Nissan Altima!

[hotrodalex]

They're going to need to find something to do with the Maxima to separate it from the new Altima. Maybe it will get the more adventurous looks for the next generation.

Probably. And then the Altima will follow, as usual...

[ifcar]

Probably. And then the Altima will follow, as usual...

Unless the cycle changes, there will be three years of clear Maxima superiority. And the current Maxima is still selling surprisingly well, especially considering how many people are also buying Altimas.

[WookieOnRitalin]

Looks great but also bigger. Keeping the V6, which is the right choice vs. a turbo 4. Some nice interior touches such as rear seat vents (which much of the class doesn't have) and the TFT screen between tach and speedo.

My Kizashi has rear vents. Half the sedans in the class do.

Has them:
Camry
Kizashi
Fusion (2013)
Sonata
Optima
Altima

Does Not:
Legacy
Malibu
Mazda6
Accord
200
Passat

[MX793]

So when are Sentra and Versa going to get Maxima-ized?

[sportyaccordy]

They're going to need to find something to do with the Maxima to separate it from the new Altima. Maybe it will get the more adventurous looks for the next generation.

Altima: 2.0 DI 4 base engine (180HP), hybrid (200HP) , 3.0L high tech V6 (270 HP)

Maxima: 4.0L V6 (330 HP), AWD, DSG, "coupe" body, revival of the "4DSC" moniker

It could be the Corrado to the Altima as the Golf, or the CLS to the Altima as the E-class, etc.

They have closed the gap too much between the two cars, they need to widen it again.

[ifcar]

All-wheel-drive alone might be enough to do it, actually. The Altima V6 is a 3.5-liter, though, not a 3.0.

[2o6]

So when are Sentra and Versa going to get Maxima-ized?

Versa already has been. Versa was first, IIRC.


Same crap grille, same awkward taillamp placement.



Tiida looks better, though.

[MX793]

Versa already has been. Versa was first, IIRC.


Same crap grille, same awkward taillamp placement.



Tiida looks better, though.

Headlight shape isn't Maxima enough.  Too round and don't have the little kink/boomarang shape at the outboard/trailing edge.

[sportyaccordy]

All-wheel-drive alone might be enough to do it, actually. The Altima V6 is a 3.5-liter, though, not a 3.0.

I'm saying, they should downgrade it a little to spread the gap. Or just ditch it completely and let the Altima be the budget choice (like it was up until 2002). But then how close will the Maxima be to the G37x? Too much overlap

That Tiida hatchback looks great. I hope we get it here.

[CALL_911]

Does the Maxima sell well? If not, I say kill it.

[ifcar]

Does the Maxima sell well? If not, I say kill it.

Yes, very well.

[Atomic]

Does the Maxima sell well? If not, I say kill it.

DON'T KILL IT 

[2o6]

I'm saying, they should downgrade it a little to spread the gap. Or just ditch it completely and let the Altima be the budget choice (like it was up until 2002). But then how close will the Maxima be to the G37x? Too much overlap

That Tiida hatchback looks great. I hope we get it here.

The Tiida has been on sale for about two years now. I don't think that's going to happen.

Headlight shape isn't Maxima enough.  Too round and don't have the little kink/boomarang shape at the outboard/trailing edge.

Kinks are expensive? They probably don't want the lineup looking too monotonous.

[Xer0]

So, the 2013 Altima is heavier than my 08 Civic and far more powerful while still getting like 3mpg better in city and hwy.  Wow!  That?s pretty impressive.

[sportyaccordy]

I don't think any of these "40 MPG" cars ever come close to their ratings. I had an Elantra for a week, and even on open highways at 65 MPH I couldn't do better than 35 MPG. I did net about 32 MPG overall, but the bulk of my driving was pure highway and I was working at maximizing mileage.

[Raza]

My Kizashi has rear vents. Half the sedans in the class do.

Does Not:
Passat

Really?  I'm pretty sure my Jetta does.

