block.
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