While SUVs and trucks continue to grow in popularity, there are still many drivers who prefer sedans. Those drivers often find themselves at a Nissan Altima dealer, as that four-door sedan remains popular even when other manufacturers like Ford and Chevy are discontinuing their sedan lineups. The Altima has been called a luxury sedan for drivers on a budget, providing a smooth driving experience, a sleek body style, a comfortable interior, a bevy of safety features, and many custom options to personalize the vehicle right from the dealership.
Nissan has made the smart choice to keep the Altima in its lineup of models, continuing to improve upon prior model years. Shoppers have responded, and Altima sales continue to remain strong even as the sedan market shrinks. Not only are new Altima sales still strong, but drivers also continue purchasing used Altimas due to their good resale value and strong popularity.
2021 Nissan Altima Trim Levels
But why do consumers continue to throw their support to the Altima? Perhaps it is because Nissan offers this midsize car in many different trim options. Consumers like options, and Nissan does not disappoint. Nissan has designed five different trim levels for the 2021 Altima – the S, SV, SR, SL, and Platinum.
For budget-conscious drivers, the 2021 Nissan Altima S base model offers manual air-conditioning, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, and a tilt and telescoping steering wheel. The more automated features include a push-button start with a smart keyless system, which makes living with the vehicle far more convenient. Another handy feature is Nissan’s Easy-Fill Tire Alert, which lets the driver know when the tires have been filled to the right pressure by sounding the horn.
Consumers can also choose the Altima SV trim, which offers as standard an eight-way power driver’s seat and the option of choosing power lumbar adjustment and heated front seats. For drivers who require a sportier version of the Altima, the SR trim offers 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, a leather steering wheel, a dark chrome V-motion grille, and black side mirror caps. The SR is also available with the more powerful VC-Turbo engine.
The higher-end 2021 Altima SL provides such rich features as heated front seats, heated outside mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air-conditioning vents, leather upholstery, and a four-way power passenger’s seat. For the ultimate 2021 Altima experience, the Platinum trim offers driver memory settings and ambient interior accent lighting, among other luxury features.
Custom Options Keep Buyers Flocking Back to the Altima
Unlike other manufacturers that have discontinued their sedan lineup, Nissan has given consumers what they want in a midsize sedan. These custom options on the Altima make it an enticing choice over other larger vehicles. For those who need to navigate all types of challenging road conditions, such as rain, snow, and ice, the Altima provides one critical feature that is usually only found on SUVs – all-wheel drive.
The Altima all-wheel drive option is standard on the Platinum trim and available on SV, SR, and SL models equipped with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. It improves driving on hills and rough roads by using its advanced torque split control system to redistribute torque to the wheels automatically. Innovations like this are a part of what keeps the Altima popular.
Some car enthusiasts have chosen to purchase the latest 2021 Nissan Altima with the unique 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine. This revolutionary design uses variable compression and forced induction to give you the power of a V6 and the efficiency of a four-cylinder. When you hit the gas, boost builds and compression changes for no less than 248 horsepower, but when you are just cruising on the highway, you will still get 34 MPG.
New Technology
Part of the Altima’s allure is the new technology that Nissan has included in this sedan. Nissan is known for incorporating cutting-edge technology into its vehicles, and that’s true for the 2021 Altima. For example, the Altima offers smart technology to set the car’s temperature to your preferences when you start it remotely. The dual-zone automatic climate control system also means that the driver and the front-seat passenger can each have their personal temperature settings.
Nissan has also ensured that its 2021 Altima vehicles are safe. It has included such features as blind-spot warnings and lane-departure detection. To help drivers safely navigate the roads, Nissan has incorporated Automatic Emergency Braking, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, and Intelligent Driver Alertness – all standard on every trim.
Nissan owners will also feel completely protected due to the 2021 Altima’s Safety Shield 360. This suite of monitoring and intervention technologies, found standard on SV, SR, SL, and Platinum models and optional on the S model, provides protection around the entire vehicle, alerting the driver to pedestrians, lane departure, blind spots, and more. To remain up-to-date on speed limit information, Nissan has included its Traffic Sign Recognition, which is standard on SL and Platinum grades. This technology detects traffic signs through a camera unit embedded on the windshield in front of the inside rearview mirror, then displays relevant signs in the instrument cluster.
Nissan ProPilot is a driver-assist option found on the higher trims that helps a driver enjoy a safe ride. This technology helps the driver in a variety of ways: keep to the center of the driving lane, allow the driver to set and maintain vehicle speed, or keep a safe gap behind the preceding vehicle if it slows down. ProPilot will even bring the Altima to a complete stop and keep it in place if there are traffic jams. To make these critical decisions, Nissan embedded a forward-facing camera, forward-facing radar, and an electronic control module into the Altima.
Where Is the Nissan Altima Most Popular?
The Nissan Altima is a sedan that is currently and will continue to be a part of the country’s roadways. Owners of the Nissan Altima are spread out among the entire United States because this vehicle offers something for everyone. Even if you live in a cold and snowy climate, the Altima makes for a great option with features such as all-wheel drive and a factory remote start system with intelligent temperature control.
The Altima also provides a luxurious interior for all of its passengers that is big enough to accommodate five adults. The Altima is a popular choice because it is reliable, efficient in gas mileage, and offers cargo space. Who needs an SUV when you can get such a capable sedan? Especially when that sedan gives you more options for easy parking than a large SUV or truck?
The Altima Scores High as a Used Vehicle
Of course, another reason why Altima’s remain popular is that they also score high as a used vehicle. Why wouldn’t a consumer choose a four-door sedan like the Altima when they know it has a high resale value? Automotive research firm iSeeCars analyzed nearly 13 million vehicle sales records to determine the best-selling used vehicles in 2020, and the Altima placed ninth among the most popular used cars.
Why the popularity? Perhaps it is due to the vehicle being recognized as a feature-rich and reliable option. Most Altima drivers have no need to bring their vehicle in for constant major repairs and only need to take care of easy, budget-friendly maintenance such as oil changes and tire rotations.
The Altima Will Remain a Popular Choice
The Nissan Altima has maintained its popularity over the years for many reasons. It catches the eye of shoppers who fall for its sleek, luxurious appearance. On the road, it provides a smooth driving experience and interior comfort for all of its passengers. Altima owners agree that their 2021 vehicle will impress the most discerning car enthusiast and will continue to be the midsize sedan of choice.
