2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV Driven Review

When Colin Chapman famously said, "Add lightness,", I'm pretty sure he wasn't talking about his expectations for made-in-America Japanese midsize sedans. Chapman, the founder of Lotus, designed British sports cars which handled like sweet dreams, steered like sunny spring days, and sold like houses with green carpet in the bathrooms. 

The 2013 Nissan Altima isn't a Lotus, thank goodness. It would be nice if the fifth-generation Altima handled like a Lotus, of course. But if the Altima was a Lotus, it would have a lot of exposed metal inside. It probably wouldn't have a rear seat. Safety features would be sorely lacking. And it would be seriously overpriced in North America.

Strange as it may sound, the Nissan Altima does have something in common with the cars from Hethel. In 2.5 SV trim, the Nissan Altima weighs less than the equivalent Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, and Toyota Camry, the four midsize sedans which now sell more often than the Altima in Canada. 

More importantly, the current Altima weighs less than its predecessor. A diet that resulted in nearly 80 fewer pounds definitely fits with the Chapman doctrine - lightness has been added. Consequently, benefits have been reaped.

In concert with improved aerodynamics and a rejigged continuously variable transmission, the addition of lightness has dramatically improved the rate at which the four-cylinder Altima consumes fuel. In fact, aside from hybrids and diesels, the EPA says no Altima rival drinks less. Indeed, Nissan's two smaller sedans can actually drink more.

In the real world, after taking modern safety constraints and equipment expectations into account, can a 2.5L-powered midsize sedan actually be considered efficient? A 2013 Altima SV was sent to the east coast of Nova Scotia so the matter could be investigated.

IT'S BIG
Nissan Canada had their big black sedan delivered to GCBC's small driveway a couple weekends ago, and it fit. The Altima is 16 feet long, more than a foot longer than it was twenty years ago. It's nearly half a foot wider, too, and it's seven inches taller. So-called "midsize" sedans are mighty large these days. Fortunately, those vast exterior dimensions pay off inside. Out back, the Altima has space for two to lounge, enough space for three people who aren't chubby. 

Up front, there are acres of floor space. It's easy to see why cars this big used to have a bench seat and a column shifter rather than a floor shifter and the capacity for 27 mobile phones in multiple compartments.

All Photo Credits:  Steffani Cain ©www.GoodCarBadCar.net

2013 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SV Price (CDN): $26,998-$27,898 Engine: 2.5L DOHC 16-valve I-4 Transmission: CVT Horsepower: 182 @ 6000 rpm Torque: 180 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm Curb Weight: 3169 pounds Drive Type: front-wheel-drive Length: 191.5 inches Width: 72 inches Height: 57.9 inches Wheelbase: 109.3 inches Passenger Volume: 2885 litres Cargo Volume: 436 litres EPA City: 27 mpg EPA Highway: 38 mpg Observed: 32.2 mpg Observed: 7.3 L/100km

Space and comfort don't necessarily go hand in hand. How my back responds to the Altima's driver's seat and how yours does won't always correlate, but I can't deny that this seat presented me with a challenge. Right in the space where I expect lumbar support, it's almost concave. Yet for those who find the Altima's seats comfortable, it's hard to imagine they'll find fault with this car's interior, particularly if it was dark-coloured rather than beige like our test car. 

The control layout is simple, enjoyably so. Materials feel nice. I'm not suggesting that the Altima feels like an Infiniti, but it certainly feels as though the chosen materials cover parts of the structure that were joined together properly. Visibility is very good. For a car that costs $27,000 CDN (plus $900 for navigation), content levels are appropriate, especially as history suggests this car will be available with interest-free financing before long. 

This latest Altima looks the part outside. Classy use of chrome helps with this. The grille is ordinary but it uses width to make a statement. The 17-inch alloys fill the wheel arches in a way the Chevrolet Malibu's wheels never have. The new Altima isn't gorgeous, but it's on the good-looking side of inoffensive.


IT STEERS

One assumes that a new car buyer who cares passionately about driving isn't looking at cars in this category. Nevertheless, the Altima was much more composed when I pushed it hard than its comfort-oriented low-speed behaviour led me to believe it would be. The CVT never intruded the way CVTs used to; its only fault being felt at low revs when there was a distinct lugging, like a low-torque manual-trans car left in too high a gear. Once on the move, the CVT was better than many automatics. 

