The sixth-generation Nissan Altima makes its debut at the New York Auto Show with bold new styling and several new firsts like available ProPILOT Assist , all-wheel-drive and the ground breaking variable compression turbo engine.
All-new from the ground up, the 2019 Nissan Altima takes its bold styling cues from the V-Motion concept car of last year, showing the most prominent version of the brand’s V-Motion grill design language yet.
The new Altima is sleeker looking because it’s over an inch lower in height, it grows an inch longer, and almost an inch wider. Wheelbase is up 1.9-inches and overhangs are shorter. This translates to a more athletic stance that’s evident just by looking at it.
Looking at it from the rear you see a lot of design details that speaks of its larger brother Maxima in the slimmer LED tail lights and its floating roof design with slim pillars. Depending on trim grade, the Altima will be available with wheel sizes starting with 16-inch up to the 19-inch alloys you see here.
Inside, the 2019 Nissan Altima gets richer design details laid out in a simpler and sleeker look. In top trim grades, stitched soft touch materials surround the driver including the console. The dash itself has a more horizontal design that creates a sense of more space.
The centerpiece of its cabin is a new floating touchscreen infotainment system display that will offer a variety of technologies and functionalities including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and even Apple Watch, Android Wear, and Amazon Alexa Skill compatibility.
Powering the 2019 Nissan Altima are two new engines. Standard is a brand new 2.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder with 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. While the same size as before, the engine is 80% new and is quite different in its configuration.
The big news for 2019 is the VC Turbo engine which will replace the old 3.5-liter VQ V6. The ground-breaking turbocharged four-cylinder engine that first made its debut in the Infiniti QX50 will offer 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque.
The engine’s multi-link crank and rod leverage system can change its compression ratio on the fly from 8:1 to 14:1. This allows for two different engine personalities, a high compression for cruising fuel efficiency and low compression for the aggressive tune of high performance driving – and everything in between. Both engines will be mated to a continuously variable transmission.
With front-wheel-drive being standard, the 2019 Nissan Altima will for the first time offer all-wheel-drive with the 2.5-liter engine. Designed for better traction in all-weather conditions, the system can vary power up to 50:50 front-to-rear automatically.
While the chassis platform is more evolutionary than revolutionary, new suspension geometry and shock absorber configurations along with additional bracing in the floorboards help to refine handling a bit. A new dual-pinion electric power steering design system promises increased feel and less noise in the passenger compartment.
Lastly, the 2019 Nissan Altima will offer standard ProPILOT Assist on trim grades SV and above. The semi-autonomous driving system can assist the driver by reducing the amount of driver input required in some driving situations. With a camera and radar sensors it can help you stay centered in your lane, automatically manage the stop-and-go in traffic, and follow a vehicle ahead at a set speed.
The 2019 Nissan Altima will go on sale this fall with a limited-production launch edition to be available for ordering this summer. More information on pricing and final specs will be along closer to that time.
