The 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe is the economic recession version of the Infiniti G37.
The 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe 3.5 SE arrived at the office, and I was immediately struck by its similar appearance to the Infiniti G37 that we recently had here at NADAguides. The nose is distinctively Nissan, but the slope of the roof, the character line running across the body and the tail end all conjure the positive emotional feeling one gets when staring at a G37. This works very well in the Altima coupe's favor, to position itself as the entry-level version of that sportier (and much more expensive) Infiniti. Based on this first impression of the car, I could tell I was in for a treat.
The Nissan Altima Coupe is more than just another gray car in a gray world…regardless of what this picture shows.
The Nissan Altima keyless, push-button starter turns over the 3.5L DOHC 24-valve V6, and you now have 270 hp and 258 lb-ft or torque at your disposal. This is tapped into via the 6-speed manual transmission. While I am very happy that they gave this premium-level coupe the 6-speed manual (instead of just relegating it to the very boring CVT automatic), the shifts are not as crisp as those on the G37 or the 350Z. It feels a bit sloppy and brings you back into more of a Nissan Versa state of mind.
Regardless of the shifter feel, the engine responds very well to the throttle and the car feels equally confident while cruising around town or pushing the edge of the speed limit on the highway. This is due to the front and rear stabilizer bars, sport-tuned suspension and Traction Control System that come standard on the 3.5 SE model.
The interior of the Altima Coupe is sufficient, yet a little bland, considering the almost $29,000 price point.
The interior of the Nissan Altima Coupe is adequate, yet I feel Nissan could have done more for the $28,970 (as tested) price. The car I was driving came equipped with the Premium Package which includes leather-appointed seats, heated front seats, XM satellite radio, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, Bose audio system with an in-dash 6-disc changer and 9 speakers (instead of the standard 6 speakers), HID Xenon headlights, Dual-Zone temperature control and a few more items. It is a great package, and I would recommend it for the Bluetooth and audio system alone, but it does add $3,200 to the base price of $24,970.
I felt the same with regard to the interior of the Nissan 350Z I tested, but at least in the Altima, I felt comfortable and had plenty of room to stretch my legs. I just believe that for close to $30,000 Nissan should be able to take the interior design up a notch. If this car were available at the base price of $25,000, equipped like the one I drove, I would not be complaining. However, this does not detract from the total appeal of the Altima. The interior is not that bad, I am just being really picky in this area.
Overall, I feel that the 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe is a good car. It provides a moderate thrill for the driver without crushing their bank account. A younger person could use this as a stepping stone into the more thrilling Infiniti G37 down the road. This car is sporty, has great safety features (front and side airbags are standard and the Altima received 4 stars for frontal crashes and 5 stars for side crashes and rollovers) and is a fairly affordable option within the 2-door sports car market.
Be sure to check out the new 2009 Nissan Altima.