2013 Nissan Altima
Every full line carmaker offers a mid-size family sedan, which inevitably, is compared to the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Now some have tried to beat the segment leaders with sharper styling, while others have packed in more performance and features. Well, the latest design looking to upset the status quo is the 5th generation Nissan Altima. Already popular, let’s see if the all-new Altima is ready to make a run for the gold.
When the 2013 Nissan Altima was unveiled at this year’s New York Auto Show it didn’t exactly wow anyone, including us. And, we weren’t really sure how serious Nissan was in taking on Camry and Accord. But, truth be told, the outgoing Altima sold very well, and that’s mostly because people recognize that compared to Accord and Camry, the Altima was a great value. Well, after spending some quality time with the all-new Altima, early indicators are that Nissan has indeed done a lot to challenge Camry and Accord, and done it well.
For starters, the Altima is a real joy to drive. The ride is impressively solid with an athletic feel, very similar to the larger Maxima, and more nimble than its size would indicate. Standard Active Understeer control brakes the inside front wheel during cornering to quicken turn-ins. Now, you won’t forget that this is still a mid-size family sedan, but it’s one that now falls on the sporty side of things. Steering is precise, braking is direct. And consider us now impressed.
We’ve had our quibbles with CVT transmissions over the years but Nissan’s latest Xtronic is by far one of the best. It still makes for lots of engine roar when you really get it cranking, but it remains smooth. And, that’s critical since the interior of the new Altima gains the biggest upgrade. There’s far less hard plastic, though it hasn’t gone away entirely. And we appreciate the piano black trim adorning our SL test car’s center stack. It’s a first rate upgrade overall, lavish, but not opulent. Gauges are clear and easy to scan, but some icons and words in the center info screen, which includes readouts for the available driver assist systems, could be a little bigger.
The Nav. screen is also small compared to many rivals, but there are some nice big knobs for controlling our car’s optional 9-speaker Bose stereo. With more front legroom than Camry, the Altima’s “Zero-gravity” front seats are pleasant for trips both short and long, and came trimmed with charcoal leather in our SL. Rear legroom is more than adequate, although here Altima trails Camry. Fold the split rear seats for identical trunk room, 15.4 cubic feet. The trunk has a nice, big opening but the finish is a little bit disappointing. Blind spots and lane departure warnings are just a few of many available safety features that complement the standard VDC and Traction Control. Standard power comes from an updated 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with 182-horsepower and 180 pound feet of torque. That’s only 7-horsepower more than before, but with the updated CVT, and over a hundred pounds less weight than last year, it feels much peppier.
And, at the track, there’s good punch off the line. Once your speed catches up to the high RPM buzz of the CVT, things do quiet down in more ways than one. Still, 7.9-seconds to reach 60, and 16.1-seconds and 89 miles per hour for the quarter mile, are very decent results for a mid-size 4-banger. If even more speed is your need, Nissan’s familiar 3.5-liter V6 is still available.
As for the styling, the new Altima is more of an evolution than revolution. It is sleeker, with dynamically flared headlights, and definitely more substantial. Yet while more modern, it is still rather conservative looking. So the targets are clearly Camry and Accord, not Sonata and Fusion. Or, maybe the new Altima is actually aiming a bit higher. As your eyes walk to the back there are definite Infiniti cues in the green house, trunk lid, and rear facia.
Government Fuel Economy Ratings sound great at 27-City and 38-Highway. But, we averaged on the low end of that range with 30.6 miles-per-gallon of Regular. When it comes to pricing, Altima is available in a staggering 7-models, beginning slightly below Camry at $22,280 and topping out at $30,860, while our 2.5 SL falls at $28,830. The price competition for mid-size family sedans is intense so it’s no surprise that the Altima has a few things that seem like they were built to a price. So, while we don’t think it garners the gold, it is still a very solid effort, and one that easily out handles and is more fun to drive than its main rivals. That makes it a very appealing family four-door to us, and judging by how well the outgoing car sold, we think the 2013 Nissan Altima will be an even bigger success.
