2021 Nissan Altima

2021 Nissan Altima combines advanced tech, class-above styling and available Intelligent All-Wheel Drive to bring excitement to mid-size sedan segment

Totally redesigned just two years ago, the 2021 Altima continues as a standard for mid-size sedan design. As the annual top-seller in Nissan's dynamic, refreshed sedan lineup, the 2021 Altima offers the most extensive range of models and grade levels among them – with two engines, front-wheel or Intelligent All-Wheel Drive and five well-equipped grade levels.
Like the all-new-for-2020 Versa and Sentra, as well as the flagship Maxima, Altima brings an exceptional level of advanced Nissan Intelligent Mobility technology to its segment – including available Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, ProPILOT Assist1 and Nissan Safety Shield 360 technologies.




A revised model lineup now includes nine models: S FWD, SV FWD, SV AWD, SR FWD, SR AWD, SL FWD, SL AWD, Platinum AWD and SR VC-T FWD.

Sporty exterior, premium interior
The 2021 Altima features an athletic stance and low, wide proportions – thanks in part to the use of two low-profile engine designs. The result is a sleek, sophisticated look and a coefficient of drag of just 0.26.



A range of nine available exterior colors includes Scarlet Ember Tintcoat (premium color), Sunset Drift ChromaFlair® (premium color), Brilliant Silver Metallic, Gun Metallic, Super Black, Pearl White TriCoat (premium color), Glacier White, Deep Blue Pearl and Storm Blue Metallic.

Inside, the 2021 Altima interior offers a near-luxury feel in both design and materials – marked by the lightweight, layered and more horizontal 'gliding wing' instrument panel and high-contrast colors and trim.

The uplifting interior design also offers a high level of comfort, convenience and connectivity features – including available 7.0-inch Advanced Drive Assist Display, NASA-inspired Zero Gravity seat design with dual-density foam and added bolstering for improved holding and support, available perforated leather-appointed seat inserts, remote engine start2 and available 8-way driver's seat with memory.

The Altima's selection of audio and infotainment choices include a Bose® Premium Audio system with nine speakers, including a digital amplifier with eight channels of custom equalization. Active Noise Cancellation is available on SR models equipped with the 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine.

In addition to available Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ and 8.0-inch multi-touch color display, every 2021 Altima comes equipped with standard, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, Streaming Audio via Bluetooth®, Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant, and Siri® Eyes Free voice recognition.

Available NissanConnect® Services powered by SiriusXM® (Sirius/XM® subscription required, sold separately) provides compatible smartphone and smartwatch access to features, such as Remote Engine Start/Stop, Remote Door Lock/Únlock, Valet Alert and more. Additionally, certain remote features are accessible through the NissanConnect Services Amazon Alexa Skill and Google Assistant Action.

Nissan Intelligent Mobility: ProPILOT Assist leads the way
When it comes to enhancing driving enjoyment, the 2021 Altima once again stands alone with Nissan's advanced ProPILOT Assist. Únique in the class, ProPILOT Assist1 eases driver workload by reducing the amount of driver acceleration, steering and braking input under certain driving conditions, such as single-lane highway driving.

ProPILOT Assist utilizes a forward-facing camera, forward-facing radar, sensors and an electronic control module to help the driver stay in the center of the driving lane and to maintain vehicle speed (set by the driver) or help maintain a gap to the preceding vehicle if the vehicle speed drops below the driver-set speed. It also can slow the vehicle to a complete stop and hold the vehicle during traffic jam conditions. ProPILOT Assist is standard on Altima SL and Platinum grades and optionally available on SV.

Another key Nissan Intelligent Mobility technology is Safety Shield 3603, which helps provide front, side and rear safety monitoring and intervention technologies. Safety Shield 360 includes Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Rear Automatic Braking, Lane Departure Warning, radar-based Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and High Beam Assist. It is standard on SV, SR, SL and Platinum grades and optional on S.

The range of Altima safety and convenience features also includes standard Automatic Emergency Braking, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning and Intelligent Driver Alertness4 on all grades.

Traffic Sign Recognition5, standard on SL and Platinum grades, provides drivers with the most recent speed limit information detected by a camera unit located on the windshield in front of the inside rearview mirror. In addition, Intelligent Around View® Monitor6, which utilizes four small superwide-angle cameras mounted on the front, side and rear of the vehicle to provide a 'bird's eye' virtual 360° view of objects around the vehicle, is standard on the Altima Platinum grade6.

Available Intelligent All-Wheel Drive
In response to the desires of buyers across all market regions, the 2021 Altima features available Intelligent All-Wheel Drive – the first AWD system offered on a Nissan sedan in the Ú.S.

The AWD system is available in four trim levels equipped with the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine – standard on Platinum and offered on SV, SR and SL grades. The system uses an advanced torque split control strategy that automatically redistributes torque to the wheels (0:100 front up to 50:50 front-to-rear) according to road and driving conditions.7

In addition, cooperative control between the AWD torque distribution, brake limited slip differential and Hill Start Assist optimizes performance on hills starts and rough roads – adding to the sense of confidence and driving pleasure under a range of driving scenarios.

Advanced Variable Compression Turbo engine
For 2021, Altima again offers the choice of two powerplants, including the world's first production variable compression turbo inline 4-cylinder. The 2.0-liter VC-Turbo, which generates the performance of some V6 gasoline engines but with 4-cylinder level fuel economy, is available exclusively with the Altima SR front-wheel drive.

The VC-Turbo's technology continuously transforms the engine characteristics, providing both dynamic and efficient performance. It seamlessly changes its compression ratio between 8:1 (for high performance) and 14:1 (for high efficiency) – with an advanced multi-link system continuously raising or lowering the pistons' reach to transform the compression ratio. Compared with the previous generation Altima's 3.5-liter V6 engine, the 2.0-liter VC-Turbo requires less space in the engine bay. The engine delivers 236 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque (regular unleaded fuel).

