2005 Nissan Altima Driving Impressions
It's the V6 that turns the Altima into a true sports sedan, especially when paired with the five-speed manual transmission. Nissan's V6 is one of the best available from anyone anywhere. Slam the throttle down, either from a stop or at 40 mph, and the Altima will take off like a rocket. There's so much power that you'll notice some torque steer, even with the automatic, though it's not an issue. (Torque steer is a phenomenon common to powerful front-wheel-drive cars that causes a tug at the steering wheel under hard acceleration.) When equipped with the V6, the Altima is arguably the best performer among mid-sized sedans, and among the most fun to drive. This is essentially the same 3.5-liter V6 used in the Nissan 350Z and Maxima. It features the latest in high-output, variable-valve technology, producing 250 horsepower at 5800 rpm and 249 pound-feet of torque at 4400 rpm, a slight increase (5 horsepower, 3 pound-feet) over last year's model. Though certainly not raucous, Nissan's V6 isn't quite as smooth as those from Honda and Toyota, but you may have so much fun driving the Altima that you'll neither notice nor care.
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