2007 Nissan Altima SE: Fuel Economy Update

"No huge news to report on the Altima since its cage match against the Aura two weeks ago. Although I have to admit I can't see the Aura taking down the Altima in any contest of speed on any road. "
 
why would you make a comment like that knowing the performance of both vehicles? What would be surprising about the Aura meeting or beating the Altima? Last time I checked the Aura is faster than the Altima with CVT.

Looks like the camry is blowing the Aura and Altima out of the water in mpg.

We asked before if either were quicker and you guys replied you didn't have an answer.
 
The Altima's mileage is lower because, why? the low highway miles.
 
1487, remember, they haven't driven the Altima or the Aura like they did the Camry. First the Camry got all the highway trips of over 300 miles. Secondly, they were comparing the handling of the two cars, Altima and Aura, and guess what that is not condusive to good mileage.
 
Most important, sing along with me, SAN DIEGO SUPERCHARGERS, SAN DIEGO SUPERCHARGERS.
 
Josh, various tests have shown that the XR is at least as fast as the CVT Altima, if not faster. 0-60 in 5.9-6.2 appears to be the average for the other car testers. Motor Trend originally tested an XR at 7.0 then the nextt one was 5.9. Remember, the 3.6 takes a long time to loosen up.
 
SubyTrojan;
 
Did you see who is facing who tonight, LA vs SD. Maddux and Wells, what a match up.

I went to last night's game. :( The Pads usually hit better off Lowe than Billingsley. I wasn't surprised by the outcome as Germano, who has been on my fantasy team since he started hot, just hasn't been pitching well lately. I'm still waiting for the Diamondbacks to cool off. It's inevitable. It's just a matter of when. It looks like the Pads are going to need some help from the Dodger$ over the weekend.
 
Regarding the fuel mileage comparisons with the Camry and Aura, aurakr is right in that readers need to remember where these cars have been. Not all of them have "been everywhere, man."

The Altima is more agile. But same acceleration.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Followup/articleId=119236/pageId=118028
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=118941/pageId=117192

"why would you make a comment like that knowing the performance of both vehicles? What would be surprising about the Aura meeting or beating the Altima? Last time I checked the Aura is faster than the Altima with CVT."
  
Why would I say that? Let me tell you...
  
Because there's more to getting down a canyon road like our editor's did in the "cage match" two weeks ago than acceleration, that's why.
  
Our tests, which I conducted on both cars, prove that the Altima outhandles the Aura hands down. It does so easily in the slalom -- a test of transitional response not unlike a canyon road -- by a margin of 3.7 mph, which is a landslide in this test. The Altima also makes more outright grip than the Aura (.81g vs. .79g).
  
Also, our tests show acceleration to be a virtual wash between the two with quarter-mile times separated by only a tenth of a second and far less than one mile per hour. In other words, not enough to make up for the Altima's handling advantage in any match -- cage or not.
  
Josh

Josh:
 
The previous comparison between the Altima and Aura did not end with the comment the Altima outhandles the Aura hands down. It ended with overall the Altima wins, but it wasn't the knock out you speak of.
 
You may feel that way, but remember this, BMW keeps winning handling comparisons even though they are not usually the fastest through the slalom or produce the most Gs. Which is why we asked which was the overall better ride/handling mix? It appears you have made your decision. Great, others might disagree.
 
If I want a sports car, I will buy a Vette or a Sky Redline. I want a nice riding car which handles better than I will ever take it. The XR is perfect for me.
 
On the real road as they say, neither pulled away from the other, making it a draw. Don't get me wrong, I like the Altima, except for the ugly(to me) rear end. I liked the old one better(rear end). The Maxima I think is a perfect example of what they tried to do with the Altima, but failed.
 
Maxima, nice, pretty. Altima, nice, pretty(except for backend). For me what ruins it is the CVT. Since I live in San Diego and therefore California, no manuals for me.
 
Got to go, Padres vs. Dodgers, Maddux vs. Wells. What a great country we live in.

As far as the fuel economy goes, I am shocked at how low it is. I do a mix of around town stop and go driving and some highway driving, and I don't think that I have ever gotten less than 21 pg on a single tank of gas. The majority of my tanks will get me 24-25 mpg, and that has been pretty consistent over the last several tanks. And it IS a 3.5SE.
 
There has been a thread over at NissanClub.com about alot of people getting really stellar (given the engine) fuel economy with the 3.5SE.

Aurakr -- Fair enough. Sounds as if you've found the perfect car. And, yes, we journalists often pick a car based on its composure despite the fact that it might not make the best numbers. In fact, that's why we put words between the numbers. It makes us feel better.
 
mptros09 -- I'll admit to having driven three of those last five tanks through the Altima myself. And I'm a bit of a leadfoot.
 
Josh

perfect? No, it is not perfect.
 
