Faults:

No problems at all with the car thus far; this is to be expected however, at 30k miles and still under the manufacturer's warranty.

General Comments:

First, the car is comfortable with firm, supportive seats, perfect for long drives. Power adjustable seats with lumbar support is a convenient feature due to periodic pain in my lower back.

Fuel economy is great on the car; I fill up once, maybe twice a month with about 15 miles commuting to and from work at least three days per week. That being said, the 2.5 liter engine mated with the CVT is a bit tired and lethargic behaving in driving situations where more speed is needed or wanted; acceleration is weak and the CVT tends to drone when pushed to its limits. I hate not having much passing or merging power on highways. My recommendation is to shop for the 3.5 V6, which is good for 270hp.

For such a stylish package on the SR with the fog lights, subtle rear spoiler, aluminum brushed 18" wheels, side skirts, deep blue pearl paint, the car is not too generous on features. Because it is the SR value package, options are slim. You must go up the ladder for an SR Special Edition or the SV or SL for that. A Platinum trim is new for 2019.

The steering wheel feels like genuine leather, it's thickly wrapped for ease of gripping and handling of the car; this steering wheel is a comfortable place for your hands. Paddle shifters are on the steering column, but are of little use in most driving situations. Without the technology package, the infotainment is poor but the backup camera is a good safety feature. No sunroof is available, which I lament.

Storage space is generous with space for longer items in the door pockets along with a drink holder on the doors. The area below the center stack has a storage area, as does the rear part of the shift column beneath the center armrest (which is thickly padded and comfortable, by the way). Under the center armrest are two storage areas, one up top for smaller objects and the large lower space for big items, big enough for a couple of bottles of water and snacks. The glove compartment door feels a little flimsy but the compartment itself is large, spacious and I love it.

Door panels are soft padded with a material that feels almost like leather. Soft touch materials adorn the tops of the door panels as well as the top part of the glove box. A charging port is built in for the rear passengers. Backseats are comfortable and includes a center rear armrest with cupholders. Roominess abounds for rear seat passengers. Air conditioning is Arctic cold, the heat is warm and toasty. All-in-all it's a good car, although the CVT's longevity or potential lack thereof concerns me, but I have a dealership's lifetime powertrain warranty.

If you want a stylish, comfortable, roomy, efficient midsize sedan, the Altima checks all the boxes. My recommendation is to shop at least three different cars to know what you're getting and compare features and driving dynamics. The salesperson did a bait and switch to put me in this car, and while I haggled over the deal, I made a hasty buy and should've taken more time before making a purchase decision.

The Altima provides sound, reliable transportation, but doesn't standout against the competition in any particularly meaningful way. It is considerably better looking than most of the competition from that generation of midsize cars.

Most entry level automakers are moving away from the regular transmission setup and V6 engines, including Nissan. So, my next car will be the V6 Avalon or Camry.