The Altima's steering, however, is just plain weird. There is very little ability for the Altima's steering wheel to return to centre on its own. It also features the exact opposite of communication; not just a lack of feel, but something that honestly feels like a deliberate attempt to cover up what communication there may be. I despise this, but consumers love isolation, so Nissan's giving consumers what they want.

The odd steering is the only thing holding back the Altima from actually being a bit fun, as the suspension setup provides a very enjoyable ride and handling balance, no doubt assisted by the car's low curb weight. Again in part because of the Altima's low weight, there's sufficient power without optioning up to the guzzling V6. Perhaps a quiet, stylish, comfortable, mainstream midsize sedan that's fun to hustle in every way is too much to ask.

IT'S NOT A ROGUE
Pleasant cars with positive name recognition are generally successful. The problem with this theory? In Canada, when Canadians want to spend $27,000 on a family car, they buy a CR-V, not an Accord. They buy a RAV4, not a Camry. They buy an Equinox, not a Malibu. Santa Fes; not Sonatas. Escapes; not Fusions. Journeys; not Avengers. And Rogues; not Altimas. Like a CR-V or a Santa Fe or the best-selling Escape, the Rogue offers a measure of flexibility that an Altima, even with its rear seats folded, simply can't muster. Plus available all-wheel-drive. Plus the lofty ride height we've all come to love.

Even so, these midsize sedans remain worthy of consideration for two main reasons, the Altima as much or more so than its rivals. Rest assured, although the Altima is most definitely not a BMW 335i, it corners in ways the Rogue can't understand. EPA ratings also say the Rogue will use almost as much fuel on the highway as the Altima will in the city. Those numbers, which translate to 10.2/8.4 L/100km for the front-wheel-drive Rogue and 8.7/6.2 L/100km for the Altima, didn't seem believable at first. The Rogue's do, but the Altima's? 

IT SIPS
The 2013 Nissan Altima uses a version of the Rogue's 2.5L four-cylinder, but with 182 horsepower, not 170. It obviously eats up less air than the Rogue once they're on the move. Also, the Altima's CVT is most definitely oriented toward economy.

While in GoodCarBadCar's keeping, the Altima was driven almost exclusively in the city. Granted, some of that city driving involved low-speed highway work through the middle of Dartmouth. During that week, the Altima used 7.3 litres of fuel for every 100 kilometres of driving - 32.2 miles per gallon in EPA speak. 

That's not miraculous - there are plenty of other cars that use less fuel. But in such a normal car, 32 mpg is pretty awesome. It's also quite a bit better than what you'll get in any current Lotus.

THE GOOD Fuel efficiency It's big Classy styling Low weight

THE BAD Odd steering CVT lugs a bit Front seats It's big

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Historical Monthly & Yearly Nissan Altima Sales Figures
2013 Buick Verano Turbo Driven Review
2012 Chevrolet Cruze LT Turbo Driven Review
2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T Limited Driven Review

2012 Year End Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In The United Kingdom

The Ford Fiesta once again ended a calendar year as the best-selling car in the United Kingdom. In 2012, not only did the Fiesta post a 14% year-over-year increase in UK registrations, it overcame last year's decline to record a 6% improvement compared to 2010.

Qashqai Sales Jumped 16% After
Rising 1% In 2011 And 51% In 2010

In second spot, the Vauxhall Corsa posted the second-best year-over-year increase among the ten most popular cars in the United Kingdom. The Ford Focus fell from second spot in last year's rankings to third this year; Vauxhall's Astra moved up from fifth to fourth; and the Volkswagen Golf did the opposite. 

Nissan's 16% jump in Qashqai registrations was best of the bunch. The Qashqai, assembled in the north of England by workers in Sunderland, accounts for 43% of all Nissans sold in the UK. 

After trailing much of the year, the BMW brand took over from Audi as the best-selling premium brand in the United Kingdom by outselling Audi by 5389 units in December 2012. The 3-Series and 1-Series obviously played the largest roles in that event. The two small BMWs are responsible for six out of every ten BMW registrations in the UK.

These were the ten most frequently registered cars in the United Kingdom in the year 2012. These ten best-selling cars combined to account for 30% of the new vehicles sold in 2012 in the United Kingdom.