A step in the right direction would be the same acceleration and 40 mpg. I hope GM builds some two-mode car hybrids, not jus the SUV and pickups. I would love to see a two-mode Aura hybrid 3.6 vs the Camry and Altima hybrids. The 3.6 is the engine GM will use in the upcoming Vue two-mode hybrid. Unfortunately I think that is about 2 years out at the earliest.
 
Regarding the mileage of the Altima, has anyone compared it to see if the Maxima gets the same, better, or worse? Or in this case, is your right foot just too heavy? I will say that cars like the XR or the Altima 3.5 are so hard to drive at 65-70 mph because they just jump to 85 mph or higher in a blink. If the Altima is anything like the XR, there is no feel of speed and the car is so quiet.

On a recent extended highway trip (Toronto to Vermont, return) I consistently got better than 30 mpg. with my Altima 3.5SE 6MT. I can't really ask for more, considering the power this thing puts down.
 
Jaeger

looks like Nissan should be the next target of the greenies - they have a lot of cars with some below-average fuel economy...

^ nissan was never really great with fuel economy. they had to go bigger and faster to try to come out of their financial crisis. if they didn't, they wouldn't be able to compete with honda/toyota

"Also, our tests show acceleration to be a virtual wash between the two with quarter-mile times separated by only a tenth of a second and far less than one mile per hour. In other words, not enough to make up for the Altima's handling advantage in any match -- cage or not. "
 
thats interesting because I often get told "numbers dont tell the whole story" whenever I bring up a domestic car that outperforms an import. Now you are saying the slalom figures clearly show the Altima is in a different class in handling. I dont know if that is the case or not but I would say the two cars are pretty close. When C&D compared the Aura and Altima in their midsize sedan test the two cars put up similar numbers. That 3.7mph difference is pretty large but that seems to be an extreme case. A .02g difference is minimal, especially when you consider the Aura doesnt have sports tires. The G6 with sportier rubber recorded an .85g in a C&D test which indicates the tires- not the chassis- are the limiting factor. As AuraKr said, the back to back test showed the two cars to be really evenly matched and I believe it. Nothing I have read about the Aura would make me think its not in the same handling league as the Altima so I'm wondering why you would be so surprised it held its own. As you know, you often cannot "feel' the differences that test equipment car record. The Altima is undoubtedly faster in your tests in the slalom but I doubt the cars feel that different to the driver.
 
auraKr,
 
the vue GL with two mode is coming out next summer.

1487, did you also read that part that he said, "that I conducted"? i think that means he feels like the altima is faster.
 
i think josh is saying that it feels faster and his numbers back that up. you would be ripping on him if he only said, "that altima feels faster". you would ask for some proof and he already gave it.
 
regardless, the only way this can be settled is with time trials. but i think spirited driving on a public road (canyon match) is quite different then testing the limits on the car (which is what the skidpad and slalom tests do)

Thanks,
 
Actually what I meant was when or if an Aura two-mode might come out.
 
Langjie:
 
Congrats to your Pats. OUCH, we got whooped big time. Brady is just an awesome QB. Rivers has some growing yet to do.
 
Actually I think the best thing to do is say this. Both cars handle pretty well for midsize sedans. In addition, I think we can say they provide a pretty good ride/handling balance for front wheel drive vehicles. Both are able to handle easily what a normal person will request from their car. I think it is safe to say the XR is the best version, so far of the epsilon platform-stretched. The new Malibu might be an improvement, we will see. The new Altima is an improvement over its predecesor(spelling). What I like the most is that two midsize sedans can capably out accelerate, brake, and handle most muscle cars of the late 60s early 70s. With almost double the mileage.

"i think josh is saying that it feels faster and his numbers back that up. you would be ripping on him if he only said, "that altima feels faster". you would ask for some proof and he already gave it. "
 
No, I believe he was saying he had a hard time believing a Saturn could have kept up with the Nissan Altima in the twisties- I sincerely doubt the slalom speeds were the primary reason he made the comment. Its pretty obvious by the wording that he was indicating he is skeptical that a american Aura could match the Altima as a sports sedan for families. I doubt anyone who had driven the Aura extensively would say that, so maybe he hadnt. EVERY review I have seen of the Aura has noted its a nice handling car so I dont think anyone who is educated about the car could really be surprised it can go toe to toe with the Almighty Altima.

"No, I believe he was saying he had a hard time believing a Saturn could have kept up with the Nissan Altima in the twisties"
 
if he didn't drive the cars, i could believe that statement. but considering that he did drive both, then i have more trouble believing your statement

aurakr....
 
it is pretty amazing what brady can do with a couple of weapons
 
did you read the article about the minivan vs the ferrari. it is amazing how far cars have come. i remember when i thought 0-60 in 6 flat for a porsche 911 was amazingly fast and now there so many cars that do that, heck, even a dodge neon can be even faster than that (nothing against a neon, but it is a compact car)