Report: 2010 Nissan Altima Sedan, Coupe and Hybrid Unveiled With Design Tweaks, New Options

After teasing us with a cropped photo several weeks ago, Nissan has now officially unveiled the refreshed 2010 Altima Sedan, Coupe and Hybrid models with an updated interior and exterior and some new electronic toys.

The car doesn’t look all that different on its own, but place it next to an ’09 model and the changes are certainly noticeable. Included in the refresh is a new Maxima-esque grille and restyled hood, as well as a few new wheel designs. Inside, new fabric and new trim finishes help to update the interior look with the center stack getting a more thorough makeover.

New options include a premium audio package with a nine-speaker Bose stereo with a color 4.3-inch LCD display, iPod connectivity and a USB port, as well as Bluetooth, MP3/WMA playback and a RearView Monitor. In addition, a revised version of Nissan’s Hard Drive Navigation System is optional on all models. It replaces the standard 4.3-inch display with a 6.5-inch one, with a 9.3 GB Music Box hard drive and advanced features like speed limit advisories and optional XM NavTraffic and XM NavWeather

In the safety department, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), is now standard on all models.

Under the hood there have been no real changes with the base 175-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder or a 270-hp 3.5-liter V6. Don’t be confused by the name changes either, as Nissan has opted to drop the SE badge in favor of a more exciting SR badge.

The Altima Hybrid also gets a redesign, but no engine changes with the same 2.5-liter 4-cylinder/electric motor combination, making 198-hp that registers 35 mpg city and 33 mpg highway.

Pricing for the base Altima sedan remains the same, but a slight “market adjustment” increase for all other models has been made.

Check out the huge gallery of photos Nissan has provided, or take a gander at our more realistic exclusive first images of the Altima Sedan 3.5 SR, just taken a few hours ago.

2010 Nissan Altima Offers New Look, New Tech Features; U.S. Pricing Announced for Sedan, Coupe and Hybrid Models
– Nissan’s Best-Selling Nameplate, With Refined Exterior and Interior Treatments and Advanced Navigation System, Set For October 5th Debut –
Franklin, Tenn. –
The popular Nissan Altima, ranked number one in segment in the 2009 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS), enters the 2010 model year with fresh exterior styling, refined interior treatments and a host of technology enhancements to its navigation and entertainment systems. Available in three distinct models – Altima Sedan, Altima Coupe and Altima Hybrid – the 2010 Altimas will be available at Nissan dealers nationwide beginning Monday, October 5th.

The 2010 Altima’s Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices* (MSRP) are:
2010 Altima Sedan Engine/Transmission M.S.R.P.
Altima Sedan 2.5 S 2.5L I4 CVT $19,900 USD
Altima Sedan 2.5 S 2.5L I4 CVT $21,840 USD
Altima Sedan 3.5 SR 3.5L V6 CVT $24,520 USD
2010 Altima Coupe Engine/Transmission M.S.R.P.
Altima Coupe 2.5 S 2.5L I4 6MT $22,440 USD
Altima Coupe 2.5 S 2.5L I4 CVT $22,940 USD
Altima Coupe 3.5 SR 3.5L V6 CVT $27,270 USD
Altima Coupe 3.5 SR 3.5 V6 6MT $29,600 USD
2010 Altima Hybrid Engine/Transmission M.S.R.P.
Altima HEV 2.5L I4 eCVT $26,780 USD

Now in its fourth generation, with nearly 3.2 million units sold worldwide, Altima provides a unique combination of exhilarating driving pleasure, distinctive and sporty design and exceptional quality and value in the mid-size sedan and coupe classes.

Again in 2010, Altima is available in a variety of well-equipped trim levels designed to appeal to a broad range of buyer needs and budgets, including 175-horsepower 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder and 270-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine-equipped 4-door Altima Sedan and sporty 2-door Altima Coupe versions.

The Altima Hybrid powertrain mates a specialized version of Nissan’s QR25 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and standard electronically controlled CVT with an advanced electric drive motor/generator. Altima Hybrid is estimated to have a hybrid system net power rating of 198 horsepower (148 kW) while maintaining low tailpipe emissions, earning Altima Hybrid an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) rating. EPA fuel economy is estimated at 35 mpg City and 33 mpg Highway. Combined with Altima’s standard 20-gallon fuel tank, the Altima Hybrid has a projected driving range of over 600 miles between fill-ups.

Among the many changes for all 2010 Altimas are a restyled hood, grille and front bumper, new wheel designs, standard Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) on all models, revised interior fabric and finishers, new exterior colors and revised option package content. In addition, the previous Altima 3.5 SE designation has been renamed the 3.5 SR.

Along with the exhilaration provided by the driver-oriented cockpit and high levels of Altima performance, the “entertainment factor” of Altima’s interior has been upgraded with new available premium audio packages that include a Bose® AM/FM audio system with nine speakers, 4.3-inch color display, USB port with iPod® connectivity, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, MP3/WMA CD-ROM playback, XM® Satellite Radio (XM® subscription required, sold separately) and RearView Monitor.

Also available with Altima Sedan, Coupe and Hybrid models is a next-generation Nissan Hard Drive Navigation System with 6.5-inch VGA color touch-screen display (replaces the 4.3-inch display), 9.3GB Music Box for music storage and playback, advanced map data including speed limit advisories, Zagat restaurant guide, XM NavTraffic® and XM NavWeather® (XM® subscription required, sold separately), Bluetooth® Streaming Audio, DVD player and an RCA input for auxiliary audio/video connectivity.