Rank	Best-Selling Car	2012	2011	% Change
#1	Ford Fiesta	109,265	96,112	+ 13.7%
#2	Vauxhall Corsa	89,434	77,751	+ 15.0%
#3	Ford Focus	83,115	81,832	+ 1.6%
#4	Vauxhall Astra	63,023	62,575	+ 0.7%
#5	Volkswagen Golf	62,021	63,368	- 2.1%
#6	Nissan Qashqai	45,675	39,406	+ 15.9%
#7	BMW 3-Series	44,521	42,471	+ 4.8%
#8	Volkswagen Polo	41,901	45,992	- 8.9%
#9	Mercedes-Benz C-Class	37,261	n/a	n/a
#10	BMW 1-Series	34,488	n/a	n/a

Source: MTI & SMMT

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net

Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In The UK - 2011 Year End
Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In The UK - 2010 Year End

Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In The UK - December 2012
UK Auto Sales Brand Rankings - 2012 Year End

Top 25 Best-Selling Cars In America - 2012 Year End

December 2012 Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In The United Kingdom

The 1-Series They Can Buy In
Cheshire Isn't The Same As The
1-Series You Can Buy In Chicago

The rankings of the ten most frequently registered cars in the United Kingdom were quite a bit different in December 2012 than in the prior month. 

The usual best seller, Ford's Fiesta, was not the best-selling car for the second consecutive month, and in fact, dropped all the way to third spot as registrations dipped 8% compared to December of last year.

This enabled not only the Ford Focus, but Vauxhall's Astra, to overtake the Fiesta in December. Ford reported a 30% increase in Focus registrations. Year-to-date, the growth achieved by the Focus, Astra, and Volkswagen Golf was well below the industry's 5% improvement. Indeed, Golf sales dipped 2%.

GoodCarBadCar.net has also posted the 2012 year end best-selling cars list for the United Kingdom. Many of these cars remain, but the most British among them does not.

Rank	Best-Selling Car	December 2012	% Change	Year To Date	YTD % Change
#1	Ford Focus	5265	+ 30.1%	83,115	+ 1.6%
#2	Vauxhall Astra	5112	+ 5.3%	63,023	+ 0.7%
#3	Ford Fiesta	4977	- 8.0%	109,265	+ 13.7%
#4	Vauxhall Corsa	4510	- 14.2%	89,434	+ 15.0%
#5	BMW 1-Series	3196	n/a	34,488	n/a
#6	BMW 3-Series	3181	n/a	44,521	+ 4.8%
#7	Mini	3143	+ 16.1%	n/a	n/a
#8	Nissan Qashqai	2840	+ 10.1%	45,675	+ 15.9%
#9	Volkswagen Golf	2556	- 36.6%	62,021	- 2.1%
#10	Volkswagen Polo	2500	- 8.8%	41,901	- 8.9%

Source: Manufacturers & SMMT
Red font indicates year-over-year declining sales 
* Mini refers to all non-Countryman Minis

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In The UK - 2012 Year End
Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In The UK - November 2012
Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In Canada - December 2011
UK Auto Sales Brand Rankings - December 2012
Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - December 2012

2013's The Bad 8 - Nissan Versa Sedan

NISSAN VERSA SEDAN

Usually, car segments are defined by size or status. Sometimes they're called subcompact, compact, midsize, or large. Other times they're labelled as A-segment, B-segment, C-segment, or D-segment. There are cars, SUVs, crossovers, pickup trucks, convertibles, roadsters, supercars, sports cars, and grand tourers. 

There is another way of categorizing vehicles. A newer, better, simpler way. 

Start with the beautiful good cars. Then there are good cars. Third, there are beautiful cars. These are followed by the beautiful bad cars, the bad cars, and the afterthoughts, also known as the nondescript cars.

Finally, there are ugly good cars, ugly cars, and ugly bad cars. Those middle groups - the cars that are either beautiful, ugly, or just good - make up the majority of nameplates currently on the market. Rarer is the car that is both beautiful and good, the car that is ugly and good, and, as is the case here, the car that is ugly and bad.

Not only is the Nissan Versa sedan an odd duck to look at, it's curiously awful in other ways, as well. A bit uglier than the plain first-generation Versa sedan, this second-gen car is no more exciting in any other way. It's still laden with Nissan's worst CVT application and it's still poorly equipped compared to rivals at Hyundai and Kia. The Versa's steering is wooden. Cornering isn't a pleasant task. The Versa's engine will have you wishing you didn't have to accelerate.

It doesn't have to be this way. Some subcompacts are plenty swift. Others are handsome. The Honda Fit is more spacious. So if a bad driving experience, an inadequate interior, and an ugly exterior can be avoided, there's no reason to consider a car from the UBC class.

