Another in a series of my reviews that appeared in the online version of African Americans On Wheels, a now defunct automotive magazine that was included as an insert in the Sunday newspapers of major cities.
My favorite thing about the Altima was its anonymity. After the crowd-gathering New Beetle, I was thankful for the break, and my wife and I decided to drive it to New York City for Memorial Day weekend. It was a beautiful Spring day, and lots of other people had the same idea and we got caught in a major traffic jam near the George Washington Bridge. One of the local stations was having an eighties retro weekend, which was not common in the late nineties, at least in our Metro D.C. market. Since we didn’t have anywhere we needed to be, we rolled down the windows, opened up the moonroof, sat back in the comfy seats, turned up the volume on the kickin’ sound system, and rocked-out to Jessie’s Girl. It was just a lovely carefree moment that reminds you that it doesn’t matter how “cool” the car. Any car equipped just right can be the perfect car for such an occasion.
The below review ran on July 7, 1998.
A solid car for a good price. It’s really what most people are looking for, right? It perfectly describes the 1998 Nissan Altima SE and just about every mid-size car available, like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Both are tough to top.
The Altima has been redesigned for the first time since its introduction over five years ago. The new model is larger in nearly every dimension while maintaining a trim 2,850 pounds. The most dramatic change is in the trunk area. Where the original Altima’s styling was reminiscent of the departed Infiniti J30, akin to an arch that stretched from the front bumper to the gracefully sloped rear, the new Altima has a squared front and stubby, bustled trunk. Nissan is assuming that previous Altima buyers are five years older and desire something more mature. I hope they’re right, but my brother-in-law and his wife, owners of a ‘94, find it ugly. Nevertheless, the styling is distinctive.
The Altima comes in four trim levels: XE, GXE, sporty SE (our tester), and ultra-lux GLE. The engine is unchanged: a 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine that it shares with the sporty 240SX. No six is available, a shortcoming in this class, but it doesn’t feel underpowered with the four-speed automatic transmission (a five-speed manual is standard). The SE gets a sport-tuned suspension, larger tires on alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, and black-on-silver gauges. Handling is above average with no complaints about the ride.
Inside, there’s plenty of storage thanks to a large glove compartment and a center console bin. Two cupholders are located in the console and hidden behind trick doors that slide into the console to provide support for cups.
The 13.8 cubic foot trunk is slightly smaller than its predecessor, but it better accommodates bulkier cargo. The rear seat, comfortable for two average-sized adults, folds 60/40 to expand cargo room. Front occupants get depowered airbags, but anti-lock brakes are a $500 option. Get them.
The main thing the Altima is packed full of is value, as prices are about $1,000 lower than last year’s comparably equipped models. It’s a genuine, solid car for a good price.
For more information contact 1-800-NISSAN-3
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: 4-Door Sedan
Engine: 150-horsepower, 2.4 liter inline 4
Transmission: 4-Speed Automatic
EPA Mileage: 22 city/30 highway
Tested Price: $21,207
As we later learned, Nissan was wrong and this generation Altima lived a brief 3 1/2 year lifespan. Trying to entice 4-cylinder Camry and Accord buyers into the smaller Altima may have worked somewhat with the more stylish previous generation, but not with this one.
Also, allow me to explain the “depowered airbags.” When airbags were initially mandated, they were required to protect an unbelted driver in a front-end collision. This meant that had to be big and powerful. They also turned out to be deadly for children and smaller adults. The full details are located here.
I was wondering when my car would pop up on curb side classics. Mine is the same as the post but the base with the 5 speed. Picked up for the princely sum of $1700 CDN. Put nearly 50 000kms on so far with brakes, axle, alternator, water pump and some tires. Still running good at nearly 300 000 kms, although the paint doesn’t look as good as the one tested.
It seems pretty quick compared to the diesel Jetta it replaced but the fuel economy around town is nothing to write home about.
+1 for including the primary source link for the de-powered air bags!
As with all your previous work, well done!
This altima was a low point for nissan just cuz they were 100% BORING. Nissan was going bankrupt. Carlos Goshn saved them. The 2002 altima saved the company. Carlos also cheaped out on everything. Carlos pushed for marketshare at all costs. Nissan repeated the mistakes of pre bankruptcy gm. Nissan is now 2007 Pontiac and is seen as a poor mans brand for people with horrible credit and fleets.
He didn’t actually join Nissan until 1999. And was responsible for the later version you mentioned. Although it is a boring jellybean style car to look at it is actually fun to drive. The nondescript styling and colour seems to make it invisible to the local constabulary. I have no love for modern Nissan’s between the unavailability of standard transmissions and lack of character offered from the 70’s-90’s….
I have a 1997 Nissan Altima with 302 thousand miles and it runs like a champ,good commuter car,maybe might go for another 200,000
My godson had a twin to the featured car, right down to the color. As a guy in his early 20s I am guessing he was influenced by his mom, my little sister, to get something practical and economical. I don’t know how long he had the Altima, but it was long, apparently he decided he didn’t care for practical and BORING/anonymous at that stage in his life. But it must have been a decent car as it was replaced by a 1st generation Xterra.
I prefer the very first Altimas, the 93-94 models…their distinctive styling was a huge plus. But you could tell Nissan realized it was a mistake when the mid-model facelift went all plain and pedestrian.
I have actually seen a 93 or 94 in the last few months in a nearby town, but unfortunately these don’t seem to hold up quite as well as contemporary Accords or Camrys, looking pretty beat down by abuse.
Still, if I found a nice 94 I would be tempted to buy it.
I wonder how excited the dealership network was to see this anonymous redesign after the attention-getting predecessor.
“The 1998 Car, by Nissan. Eat your vegetables.”
My guess is that after the yawn-inducing 1995 Maxima, Nissan needed a blander Altima to shift the focus back to the Maxima. Think of the 93 to 97 Altima as “Fudge” from “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing,” taking all of the attention away from the older brother.
I’ve been real lucky with the 02 se purchased 14. Runs strong good lift . What…..car of the year.?
1998 was when nissan was as good as toyota or honda. i wouldn’t touch a nissan todayh with a ten foot pole.
This car pictured was identical to my sister’s ’98 Altima, which would end up being her last Nissan car. She had bought a previous Nissan in 1993, I never saw it, but her husband was driving it to work one morning when a semi clipped him, causing him to spin out and total the Nissan. The truck company settled with them, and they bought the Altima with the check, it was the first new car they had without a payment on it. At the end of it’s time with them, about 6 years, they wished they had never seen it. It had unending electrical issues, along with a ton of engine problems fixed under warranty, that included head gaskets, and a piston failing, requiring a short block replacement. After the warranty was over, the electrical issues continued and finally, they had enough and traded it for a Mazda 6, which was very good, and that was replaced by another 2012 Mazda 6, and that one wasn’t very good at all. It was gone by 2014, replaced by a Prius, which was just replaced by another Prius early this year. Her husband hated the first one, and hates the second one, but my sister does most of the driving, and she got to pick. He had fallen for a Subaru WRX, but it was too “flashy” for sis.I told him he was getting too old at 68 and wouldn’t have many more chances to get a car he really wants. Maybe next time.
I currently drive a 1998 Nissan Altima GXE and have so since 1998. I have to say that it is the most reliable car I have ever owned. It never gave me major problems until recently when my engine light came on and triggered a code for EGR. Its not the EGR valve though, its the intake manifold gasket. Since its an expensive job on this particular model I don’t know what to do. I want to keep it but because its +22 years old Im not sure I should sink the money into it. Its got 160000 miles. Its been so good to me and my family. What should I do?