The last time we gave an update on our long-term Altima's fuel economy was September 2007. It's time to get you all up to speed on the numbers.
Current lifetime average: 21.0 mpg
Best tank: 32.2 mpg
Worst tank: 14.2 mpg
Total lifetime miles: 20,927.6
Total fuel consumed: 997.8 gal
tmanz says:
12:28 PM, 01/22/08
I agree, that average mpg stinks. But keep in mind the standard cruising speed for the Edmunds testers seems to be either 0 or 90 mph. They are either stuck in traffic or going all out on a desert road.
What was the secret on the best tank? That is good for a car that size.
redliner says:
03:13 PM, 02/ 6/08
I hope that CVT is fun to drive, becuse it sure isn't saving fuel.
louiswei says:
04:23 PM, 02/ 6/08
CVT is not fun to drive.
sumimasen says:
05:01 PM, 02/ 6/08
>"CVT is not fun to drive."< Edmunds staffers seem to think it is. Accord mileage is very similar so far: Best tank: 26.3 mpg Worst tank: 16.1 mpg Average mpg: 21.4 mpg Biggest difference is best tank.
louiswei says:
05:12 PM, 02/ 6/08
And some Edmunds staffers also think that the C300 has enough kicks...
It's all personal preference.
desmolicious says:
05:21 PM, 02/ 6/08
Why don't people think that the overall 21mpg avg is any good? Remember, this is a 270 hp car, not an underpowered 4 cylinder motor from back in the 1980s.
What kind of mpg do you think a 270hp large family car should get?
boxermike says:
06:02 PM, 02/ 6/08
"louiswei -
CVT is not fun to drive."
In this car it is.
altimadude00 says:
06:53 PM, 02/ 6/08
Can we get an update with the Versa as well...or has that been quietly sold off?
banhugh says:
06:59 PM, 02/ 6/08
this makes Accord's mpg look good...
langjie says:
08:30 PM, 02/ 6/08
louiswei....have you ever driven an altima? it seems like you just criticize it
billt9 says:
08:35 PM, 02/ 6/08
Of course, real people get 25.6 mpg with the CVT.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=browseList2&make=Nissan&model=Altima
johndaniel says:
11:07 PM, 02/ 6/08
CVT is a gorgeous car.Its just so cool in Black.
Buick Terraza seat belt
louiswei says:
11:53 PM, 02/ 6/08
Yes I have driven the Altima before, a 3.5 SE just like this long term car as matter of fact. Why would I criticize it without ever driven one?
The CVT is not fun to drive in both this car and Audi A4 2.0T. Oh yeah, and I have driven that one before too in case you are wondering...
sumimasen says:
10:06 AM, 02/ 7/08
"banhugh-
this makes Accord's mpg look good..."
Actually it makes the Accord's mileage look...the same.
1487 says:
10:29 AM, 02/ 7/08
"Yes I have driven the Altima before, a 3.5 SE just like this long term car as matter of fact. Why would I criticize it without ever driven one? "
I assumed you didnt drive most of the cars you criticize. Since you dont like much of anything in Edmunds' LT fleet I guess you drive a lot of different models. Since nothing seems to please you I wonder why you think your criticism would ever be taken seriously.
louiswei says:
10:41 AM, 02/ 7/08
Uh... I am just here to voice my opinion and can give a damn about my criticism be taken seriously or not.
It's not like everybody's opinion(case to the point: 1487's) has been taken seriously by other people...
As far as driving dynamic goes I will only criticize on cars that I have driven before. However, I don't see what's wrong to have an opinion about the styling (inside and out) on a car whether or not I have driven. Usually a picture or two would do just fine on those topics.
By the way, 1487, I am deeply sorry that I have a higher standard on cars than you do. Due to that, naturally many cars that "please" you would not "please" me. Get used to it.
tslbmw says:
01:27 PM, 02/ 7/08
wow, louiswei...a little touchy, eh? I believe 1487's point is that the CVT in the new Altima seems to be praised by consumers and critics alike (ie this entire long term blog is filled with comments about how slick it is and how "fun" it can be in manual mode; including one staffer who solely perfers manuals).
I guess a better question for you would be, since you don't think its "fun," what is it that you don't like about the CVT in the new Altima? Are you strictly a stick guy or do you perfer conventional 5 or 6 spd automatics or do you perfer dual clutch automated manuals....what meets your "high standard?"
langjie says:
01:37 PM, 02/ 7/08
yeah, I was going to ask you, louiswei, what is it about the CVT you do not like? what car is "fun to drive"?
louiswei says:
02:14 PM, 02/ 7/08
I am not a stick guy and when I said the CVT is not "fun to drive" that's totally in my opinion. I much prefer the conventional gearbox's "going up the gears" feel. Even though these new CVT are artificially geared I just don't like the way it goes up to certain RPM and let the actually speed catch up.