-----

Alternatives: Every other subcompact, particularly the hatchbacks, from the Chevrolet Sonic to the Hyundai Accent to the Ford Fiesta and Good 12-winning Kia Rio.

Base USD/CAD Price: $11,990 / $11,878

It Sucks, But... It mostly sucks, but it is ridiculously spacious.

Sales Stats: The Versa sedan is half of Nissan's Versa lineup. It's America's best-selling subcompact and Canada's third-best-selling subcompact.

The Good 12

Kia Rio 5-Door - Fiat 500 Turbo - Volkswagen Golf GTI
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - Dodge Ram - BMW 328i
Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - Chevrolet Suburban -
Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic Wagon - Porsche Boxster S - 
Porsche Cayenne S - Land Rover Range Rover

The Bad 8

Chevrolet Spark - Chrysler 200 Convertible -
Ford Escape Titanium AWD - Honda Crosstour - 
Lincoln MKS - Nissan Versa Sedan -
Toyota Corolla CE - Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid

The Bad 8 Rules

November 2012 Top 10 Worst-Selling Vehicles In Canada

The First Cayman Could've Been A 911
Beater On Track, But Never In The Showroom

While forgiveness is owed the Porsche Cayman for its poor sales performance this year, even the dawn of a second-generation Cayman is unlikely to provide great assistance to Porsche Canada.

Not that Porsche Canada needs much assistance. In the first three quarters of 2012 Porsche sold more new vehicles in Canada than in its best full calendar year ever. Which happened to be last year, 2011. And during this best ever year for Porsche, only 92 Caymans have been registered; only 88 were sold in the first three quarters. 

Incidentally, during the Cayman's best year ever, its first year on sale, it only accounted for 15.4% of all Porsche Canada sales. (That same year, 2006, was the Cayman's best U.S. sales year on record and it accounted for 20.5% of Porsche USA sales.) As you gratefully recall, the Panamera wasn't part of Porsche's lineup in 2006, and the Cayman represented 25% of all Porsche nameplates.

If in its best ever year the Cayman was responsible for significantly less than its fair share of Porsche sales, does the new Cayman have a chance at pumping out Boxster-like volume? It seems unlikely. However, Porsche will likely sell more than one new Cayman in November 2013, and the company should have no trouble outselling its own November 2011 Cayman total, too.

This foreword leads us to Canada's 10 worst-selling cars in November 2012. The Cayman was the worst, indeed, whether you're measuring by poor total sales or by year-over-year decrease. This isn't surprising. Dealers have been waiting for the new Cayman for months and have hardly had any Caymans to sell while waiting.

Not only were three of Canada's 10 worst year-over-year decreases reported by Nissan, so were the next two, Canada's 11th and 12th-worst-selling vehicles. 370Z sales dropped 56.3%, as you'll see in the second table, and Juke sales fell 52.3% to 256. The 18th-ranked vehicle was the Nissan Murano, sales of which fell 45.1% to 236 and the 27th-worst-selling vehicle was the Infiniti G, sales of which dropped 41.9% to 144.

All 261 Vehicles Ranked By November 2012 YTD Canadian Sales

Fortunately for Nissan (and Porsche), other models picked up most or all of the slack. Porsche sold 156 more vehicles in November 2012 than in November 2011, a 164% year-over-year jump. Nissan sales fell 8.1% in a year in which sales are down 2.5%, but new models like the Pathfinder and Sentra reported huge increases. All brands were ranked by total November volume a week ago.

Canada's worst-selling vehicles in November 2012 are ranked three different ways in the tables below. Historical monthly and yearly sales figures for any of these models can always be found by accessing GCBC's Sales Stats dropdown menu.

Rank	Worst-Selling Car  By Percentage Decline	% Change	November 2012	November 2011
#1	Porsche Cayman	- 85.7%	1	7
#2	Nissan Leaf	- 83.3%	7	42
#3	Nissan Quest	- 78.8%	35	165
#4	Audi R8	- 75.0%	4	16
#5	Honda CR-Z	- 66.7%	6	18
#6	Lincoln MKZ	- 60.8%	31	79
#7	Volkswagen Routan	- 60.3%	23	58
#8	Scion tC	- 60.2%	86	216
#9	Volvo XC90	- 59.3%	22	54
#10	Nissan Cube	- 56.5%	20	46

