The 2017 Nissan Altima adds Forward Emergency Braking and Predictive Forward Collision Warning to the standard fare list on SV and SL trim levels as part of the automaker’s mid-year equipment tweaks. Beyond those changes, the automaker dropped its base 2.5 and 3.5 SR Altima trims in 2017. With a mid-cycle refreshening in 2016, the Altima remains a top choice among midsize sedan shoppers. During a week-long test drive, the car left very favorable impressions with regard to the Zero Gravity front seats (a Nissan hallmark), dandy fuel economy, and a very responsive electronic hydraulic power-assisted steering system.

Powering the Altima is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder producing 179 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 177 pounds-feet of torque at 4000 rpm, or a 3.5-liter V6 releasing 270 horsepower at 6400 rpm and 251 pounds-feet of torque at 4400 rpm. Both engines mate to an Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT). On cold winter mornings, stay inside and warm-up the Altima SV and SL models via the factory-installed Remote Engine Start System with automatic HVAC temperature settings. The test driven Nissan Altima 2.5 SV with 4-cylinder engine carries a MSRP of $25,460 and collects estimated mpg of 27 city/39 highway.