There are a lot of cars that are fun to drive and "meets my higher standard" but unfortunately Altima is just not one of them. As matter of fact, none of the family sedans is one of them. Granted the Altima is sportier than the rest field but to me that is still not "fun to drive".
tslbmw says:
02:26 PM, 02/ 7/08
louiswei,
Fair enough. And I would definitely qualify my statement that the CVT IS fun by saying that it is a fun FAMILY sedan. Certainly, there are a lot more fun two door sports cars out there. However, coming from a guy who has owned Audi's DSG, Infiniti's 5 spd auto, Honda's high revving 6 spd manual, & BMW's 5 spd manual, and now the current owner (as of two weeks ago) of this exact test car (except in white), the current iteration of the CVT in this Altima is definitely (IMO) a step above all other automatics (except the DSG, if you include that as an automatic, since technically it is an automated manual and has no torque converter). But, I have two kids now and this is about as much fun/saftey/sportiness that I can have for under 30K.
Its really a great ride, but your opinion is understood.
banhugh says:
02:29 PM, 02/ 7/08
sumimasen, 21mpg for the Altima makes the Accord's mpg look good because the Accord is a much bigger/heavier car. The only drawback wrt the Altima is acceleration.
If the Altima had better acceleration AND mileage but only worse interior I would say this makes Accord look bad.
hondacura4 says:
03:28 PM, 02/ 7/08
Doesnt the Nissan recommend premium petrol for the Altima V6?
jaeger1 says:
04:10 PM, 02/ 7/08
I've only taken one long highway trip in my 6sp. 3.5 SE - Toronto to Vermont and back. I averaged a little better than 31 mpg, which I thought was pretty awesome for a car with this big a motor, kicking out this many ponies.
louiswei, I don't think your standards are "higher" - they're just yours. The CVT wasn't my choice, but I was pretty impressed by it. I found the manual mode particularly enjoyable, with "gear" changes happening much faster that most manumatic autos I have tried. I would take this setup every day of the week over the Accord's 5 speed - non-manumatic slushbox. The CVT does its own thing when left in auto mode, but is ready to respond directly to driver inputs when desired.
But once again, kudos to Nissan for making a stick shift and three pedals available to the enthusiast driver.
Jaeger
louiswei says:
05:12 PM, 02/ 7/08
Let me clarify...
In "higher standard" I do not mean the prefereces to such things like CVT vs. conventional auto gearbox, 4-banger vs. 6 banger, light steering vs. heavy steering and etc. Those are "preferences".
However, the "higher standard" does apply to things like interior material quality, fit-n'-finish and the overall build quality.
stingray454 says:
12:38 PM, 02/ 8/08
I think the Nissan 3.5 VQ engine gets 21 MPG average in every car it is put in. That's the exact same mileage I averaged in my '03 Infiniti G35 Coupe with a 6MT, which had almost the same engine. The VQ definitely likes to drink gas - it's got power, but it ain't free.
jriz says:
01:38 PM, 02/ 8/08
"Doesnt the Nissan recommend premium petrol for the Altima V6?"
Yes it does. And kudos for the British "petrol" lingo.
Someone mentioned earlier that the Altima weighs more than the Accord. Here's how our exact long-termers compare.
Altima = 3455 pounds
Accord = 3579 pounds
billt9 says:
05:46 PM, 02/ 8/08
My understanding in most cars is, you lose at most 20 hp using regular gas instead of premium.
So that would make the Altima 250 hp. Still plenty of power.
jaeger1 says:
06:50 PM, 02/ 8/08
With the Accord's fancy VCM - shouldn't it be blowing the Altima (and the rest of the mid-size family sedan competition) out of the water when it comes to fuel economy?
Jaeger
1487 says:
10:51 AM, 02/ 9/08
"By the way, 1487, I am deeply sorry that I have a higher standard on cars than you do. Due to that, naturally many cars that "please" you would not "please" me. Get used to it."
Ha! that is hilarious and presumptious. I dont know what your standards are and I dont know what you drive but you certainly seem to feel you are too good for all the cars in this fleet since you insult all of them. I guess anything that isnt a luxury car is too plebian for a man of exquisite tastes like yourself. My standards are based on styling, design, price and performance. NOt brand names and what car will get me more respect in import loving places like LA. I dont care what people think of me or my car so if I like cars that arent "cool" to discerning people like yourself so be it. I question anyone who previously argued that $140 oil changes at a luxury brand dealer are a good deal because luxury cars have to cost that much to maintain. I have seen substandard build quality (at least using high standards like yours) on various brands including most non luxury import brands. If you base a car purchase strictly on not having hard plastics and similar things your list of vehicles must be quite short.
I'm not sure where you get off insulting all these vehicles from high up on your soap box but I can tell you that the reasons you give are lame and sound like the words of an auto elitist who wants to criticize any vehicles that are too cheap for his consideration.