1998 Nissan Altima
06/01/1998
Shahed Hussain
The Altima has been one of the most successful vehicles for Nissan. The first generation Altima replaced the rather bland Stanza. Sales took off and helped Nissan establish a foothold in the midsize sedan market. When it came time to redesign the Altima, Nissan took no chances with one of its best sellers. Where the original Altima echoed the radical styling themes of the Infiniti J30, the new car favors a more conservative and less distinctive appearance.
General
All Altimas are equipped with a 150 bhp 2.4L 4-cylinder engine. The base XE, GXE, and SE are equipped with a standard 5-speed manual. The GLE only offers a 4-speed automatic, which is optional on the other models. All Altimas except the XE have standard A/C. The more luxurious GLE also offers leather seats, power driver's seat, and keyless entry/security system. The SE is equipped with a firmer sport suspension, rear spoiler, and larger tires on alloy wheels. Leather seats are optional for the SE. The tested GXE came standard with all the expected amenities such as cruise control, power windows, locks, and mirrors. An AM/FM/CD system is standard on all models except the XE, which forgoes the CD.
Interior
The Altima exudes a sense of quality in its materials and assembly. Interior materials are soft and low gloss. There are no mismatched seams or textures to detract from the overall impression of the well-executed sensible design. The instrument panel has clearly visible speedometer and tachometer gauges. The power windows/locks controls are in the driver's door armrest where they fall readily to hand. The controls have a quality feel to them that makes them a pleasure to use. Unfortunately, the GXE and GLE have the now common plastic wood trim on the console. The seats are comfortable and provide good support. The bolstered seats in the Altima SE may be more suited for those who drive aggressively.
Exterior
The Altima walks a fine stylistic line between the Sentra and Maxima. The profile is similar to a grown-up Sentra, but the front has a resemblance to the Maxima, without being as busy-looking. The angular rear is distinct and unique from any other Nissan model. Overall, the Altima is less round than the first-generation car. The styling work was done at Nissan's studio in California, like the previous model.
The Smyrna, Tennessee built Altima uses Nissan's proprietary IBAS (Intelligent Body Assembly System) for its excellent body panel fit. Paint quality showed excellent gloss and depth. The exterior color choices are unusually subdued. Several colors appear to be very similar in hue.
Chassis and Suspension
Suspension for the Altima is the commonplace MacPherson struts/coil springs all around. Stabilizer bars front and rear are standard. The SE offers firmer dampers and springs as well as a larger rear stabilizer bar, which reduces understeer. Nissan's Super Toe Control (R) provides passive rear steering. Thankfully, Nissan resisted the urge to replace the independent rear suspension with its Multi-Link Beam(R) layout. The independent suspension setup allows far better handling and ride control.
Braking chores are handled by a disc/drum system on all models except the SE, which has discs all-around. ABS is optional on all models. Standard tires are all-season P195/65R15's with full wheel covers. The Altima SE has P205/60R15 tires on standard alloy wheels.
The chassis is the typical unit-body with subframes for both front and rear suspension. The engine is isolated from the body with liquid-filled mounts that do an admirable job of reducing annoying vibrations.
Driving
The tested GXE was a pleasant enough car without being especially memorable. Road, wind, and engine noise are very well muted at highway speeds. The suspension tuning is a little underdamped, but then again, this is a family sedan. Drivers looking for better handling would prefer the Altima SE. The 5-speed manual suffers from a mushy feel that seriously detracts from the pleasure of changing gears. The lack of positive feel seems to be common with cable-type shifters. Quick shifts are out of the question. A more direct rod shifter would be far superior. The 4-speed automatic is probably a better option for most prospective buyers.
The 2.4L engine has decent torque (154 lb.-ft.) which moves the Altima with little effort. For such a large 4-cylinder without balance shafts, the engine is surprisingly quiet and vibration free. Credit the liquid-filled engine mounts. Unlike most similar engines, there is enough torque to make an automatic transmission a viable option.
Specifications
General
1998 Nissan Altima GXE
Front engine/Front-wheel drive 5-passenger, 4-door
Price Range: $18,000-25,000 (est.)
Price as tested: $21,000 (est.)
Measurements & Capacities
Curb Weight: 2,919 lb.
Width: 69.1 in.
Height: 55.9 in.
Track F/R: 59.3/58.9 in.
Overall Length: 183.5 in.
Wheelbase: 103.1 in.
Fuel Capacity: 15.9 gal.
Engine
Inline-4, liquid cooled, iron block and aluminum heads
Valvetrain: DOHC, 16-valve, hydraulic lifters
Fuel Delivery: Sequential multipoint fuel injection
Displacement: 2.389 L
Bore & Stroke (in/mm) 3.5x3.73/89x96
Compression Ratio 9.2:1
Power (SAE net): 150 bhp @ 5,600 rpm
Torque: 154 lb.-ft. @ 4,400 rpm
Max. Engine Speed: 6,300 rpm
Fuel: Unleaded Regular, 87 octane (R+M)/2
Transmission
5-speed manual: 3.285 (1st) 1.850 (2nd) 1.206 (3rd) 0.954 (4th) 0.740 (5th) 3.428 (Rev)
4-speed automoatic: 2.785 (1st) 1.545 (2nd) 1.000 (3rd) 0.694 (4th) 2.272 (Rev)
Final Drive: 3.650 (5-spd manual), 3.619 (4-spd automatic)
Suspension
Front: Independent, MacPherson strut, control arm, coil springs, shock absorbers, stabilizer bar
Rear: Independent, MacPherson strut, 2 lateral links, trailing link, coil springs, shock absorbers, stabilizer bar
Steering
Power-assisted rack-and-pinion
Steering ratio: 17.0:1
Steering Turns
(lock-to-lock): 2.7
Turning Circle: 37.4 ft.
Brakes
Front: vented disc, vacuum-assist, ABS
Rear: drum, vacuum-assist, ABS
Wheels & Tires
Wheels: 15" steel
Tires: P195/65R15 All-season
Fuel Economy
Highway: 31 mpg
City: 24 mpg
Interior
Head Room (Front/Rear): 39.4/37.7 in.
Leg Room (Front/Rear): 42.0/33.9 in.
Hip Room (Front/Rear): 55.7/52.6 in.
Shoulder Room (Front/Rear): 55.7/54.8 in.
Interior Volume: 94.0 cu. ft.
Cargo Volume: 14.0 cu. ft.
Restraints
Front: Driver and passenger airbags, 3-point belts
Rear: 3-point belts
Summary
The Altima reenters a crowded and cutthroat midsize arena that allows no room for errors. Nissan has done a conservative redesign that builds on the Altima's strengths of good value and pleasant styling, while making improvements in interior room that were needed. But in this segment, that may not be enough. The Accord and Camry are the acknowledged leaders in this class and it will be an uphill battle for Nissan to make further inroads into this market.
Sidebar:
At a Glance
A nice sedan for those who don't want to pay the premium for a Maxima.
Likes:
Well built, with a surprisingly quiet engine.
Dislikes:
A 5-speed with molasses-like shifting.
Surprises
The styling is subtly attractive.