Specifications
- Engine: 2.5-liter 4-cylinder
- Horsepower: 182
- Torque: 180 lb-ft.
- 0-60 mph: 7.9 seconds
- 1/4 mile: 16.1 seconds @ 89 mph
- EPA: 27 mpg city/ 38 mpg Highway
2025 Subaru WRX tS
Subaru’s “World Rally eXperimental” Gets Tecnica-Tuned Tech
Building on its global rally heritage, WRX has been a standalone Subaru nameplate, marketed separately from garden variety Impreza, for two generations now. And while the current WRX still lacks the full STI treatment, this WRX tS serves up some of that high-performance spice we’ve been longing for.
Before we go flat out into our Track Test of this 2025 Subaru WRX tS, lets open the Subaru dictionary so we’re all on the same page. “tS” stands for “tuned by STI;” and “STI” is an acronym for “Subaru Tecnica International,” the brand’s high-performance sub-group best known for upgrading the WRX— oh, that stands for “World Rally eXperimental,” in case you didn’t know.
All that said, STI has been largely dormant for this WRX generation, but this tS sprinkles more of their engineering magic into the mix. No, that doesn’t mean extra power, but does mean significant chassis-related improvements.
First, electronically controlled dampers, adjustable through the 11.6-inch tablet-style infotainment screen. That meant a softer “comfort” mode on the 10+ hour commute to and from Savannah’s Roebling Road Raceway. But once we were there, it was the firmer “Sport+” setting all the way, heightening response from the WRX’s throttle and already quick dual-pinion power steering system. There’s still some body roll for rally-esque weight transfer, but it’s well sorted and provides the “toss-ability” you want in a WRX.
Though if you do autocross your tS, which we implore you to do, you might feel the six-piston front, two-piston rear Brembo brakes first. The bite is strong, giving good rotation in the corners and plenty of “halt” for this 3,400 lb. compact with minimal fade, keeping us on track all week…until some unfortunate winter weather passed overhead. No worries here, as Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system got us to the track for some powdered deserts: Frosted donuts served up Michelin style, a set of winter tires different from the grippy Bridgestone Potenza S007 rubber the tS typically rides on. Some prior hot laps of California’s Sonoma Raceway gave credence to those Bridgestones, and showed us what this hot-compact can do in ideal conditions.
It’s well sorted and provides the “toss-ability” you want in a WRX.
Other tS enhancements are cabin-based, namely these beautiful blue Recaros. Most of our staff appreciated their moderately-aggressive bolstering on both street and track. And they’re even heated, too. Another tS-only appointment is this 12.3-inch digital gauge display. It mimics the standard analog gauges with some additional info, but can switch to a navigation mode for more convenient route guidance.
We do wish our tS came in the new Galaxy Purple or the trademark World Rally Blue, but this Crystal White paint wasn’t too shabby, contrasting its Cherry Blossom Red badging and blacked-out lip spoiler. Otherwise, the tS is like any other WRX, down to the hood scoop funneling air to the top-mounted intercooler.
Underneath is the same turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four in all other trims, boxing at 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The freak winter weather stopped straight-line testing, but a 0-60 time estimate of 5.5 seconds is about as spry as you realistically need, pulling strong through most of the tach; though the 6,000 RPM redline required attentive shifting of the six-speed box, which the tS comes exclusively with. The throws are precise, if a little long, and the clutch is wonderfully weighted.
With discontinuation of the Base trim, pricing for the WRX now starts with Premium at $36,920. The tS is at the top of the lineup with the automatic-only GT, both starting at $46,875. All WRXs continue to be made in Gunma, Japan.
If you’re an enthusiast itching to do the tuning yourself, perhaps the 2025 Subaru WRX tS is not for you. But if you want a plug-and-play experience, this is it. While it won’t exactly bestow the loose-cannon, top-level driving skills exhibited by famous WRC drivers upon you, the tS moves this WRX’s game in a direction we’ve so desperately wanted Subaru to take.
Specifications
As Tested
- Engine: 2.4-liter flat-four
- Tranmission: 6-speed manual
- Horsepower: 271
- Torque: 258 lb-ft