2009 Nissan Altima

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Exterior - What the Auto Press Says

The 2009 Altima consistently scores near the top of its class for its sharp looks. It borrows heavily from the cars of Nissan's luxury division, Infiniti, giving it an upmarket look that's surprising for a vehicle that can be bought for under $20,000. It also wins points for offering a separate coupe body - something many competitors don't bother with.

• "The Altima sedan and coupe look edgy and stylish" -- New Car Test Drive
• +"The exterior of the car wasn't bad. It has sporty yet mature-looking lines, and it has an attractive appearance." -- Mother Proof
• "Aesthetically, the Altima coupe has a distinct advantage over both the Accord and Solara. The Altima is masculine-looking with large fenders, big headlights and a cutting-edge design around back. That leaves the generic Accord and disjointed Solara in the back of the pack in terms of eye appeal." -- Cars.com
• "Although it shares basics with the Altima sedan, the coupe is significantly smaller - its wheelbase is 4 inches shorter, its overall length 7.1 inches less and its height 2.5 inches lower. Nissan says the coupe and sedan share only one body panel - the hood - and notes the coupe has a unique grille, head lamp and taillamp designs." -- Newsday
• "Styling is one of the Altima coupe's strong points. It bears some resemblance to the Nissan Z sports car, although to be completely fair, the Altima is a long way from being a Z. The Altima coupe arguably has better styling than its biggest competitor, the Accord coupe. One of Nissan's strengths is cutting-edge styling, though, and the Altima coupe carries on that tradition." -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram
• The Coupe's "exterior looks a little disproportionate and unbalanced, but still looks fast." -- Detroit News