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Nissan Altima III 3.5 i V6 24V (248 Hp)
Overall Rating
Nissan Altima:
The Nissan Altima is a mid-size car manufactured by Nissan since 1992. It is a continuation of the Nissan Bluebird line, which began in 1955.
The Altima has historically been larger, more powerful, and more luxurious than the Nissan Sentra but less so than the Nissan Maxima. The first through fourth-generation cars were manufactured exclusively in the United States and officially sold in North and South America, along with the Middle East and Australia. For other markets, Nissan sold a related mid-size sedan called the Nissan Teana which was between the Altima and Maxima in terms of size. In 2013, the Teana became a rebadged version of the fifth-generation Altima....(Read more on Wikipedia)
III Overview:
Nissan Altima (III). With 333 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. With a weight of 1460 kg, it falls in the mid‑range. Front‑wheel drive delivers efficiency and easy handling. Acceleration is good (0–100 km/h in 7.1 s). The top speed reaches 200 km/h. A four-door car with a separate trunk, ideal for families and daily commuting. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.
The Nissan Altima III was primarily marketed in North America and was not tested by Euro NCAP. It received generally good safety ratings from US-based organizations like NHTSA and IIHS for its time.
3.5 i V6 24V (248 Hp) Verdict:
Performance Verdict
Delivers strong acceleration and robust power, making it a much more engaging drive. The V6 engine provides confident highway passing and a sportier feel compared to the base engine.
Fuel Economy
As expected for a V6, fuel economy is lower than the 2.5L, but still acceptable given the significant performance boost. It's a trade-off for power.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Spacious interior and trunk for its class
- • Strong V6 engine option (VQ35DE) offers excellent performance
- • Comfortable ride quality suitable for long journeys
- • Generally good value on the used car market
- • Distinctive styling for its era
Cons:
- • Base 2.5L engine can feel underpowered with the 4-speed automatic
- • Interior materials and build quality are not as refined as some competitors
- • Some common reliability concerns, particularly with automatic transmissions and certain engine components (e.g., QR25DE head gasket issues)
- • Road noise can be noticeable at highway speeds
- • Dated 4-speed automatic transmission in the 2.5L model
Specifications:
Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(II: 1998 - 2002).
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Nissan |
| Model: | Altima |
| Generation: | III |
| Modification (Engine): | 3.5 i V6 24V (248 Hp) |
| Start of production: | 2002 |
| End of production: | 2006 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Sedan |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 4 |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 248 Hp @ 5800 rpm. Same horsepower |
| Power per litre: | 70.9 Hp/l [200mm more] |
| Torque: | 333 Nm @ 4400 rpm. |
| Engine Model/Code: | VQ35DE More details about the engine VQ35DE |
| Engine displacement: | 3498 |
| Number of cylinders: | 6 |
| Engine configuration: | V-engine |
| Number of valves per cylinder: | 4 |
| Fuel injection system: | Multi-port manifold injection |
| Engine aspiration: | Naturally aspirated engine |
| Valvetrain: | DOHC |
| Engine oil capacity: | 4.2 l |
| Coolant: | 8.2 l |
| Engine layout: | Front, Transverse |
| Cylinder Bore: | 95.5 mm mm |
| Piston Stroke: | 81.4 mm mm |
| Compression ratio: | 10.3:1 |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Petrol (Gasoline) |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - urban: | 12.4 l/100 km |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban: | 9.1 l/100 km |
| Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h: | 7.1 sec |
| Acceleration 0 - 62 mph: | 7.1 sec |
| Maximum speed: | 200 km/h |
| Weight-to-power ratio: | 5.9 kg/Hp, 169.9 Hp/tonne |
| Weight-to-torque ratio: | 4.4 kg/Nm, 228.1 Nm/tonne |
| Acceleration 0 - 60 mph: | 6.7 sec |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight: | 1460 |
| Trunk (boot) space - minimum: | 440 l |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 76 l |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 4860 mm mm [200mm more] |
| Width: | 1790 mm mm [30mm more] |
| Height: | 1470 mm mm [50mm more] |
| Wheelbase: | 2800 mm mm [180mm more] |
| Front track: | 1550 mm |
| Rear (Back) track: | 1555 mm |
| Powertrain: | |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain Architecture | The Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the front wheels of the vehicle. |
| Drive wheel | Front wheel drive |
| Number of gears | 4 |
| Transmission type | Automatic |
| Front brakes | Ventilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.] |
| Rear brakes | Disc |
| Assisting systems | ABS (Anti-lock braking system) |
| Steering type | Steering rack and pinion |
| Power steering | Hydraulic Steering |
| Tires size | 205/65 R16 |
| Front suspension | Wishbone |
| Rear suspension | Coil spring |
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