Five-Point Inspection: 2014 Nissan Altima 3.5 SL

Although the Mazda6 won AutoGuide.com’s huge midsize-sedan comparison there are some buyers that want extra power from a four-door car without having to pay a lot more, or sacrifice fuel efficiency. The Altima 3.5 deserves the attention of these people.

Nissan’s fully loaded offering is equipped with many of the same modern features found in the Mazda plus a powerful V6 engine, something that’s becoming quite rare in the segment. With extra cylinders and displacement you might just be surprised how well this car fares in testing.

The V6-equipped Altima sits with the titans in its class in terms of fuel efficiency. Rated at 22 miles per gallon in the city, 31 on the highway and 25 mpg combined, this Nissan sedan is on par with six-cylinder versions of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

Despite the cold temperatures experienced during testing, not to mention knobby winter tires, the Altima still managed to deliver a claimed 25 mpg during our week of driving. It’s rare when a car actually delivers its rated fuel efficiency, especially under such challenging conditions. This bodes very well for the Altima 3.5 in warmer weather.

Six-cylinder midsize sedans are quickly becoming redundant thanks to high efficiency and better performing four-cylinders, but some buyers out there want a bit more oomph out of their family haulers, so a V6 in the Altima is still available.

Official output is 270 hp, more than the comparable engine in the Camry but slightly less than what’s found in the Honda Accord. Paired with Nissan’s fuel-friendly CVT, the Altima is quick off the line. However, the transmission settles down as soon as possible to save gas. Throttle response while driving is adequate and overtaking is quite easy but the car doesn’t deliver the performance in a sporty or thrilling way. Remember, it’s still just a midsize sedan.

At $32,660, a fully-loaded 2014 Nissan Altima 3.5 SL includes the “technology package,” leaving nothing unchecked on the options menu. It’s not a bad price at all considering the included features. People who live in colder climates will love the remote start, heated seats and heated steering wheel included at that price.

Not only that but a few much-appreciated driver aids are also included, things like blind-spot assist, lane-departure warning and a rear-view camera with a function called “moving-object detection” that detects hard-to-spot cars coming toward you. Competing models from Honda and Toyota can’t be equipped with all of these features.

Fully equipped V6 versions of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry are both more expensive and lacking some key features compared to the Altima. While a Ford Fusion can be equipped with same technology (plus a few more goodies) it’s also more expensive.

Overall, the Altima provides solid fuel efficiency and great features, all while offering a V6 engine and strong performance at a lower price than the competition. If you’re looking for the complete package, Nissan’s Altima is likely what you’ve been searching for. And perhaps best of all it does this for a lower price than you might have expected.

Interested in the 2014 Nissan Altima? The be sure to drop by our new car buying page. You can head straight to the Nissan Altima or you can take a look at other Nissan vehicles.

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