The VC-Turbo engine utilizes both multi-point injection and Nissan's Direct Injection Gasoline system to balance efficiency and power in all conditions. When equipped with the VC-Turbo, a meter in the standard 7.0-inch Advanced Drive Assist Display lets the driver see, as well as feel, the control state of this world-first technology while driving.

Fuel economy8 for the 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine is rated at 25 mpg city, 34 mpg highway and 29 mpg combined – a 15% increase over the previous Altima 3.5-liter V6 (combined fuel economy).

Also available is an advanced 2.5-liter DOHC inline 4-cylinder direct injection engine, which is rated at 188 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque FWD (182 hp/178 lb-ft AWD). The engine, introduced in the 2019 Altima, features 80% new or redesigned parts (versus the previous generation 2.5-liter design).

More than just the gains in horsepower and torque, the engine offers improvements in noise, vibration and harshness, along with enhanced fuel economy and cleaner emissions. It also has a lower profile through adoption of a 'reverse' cylinder head with integrated exhaust manifold and low engine mounting into the platform's engine bay for quieter operation. The 2.5-liter engine is assembled in Decherd, Tennessee.

Fuel economy8 for the 2.5-liter engine is rated at 28 mpg city, 39 mpg highway and 32 mpg combined for front-wheel drive S, SV and SL models and 27 mpg city, 37 mpg highway and 31 mpg combined for front-wheel drive SR model.

Fuel economy8 for Altima 2.5-liter AWD models is rated at 26 mpg city, 36 mpg highway and 30 mpg combined for all-wheel drive SV and SL models and 25 mpg city, 35 mpg highway and 29 mpg combined for all-wheel drive SR and Platinum models.

All 2021 Altima models, including both engine configurations, come equipped with a standard Xtronic transmission. (posted on conceptcarz.com) Paddle shifters are available with the Altima SR grade.

Dynamic performance and chassis control
Along with the all-weather traction offered by the all-wheel drive system, all 2021 Altima vehicles benefit from a range of enhanced suspension, steering and chassis control systems (versus the previous generation). Key suspension changes include monotube rear shocks, added suspension reinforcements to improve vehicle response without impacting harshness, and suspension geometry adjustments to improve steering feedback.

The steering system features a dual-pinion electric power steering design, which reduces steering effort at low speeds for ease of driving. Effort is increased at higher speeds for improved feedback and control. Altima includes an available advanced Integrated Dynamics Module. It includes two unique systems – Intelligent Ride Control and Intelligent Trace Control – similar to those found on the flagship Nissan Maxima sedan. (concept carz)

Three wheel and tire size combinations are available – 16-inch, 17-inch and 19-inch. The Altima SR grade features unique suspension and chassis tuning for a sportier ride and handling.

A range of advanced models
The 2021 Altima is offered in five trim levels – S, SV, SR, SL and Platinum. All five come equipped with the standard 2.5-liter engine. All grades except S are available with Intelligent All-Wheel Drive. In addition, Altima SR is available with the advanced 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine (front-wheel drive only).

Altima S includes standard Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Assist, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Driver Alertness, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, Rear View Monitor, 7-inch color touch-screen audio display, Remote Engine Start, 6-way power driver's seat, 60/40 split-folding rear seat, Rear Door Alert, Hill Start Assist and more.

Altima SV features 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, NissanConnect with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, 8.0-inch color display with multi-touch control, SiriusXM Radio (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately), 8-way power driver's seat LED projector headlights with signature LED Daylight Running Lights, 7.0-inch Advanced Drive Assist Display, Rear Automatic Braking, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, rear sonar system and more.

Altima SR grade models add 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, unique rear diffuser color, sport suspension (FWD only), sport interior with sport seat, paddle shifters, leather-appointed steering wheel, dark chrome V-motion grille, exhaust finishers, black side mirror caps and body colored door handles.

The Altima SR 2.0-liter VC Turbo also includes heated outside mirrors with LED turn signals, heated front seats and 2-way driver power lumbar support.

Additional features found on the Altima SL grade include ProPILOT Assist, electronic parking brake with auto-hold, leather-appointed seating, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, Bose® Premium Sound System with nine speakers, moonroof, acoustic front door glass, NissanConnect with Nissan Door to Door Navigation, NissanConnect Services powered by SiriusXM (SiriusXM subscription required, sold separately), Traffic Sign Recognition, LED fog lights, 4-way power passenger seat, heated outside mirrors with LED turn signals, power front windows with one-touch auto-up/down and auto reverse feature, 2-way power lumbar, Remote Engine Start with Intelligent Climate Control, rear console HVAC vents ,Dual Zone Auto Climate Control and more.

Finally, the fully equipped Altima Platinum includes 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, Intelligent Around View® Monitor, interior accent lighting, driver memory seat and mirrors function, auto-dimming rearview mirror and HomeLink® Úniversal Transceiver.

Three option packages are available. The Driver Assistance Package (S grade) features Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Automatic Braking and Rear Sonar System.

The SV Premium Package includes single panel moonroof, outside mirrors with LED turn signal indicators, heated front seats, 2-way driver power lumbar, leather steering wheel, leather shift knob, ProPILOT Assist with steering assist and Intelligent Cruise Control with Full Speed Range and Hold, electronic parking brake with auto-hold, Intelligent Lane Intervention and exhaust finishers

Finally, the SR Premium Package includes single panel moonroof, heated outside mirrors with LED turn signal indicators, heated front seats and 2-way driver power lumbar.

Source - Nissan