"Being saddled with an old engine and a CVT, Nissan's engineers were constrained in what they could do to make a sportier Altima. Taking that into consideration, the SR comes off as well as can be imagined." - CarAndDriver
The engine on duty in the 2016 Nissan Altima is a 2.5L I-4 unit that produces 182hp of power and 180lb.-ft of torque. This powertrain comes mated to a continuously variable transmission and front-wheel drivetrain as standard. As one moves higher up the trim ladder, the 2016 Nissan Altima SR and SL get a more powerful V6 engine as optional. Even this motor comes standard with FWD and CVT automatic, but the transmission offers manual control over shifts with the help of column-mounted paddle shifters.
Models
|
2016 Nissan Altima
|
2016 Toyota Camry
|
2016 Hyundai Sonata
|
MSRP
|
$22,500
|
$23,070
|
$21,750
|
Engine
|
2.5L I-4
|
2.5L I-4
|
2.4L I-4
|
Drivetrain
|
FWD
|
FWD
|
FWD
|
Transmission
|
CVT
|
CVT
|
CVT
|
Power
|
182hp
|
178hp
|
185hp
|
Torque
|
180lb-ft
|
170lb-ft
|
178lb-ft
|
The midsize sedan segment is a nail-biting affair, to say the least, with each offering being rather closely similar to the other. Both the Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata feature an inline-4 engine unit mated to a CVT setup and a front-wheel drivetrain, as the 2016 Nissan Altima. The only way to distinguish between the vehicles is how the engines have been tuned. The 2016 Sonata produces the highest power output, however, to the brand's surprise it does not translate into brute performance.
2016 Nissan Altima Acceleration
While the 2016 Nissan Altima is still a family sedan, there's only that much excitement this mid-size sedan delivers. When it comes to outright performance, the Nissan Altima can sprint from 0-60 mph in about 7.7 seconds, which gets reduced to 6.1 seconds with the bigger V6 engine. The quarter-mile sprint comes in 15.1 seconds and the Altima manages to record a top speed of 130 MPH, making it both the quickest and fastest sedan in the segment.
Model |
Nissan Altima |
Toyota Camry |
Hyundai Sonata |
0-60 MPH
|
7.7 sec
|
8.0 sec
|
8.0 sec
|
Quarter-Mile
|
15.1 sec
|
16.2 sec
|
15.5 sec
|
Top Speed
|
130 MPH
|
112 MPH
|
N/A
|
In comparison, the Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata both take around 8 seconds to hit 60 mph from 0 while the quarter-mile is reached in 16.2 and 15.5 seconds respectively. Despite lower power and torque outputs, the Toyota Camry puts up quite the fight in the segment.
2016 Nissan Altima Ride and Handling
The 2016 Nissan Altima 2.5 has been reworked to offer an improved compression ratio of 10.3:1. Even the new D-step CVT borrowed from Nissan Murano and Nissan Maxima definitely feels a lot less noisy under stress now. That hasn't caused any performance improvement, but the cabin certainly feels a lot quieter than before. Nissan says they've even stiffened the suspension of the 2016 Altima to offer a more composed ride while the steering wheel has also been recalibrated to offer a better feel and feedback.
With a responsive transmission and engine setup, the 2016 Nissan Altima upholds its authentic ride quality, which may not be the best in the segment, but surely feels relaxed and comfortable. The only problem that the Altima will face is how it performs on rough terrains and uneven patches of road. While not overly concerning, passengers might feel a jolt or two when treading over unfavorable driving conditions.
2016 Nissan Altima Braking
The 2016 Nissan Altima's braking capabilities cannot be accurately determined. However, with adequately sized brakes of 11.7 and 11.5 inches for the front and the rear respectively alongside an average curb weight of 3,197 lbs, the Altima is expected to perform appreciably.
Model |
Nissan Altima |
Toyota Camry |
Hyundai Sonata |
Brake front (in.)
|
11.7 |
11.7 |
12 |
Brake rear (in.) |
11.5 |
11 |
11.2 |
Curb Weight |
3,197 |
3,300 |
3,252 |
60-0 mph (ft.) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Like the 2016 Nissan Altima, the braking statistics of the Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata are also not known. However, the Hyundai Sonata features the largest set of brakes in the segment and will perform consistently, if tested.
Also Read:
- 2022 Nissan Altima Preview: Release Date, Specs, Features, Interior, Colors, Facelift, and Rivals
- 2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Toyota Camry