2010 Nissan Altima CPE 2.5 S By  ALAN GELL www.CarColumns.Net My wife and I recently had a new 2010 Nissan Altima Coupe for a test-drive.  The 2010 model has changed a little bit from the 2009 model with some slight redesign of the exterior and some additions to the interior. Generally, it is similar to the 2009 Altima Coupe.

  Our test model was a 2.5 S model, that reflected the four cylinder, 175 horsepower, 2.5 liter engine.  A 3.5 liter V6 is available.  A six-speed manual transmission is the standard for all the powertrains, but the CVT option is proving to be very popular.  We had CVT – Continuously Variable Timing – in our vehicle.  Many folks do not like CVT, but I thought it worked really well.  It provided all the power as well as fuel economy I had anticipated for the driving experience.

The CVT does not provide fixed gears but uses tensioners, band, and pulleys to maintain the ratios.  The throttle is very responsive and the CVT form of automatic transmission worked well.  In the absence of fixed gears, there is no abrupt or noticeable change of engine speed.  The CVT adjusts to maximize the power needed.  This applies whether you are speeding up to pass a car or slowing down to allow a car to pass.  All Altima vehicles are front-wheel drive.

Inside, the cabin is well designed.  Controls are arranged logically.  Gauges are easy to read.  The front seats provide plenty of head room and leg room, although I wish it had adjustable pedals.  Once the driver’s seat was pulled sufficiently forward to reach the pedals, space was limited.  Opening the door and getting out required moving the seat all the way to the rear.  Reaching the pedals was a requirement to start the car, so this elaborate ritual of moving the seat forward and reverse became a regular part of my driving week.  Judy had no problem with this, however, and thought everything was arranged well. 

The rear seating area is difficult to reach, but remember – this is a coupe and not a four-door sedan.  The trunk space was adequate, but not sufficient for too much luggage.  A road trip would require two adults to use the back seat for part of their items. 

Once behind the wheel  and sitting comfortably, I enjoyed the ride.  The Altima uses stablilizer bars in the suspension to keep the car easily under control, even when pushed around a tight corner.  Even with this sporty suspension, the Altima remained smooth . There is enough tech items in the car such as navigation, Bluetooth, iPod integration, and digital music storage.

The Altima Coupe 2.5 has a base MSRP of just $22,440.  The spec sheet on my test model had a bottom price of $24,405.  It is EPA rated at 23 in the city and 31 on the highway.  For my week’s drive, I averaged at the 30 mpg mark overall.

Bottom line is that the 2010 Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5 is a very sporty looking car, it is easy and fun to drive, and provides a stylish look for either the commuting driver or a road traveler.  Check it out at a Nissan dealership yourself.