Nissan Altima enjoys steady sales for powerful driving performance

The fifth-generation Nissan Altima Sedan / Courtesy of Nissan Korea

By Jhoo Dong-chan

The Nissan Altima sedan is boasting steady sales, although the current fifth-generation model was fully changed five years ago.

According to Nissan Korea, the Altima sedan was named one of the top 10 best-selling import cars last year. In March, 551 Altima Sedans were sold, breaking the car's sales record in Korea.

The fifth-generation Altima was also the best-selling imported sedan model besides the three German premium auto brands, it added.

A Nissan Korea official attributed the sedan's steady sales in Korea to the car's dynamic driving performance.

“The fifth-generation Altima sedan mounts two types of engines _ a 2.5-liter V4 QR25DE and 3.5-liter V6 VQ35DE engine. Of them, the V6 engine was named one of the world's top 10 engines selected by U.S.-based automobile researcher and magazine Ward's Auto,” a Nissan Korea official said.

“Along with its differentiated engine quality, the Altima features the Active Under-steer Control. The technology generates additional traction at the inside wheels in cornering to minimize the understeer.”

Separate from its powerful driving performance, the sedan features the Nissan V-motion grille and a pair of sleek boomerang-like LED headlamps in the front.

The Nissan Altima is also equipped with various advanced driver assistance systems such as the Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Emergency Braking and Blind Spot Intervention system.

“Despite its differentiated value, the Nissan Altima sedan's price starts from the 20 million won ($17,779) level,” the official said.

In April, the fifth-generation Altima sedan also topped the 2018 Korea Consumer Surprise Brand Index (K-CSBI) for imported mid-size sedans.

In a bid to meet mounting market demand for cleaner cars, Nissan has been developing and introducing engines that reduce pollutants while offering a farther range. The Japanese carmaker giant introduced the new Note e-Power hatchback and Leaf crossover to meet such demand.

The Note e-Power has a hybrid powertrain that enables drivers to travel without having to worry about recharging the battery. The Leaf is a 100 percent electric vehicle.