[68_427]

Really?  I'm pretty sure my Jetta does.

The last Passat did, but pretty sure this most recent one does not.

[Xer0]

I don't think any of these "40 MPG" cars ever come close to their ratings. I had an Elantra for a week, and even on open highways at 65 MPH I couldn't do better than 35 MPG. I did net about 32 MPG overall, but the bulk of my driving was pure highway and I was working at maximizing mileage.

Well, the Koreans have been under-delivering lately on what they say so maybe thats not the best judge.  The Cruze Eco seems to be pretty solid in comparison. 

[Raza]

The last Passat did, but pretty sure this most recent one does not.

Schwache So?e.

[93JC]

My Kizashi has rear vents. Half the sedans in the class do.

Has them:
Camry
Kizashi
Fusion (2013)
Sonata
Optima
Altima
Mazda 6

Does Not:
Legacy
Malibu
Mazda6
Accord
200
Passat

They're underneath the front seats. They're there, they're just not visible.

[Raza]

They're underneath the front seats. They're there, they're just not visible.

Mazda troll.

[93JC]

I just happen to know that the car does in fact have rear vents.

[MX793]

I don't think any of these "40 MPG" cars ever come close to their ratings. I had an Elantra for a week, and even on open highways at 65 MPH I couldn't do better than 35 MPG. I did net about 32 MPG overall, but the bulk of my driving was pure highway and I was working at maximizing mileage.

You were also probably running winter blend E10, which is not what the EPA numbers are based on.  My mileage always takes a huge hit in the late fall when they switch over to winter blend (~15% seems to be typical).  My brother had a rental Focus a couple of weeks ago and said he average 40 mpg on the tank when he topped it up before turning it back in.  Not sure if they had real gasoline where he was (probably not), but as he was in a warmer climate it was likely they didn't have winter-blend fuel (which has even more ethanol in it).

[Atomic]

its refreshing to see a nice, clean dashboard design -- something i heard will return in the honda accord for 2013. the 2012 honda CR-V controls are far better now. simplicity is best, especially in a mainstream sedan like the toyota camry, nissan altima and honda accord.

[hotrodalex]

They're underneath the front seats. They're there, they're just not visible.

Doesn't help too much when you get in the car on a hot summer day, unless you're not wearing shoes. But it doesn't help your upper body at all.

[thewizard16]

Doesn't help too much when you get in the car on a hot summer day, unless you're not wearing shoes. But it doesn't help your upper body at all.

Agreed. Upper rear vents are what they're talking about I believe. Those lower ones are even in the 92 Camry and are more ubiquitous I think. I don't think those under seat vents count if you want the air to cool you down quicker.

[Atomic]

Agreed. Upper rear vents are what they're talking about I believe. Those lower ones are even in the 92 Camry and are more ubiquitous I think. I don't think those under seat vents count if you want the air to cool you down quicker.

they seem better for air flow than keeping the car interior at a consistent temperature throughout the cabin from the cars i have owned with this system. nice, but not enough to suit back passengers. i like the vent type with independent controls.

[giant_mtb]

If I've got passengers, I'll usually point the two front-middle air vents straight back towards them through the gap between the front seats as well as have the floor vents going.  I'm more of an ambient temperature kinda guy.  I hate when air's blowing all up in my face and stuff.  Usually once the cars cooled down (or warmed up), I'll put the airflow to the defroster vents to maintain temperature without barraging myself with air.

[68_427]

If I want airflow in my car I just open the sunroof and all windows.

I lost a notebook from my back seat that way.

[Rich]

If I want airflow in my car I just open the sunroof and all windows.

I lost a notebook from my back seat that way.

When I bought the Cooper S the dealer took a polaroid of me next to my new car.  I had it in the passenger seat next to me on the trip home..

...somewhere along I-40 between Winston Salem and Greensboro, NC is a polaroid of me and a MINI because I drove with the windows open on that maiden voyage, and that wind picked the picture right up and out the window