Rank	Worst-Selling Car  By Volume	November 2012	November 2011	% Change
#1	Honda CR-Z	6	18	- 66.7%
#2	Nissan Leaf	7	42	- 83.3%
#3	Nissan 370Z	7	16	- 56.3%
#4	Mitsubishi i MiEV	8	7	+ 14.3%
#5	Mazda MX-5 Miata	14	19	- 26.3%
#6	Honda Insight	18	4	+ 350%
#7	Nissan Cube	20	46	- 56.5%
#8	Toyota Avalon	21	42	- 50.0%
#9	Volkswagen Routan	23	58	- 60.3%
#10	Subaru Tribeca	31	41	- 24.4%

Rank	Worst-Selling Car  By Volume (All Vehicles)	November 2012	November 2011	% Change
#1	Porsche Cayman	1	7	- 85.7%
#2	Acura RL	3	-----	-----
#3	Audi R8	4	16	- 75.0%
T4	Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG	5	9	- 44.4%
T4	Nissan GT-R	5	7	- 28.6%
T4	Volvo S80	5	7	- 28.6%
#7	Honda CR-Z	6	18	- 66.7%
#8	Nissan Leaf	7	42	- 83.3%
#9	Nissan 370Z	7	16	- 56.3%
#10	Mitsubishi i MiEV	8	7	+ 14.3%

Source: Manufacturers & ANDC 
Vehicle must have been on sale in November, must not have been officially cancelled by its manufacturer, and must have been showcased on manufacturer's website in 2012.

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Top 10 Worst-Selling Vehicles In Canada - December 2012
Top 10 Worst-Selling Cars In Canada - October 2012
Top 10 Worst-Selling Cars In Canada - November 2011
Top 30 Best-Selling Vehicles In Canada - November 2012

November 2012 Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In The United Kingdom

Clear and bright like a winter's day in Dover Denver, Colorado, is the obvious way in which the United Kingdom's new vehicle market bears no resemblance to the North American market. The Ford Fiesta is the UK's best-selling car this year, as it was last year, but in the United States, the Fiesta is the 72nd-best-selling vehicle.

Need more evidence? Consider the fact that three of the nameplates on this list of the UK's 10 best-selling cars in November aren't even available in North America. 

Ford UK also sells a three-door Fiesta but doesn't sell the ugly Fiesta sedan. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is still available as a wagon, or rather an estate, in the United Kingdom. 

All of these cars can (and regularly are) purchased with diesel powerplants. And of the seven nameplates on this list which are on sale in North America, only one is sold here with a diesel engine: the Volkswagen Golf.

Monthly & Yearly North American Ford Fiesta Sales Figures

Of course, the Golf, sales of which rose 5% to 5165 units in November, can be had in the UK with a 168-horsepower diesel. In North America, diesel bhp tops out at 140. The Golf is America's 90th-best-selling vehicle, trailing the Mini, Fiat 500, Dodge Challenger, BMW X5, and Toyota Venza. 

This list presents the 10 most popular cars in the United Kingdom from November 2012. Just as many of these cars posted huge year-over-year gains last month, the SMMT says the UK's overall market posted a 11.3% increase in November and is up 5.4% to 1.9 million sales through the first eleven months of 2012.

Rank	Best-Selling Car	November 2012	% Change	Year To Date	YTD % Change
#1	Ford Focus	7495	+ 52.6%	77,850	+ 0.08%
#2	Ford Fiesta	7483	+ 20.8%	104,288	+ 15.0%
#3	Vauxhall Corsa	6164	+ 17.8%	84,924	+ 17.1%
#4	Volkswagen Golf	5165	+ 4.9%	59,465	+ 2.2%
#5	Vauxhall Astra	5032	+ 11.4%	57,911	+ 0.3%
#6	Nissan Qashqai	3403	+ 3.9%	42,835	+ 16.3%
#7	BMW 3-Series	3238	+ 11.7%	41,340	+ 2.8%
#8	BMW 1-Series	3135	n/a	31,292	n/a
#9	Mercedes-Benz C-Class	2901	+ 14.2%	35,328	n/a
#10	Mini	2787	n/a	n/a	n/a

Source: Manufacturers, MTI & SMMT
Red font indicates year-over-year declining sales 
* Mini refers to non-Countryman Minis. Mini UK sold 1637 Countrymans in November.

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In America - December 2012
Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In The UK - October 2012
Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In The UK - November 2011
UK Auto Sales By Brand - November 2012
America's 20 Best-Selling Cars - November 2012