2013 Nissan Altima Touts New Technology And 38-MPG

African Americans account for 30 percent of Altima sales, while the general population only accounts for 25 percent of the midsize vehicle new-vehicle sales. African American females gravitate toward the Altima at a higher rate than brothers. Sixty-two percent of African American females buy Altimas, as opposed to 48 percent for the general population - (source: Nissan).

Highlights of the 2013 Altima

• Targeted best-in-segment 38-mpg highway fuel economy* (2.5-liter engine)
• Premium exterior styling with a powerful presence and improved aerodynamics
• Upscale interior rivaling premium luxury sedans, including NASA-inspired “zero-gravity” seats, an Advanced Drive-Assist™ Display and BOSE® Premium Audio System
• An outstanding balance of ride comfort, stability and fun-to-drive demeanor, including projected best-level acceleration
• Standard Bluetooth® Hands-Free Phone System and Streaming Audio via Bluetooth®
• NissanConnectSM and NissanConnectSM Navigation with a suite of Bluetooth® phone connectivity features, including hands-free text message integration, Pandora® playback, real-time Google® POI search and more
• Next-generation Safety Shield Technologies, including Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Moving Object Detection (MOD) systems
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with Easy Fill Tire Alert
• Pricing on the base model is $200 less than the outgoing model. The 2013 base model starts out at $21,500.
• Availability: Will Be Hitting Showrooms in the next few weeks
• Early Verdict: We had an opportunity to drive a 4-cylinder base model and the high-end Altima with the six-cylinder and tech package. Our personal choice was the six-cylinder, but it doesn't deliver the same mileage as the 4-cylinder. Unfortunately, the base model lacked a satellite radio system. Also with the refreshed 2013 model we were surprised that it lacked a dual panoramic roof like what's available in the Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata. Look for a more extensive review once the vehicle arrives in our test fleet.