Altima strong contender in crowded segment

摘要

Car buying in the crowded midsize-sedan passenger segment just got a whole lot more difficult. Already bursting at the seams with all-new or significantly refreshed models such as the Toyota Camry, Chevy Malibu, Volkswagen Passat, Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata, a redesigned-for-'13 Nissan Altima enters the fray this summer, followed by a new Honda Accord in fall. The Altima should prove a strong competitor in the field, boasting the roominess and near-luxury trappings of its rivals, while adding slightly stronger doses of performance-driving dynamics and styling verve. However, the Altima's greatest coup might be its best-in-segment 38 mpg (6.2 L/100 km) highway fuel economy, which is 6 mpg (2.4 km/L) better than the previous-generation model. If the number holds up to federal tests as Nissan expects, it would put the standard-equipped 2.5L 4-cyl. Altima ahead of some others in a segment relying on optional equipment to reach the doorstep of 40 mpg (5.9 L/100 km).