2013 Nissan Altima price starts at $21,500, gets totally redesigned inside/out

April 3, 2012April 3, 2012 Omar Rana 2012 New York Auto Show, 2013, Altima, Nissan Altima, Sedans

By the end of 2012, all the big sellers in the mid-size family-sedan segment will be brand-spankin’ new or refreshed. That includes a nice lineup to choose from including the Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Malibu, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Ford Fusion, Volkswagen Passat and the Honda Accord. Mazda will come to the market with the new Mazda6 early next year.

“In a segment as critical as this, with longtime nameplates and new challengers fighting for every sale, it’s not enough to just target the competition. You have to think outside – and far above – the segment,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Nissan North America, Inc. “We created the new Altima to set a clearly recognized benchmark for many years to come.”

At the 2012 New York Auto Show, Nissan will hold the debut of its brand-new 2013 Altima, which from the looks of it looks like a mini-Maxima with a bunch of new upgrades over the outgoing model. The new 2013 Nissan Altima is 1.3 inches wider than the outgoing car, has the same 109.3 inch wheelbase and is about an inch longer in the overall length. It weighs about 79 pounds less and has stiffer body and better balancing.

On the inside, the 2013 Nissan Altima gets a redesigned interior with a new infotainment system, navigation, Bluetooth, iPod/USB connectivity, integration of Google Places and Google Send-to-Car feature. It will also offer a range of safety driving aids including blind-spot warning, lane departure warning, moving-object detection and more.

The 2013 Nissan Altima will be available with a 2.5-liter QR25 4-cylinder engine producing 182-hp and a peak torque of 180 lb-ft. Buyers can also opt for the 3.5-liter V6 VQ35DE, which keeps its 270-hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.

2013 Nissan Altima Prices: