2003 Nissan Altima - Quicker and More Refined

Last year Nissan dumped on the midsize parade with its superb Altima. It was faster and sleeker than anything else in the category, and garnered strong sales, as well as horsepower bragging rights.

Its one fault was slightly less than stellar perceived interior quality, particularly in the touch and feel aspect of its plastics. Sales, being the determining factor of any car's success, were strong enough that the problem was either something most potential customers didn't notice or were willing to overlook due to the car's many other attributes. Just the same Nissan wasn't willing to take criticism lying down. Rather, they improved this annoyance so that the 2003 Altima incorporates softer touch plastics that won't offend pickier clients.

They also did something that none of us expected. Its award-winning modular VQ engine, that already featured continuously variable valve timing, microfinished crank journals and cam lobes, molybdenum coated lightweight pistons and an electronically controlled throttle, received a boost in horsepower. It was already class leading at 240, but bumping it up by five adds a little more spin to the front wheels. The decision may have had something to do with the latest 240-hp V6 powered Honda Accord, but probably not much. Closer inspection shows that Nissan's 246 lb-ft of torque, that has remained the same despite the horsepower increase, quashes the Honda's 211 lb-ft. If the Accord had anything to do with Nissan's decision to up power it was for marketing purposes only. But who really cares why, the fact is at 6.9 seconds to 100 km/h the 3.5-L V6 equipped 2003 Altima is even quicker than last year's car.