Another Look

2005 Nissan Altima SE-R: Power for the People

Who’da thunk it? A dying Japanese car company turns to a French CEO from Renault for help. How else could this story end but with Nissan joining the scrap heap of automobile history?

As Rick said in Casablanca, I was misinformed. Turns out, Louis, this was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Given that the prospect of dying does concentrate the mind wonderfully, car companies on the verge of implosion tend to have a creative explosion. Witness the first Ford Taurus or the Chrysler 300C. Necessity being the mother of invention, auto companies that are failing in the marketplace tend to burst out from the gray conformity stifling more successful manufacturers in order to make a splash and attract attention, much like a supernova announces the dying of a star. For the fortunate ones, the darkest hour turns out to be just before the dawn.

Sorry about that last sentence. I’ve just been dying to fit three clichés into one paragraph and had to go for it.

So did Nissan. With notably more success. From the redesigned Maxima to the interesting Quest to the sexy Z, Nissan has made a mockery of the supposed virtues of blandness, re-establishing itself with cars that you may love or hate, but you certainly won’t ignore.

The Nissan Altima SE-R is a fascinating example of how, with the right moves, a product that may seem inherently antithetical to a brand image could be made to fit. The Altima had long been dwarfed in the public perception by its larger, sportier stablemate, the Maxima. It had become the kind of car that young women in their second jobs out of college and able to trade in their Sentras would get. It was reliable. It was comfortable. It was boring.

In 2004, Nissan set out to change that, and with the SE-R, the transformation is complete. Nissan took a midsize commuter and retained the virtues that its previous customers like – comfort and reliability – while adding what new customers want – style and speed.

The SE-R is the sportiest version of the Altima, and, at about $30,000, the most expensive. But what you get for that is an aggressive handler that’s fun to drive, and, with the optional side airbags, as safe as one could want. The virtues of the line – again, comfort, reliability, interior space – get layered onto a car that makes commuting fun both when the road is all backed up and you sit back to listen to satellite radio, and when the open road is before you. The specially tuned 3.5-liter DOHC 6-cylinder engine pushes out a fabulous 260 horses, making this relatively light midsizer fodder for dreams of Lime Rock racing. My transmission was a responsive five-speed automatic with manual mode (a 6-speed manual is also available), and with the performance suspension tuning, back roads became a thing of beauty (I would suggest a radar detector). Handling was right on the money, twisting and turning into curves becoming a calling, not a response. Mileage is estimated at 20 highway, 30 city, smack in the middle of the range for midsize sedans.

The red R on the leather seats signifying this top of the line performance version is superfluous if you happen to be behind the wheel, but, like the rest of the cabin, it looks good. The outside styling is quite attractive for its type, and the inside a cut above previous plastic versions of the Altima.

About the only downsides to the SE-R are the engine and road noise – the car sounds as aggressive as it handles – and the fact that front side and rear head curtain airbags are an option. That airbags are packaged with the traction control system with a total cost of $800. Seems a little chintzy to me for something every buyer should get.

Still, Nissan has gambled and won with the 2005 Altima SE-R. Reviews are one thing; spending your money on a car something else. But people who are plunking down their hard-earned cash clearly agree with this reviewer on the merits of the 2005 Nissan Altima. Numbers just released by Nissan show March was the best ever month for Altima sales. Having driven the enjoyable Nissan Altima SE-R, I find no reason to be shocked.

For 2005, every Altima model features restyled headlamps, taillights, a restyled smooth front end with a distinctive raised hood and new Nissan family. The Altima SE-R adds a new front fascia, headlight bezel coloring, compact fog lights and dark window molding coloring. In the rear, the SE-R stands out with a new rear fascia and spoiler, smoked taillights and large dual exhaust finishers. Also visible are the new side sill spoilers, silver painted front and rear disc brake calipers, with the SE-R logo on the front calipers. SE-R badging is located on the rear of the vehicle. The Altima interior incorporates all of the upgrades for the 2005 model, including a new instrument panel design with fine vision meter illumination, center console, trim finishes, 3-spoke steering wheel, seat material, headliner and added chrome accents and chrome door handles.

The most prominent difference between the SE-R and other 2005 Altima models is the three-pod center-mounted gauge package, similar to that found on the legendary Nissan Z, with volt meter, oil pressure and fuel consumption gauges. Other changes include sport-shaped front seats and headrests with perforated red or gray leather-appointed inserts and matching stitching on the seats, steering wheel and shift knob, dark chrome trim treatment and drilled aluminum pedals. The front seats are also heated, as are the SE-R’s outside mirrors.

posted by Andy Mais @ 10:30 AM