The Altima is offered in 6 trims and is priced pretty affordably across the range,The base trim is 2.5 and the highest trim being named SL.With all trims being different from each other in terms of used wheels,infotainment features and other comfort features.

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We would recommend the SL trim that is pretty affordable and also holds the most number of features,this trim comes with a bigger engine, a Bose nine speaker system,ambient lighting,etc.This might be our choice as it has most of the features that can be offered and is also pretty affordable in terms of price. 

The Nissan Altima comes with two engine options. The Base 2.5L four-cylinder engine produces 182 hp of power and 180 pound-feet of torque, this is the base engine and is used to power the 2.5, 2.5S, and 2.5 SV trims.

The second engine is a 3.5L V6 that churns out 270 hp of power and 251 lb-ft of torque. The Nissan Altima is fun to drive, both the engines are very capable power mills irrespective of the power difference.

The Kia Optima turns out to be the most powerful car producing 200hp and 186 lb-ft of torque.The Altima comes next with a power output of 182 hp and manages to keep up with the Kia’s acceleration times.The Corolla clearly is the most underpowered car here with 138hp and 128 lb-ft of power and torque output.

The Altima manages to hold its ground in terms of fuel efficiency even with its good performance,The Nissan manages to return a mileage of 27mpg in the city and 38mpg on the highway.I also has a sizable 18 gallon fuel tank too.

The Nissan is the car that returns the best mileage and gives back a good performance too. With a massive tank of 18 gallons, it also gets the most range of all the cars here - surpassing that of the Kia Optima as well. The Kia is comparatively less fuel-efficient, but it still does good for the segment. 

The interior of the Altima feel great,even though it has not received too much updates from the previous model.It has a lot of high quality materials used inside and the attention to detail is seen in how good the fit and finish in the interior is,the interior of the car in the rear is not too great although. 

All the cars here are capable of seating 5 people and are almost similar in terms of inside space. The Optima and the Altima have a better interior and features on offer than the Corolla, while also bringing in a very similar cargo capacity. That said, the Optima has a better cabin with plenty of amenities for the segment, like:

• Keyless Start
• Front Reading Lamps
• Rear Reading Lamps
• Adjustable Steering Wheel
• Steering Wheel Controls
• Remote Trunk Release

How intuitive is the 2012 Nissan Altima’s infotainment unit?

The 2012 Nissan Altima does not come with an infotainment system included in the base models, but whatever is available does make sure it is easy to use. The 7” infotainment system on the higher trims too are easy to use and have multiple connectivity options.The Altima at one point was really ahead in the race with the infotainment tech it offered.Now most of the competition have caught up but still the Altima has its own set of impressive features like the bluetooth connectivity and the hardware based navigation system,etc.

 Some of the infotainment features are:

•  7-inch touch-screen
•  upgraded sound system
•  iPod/USB audio interface
• satellite radio
• Pandora radio
• voice controls
• real-time traffic and weather

The 2012 Nissan Altima, though not too modern, still manages to look fresh with the use of chrome and alloys that make the car look fresh. The car can stand out even among its much modernly styled rivals. The elements used for aesthetic purposes have a functional side too. 

All the cars here are similar in terms of exterior dimensions too but the difference can be seen in the curb weight, with the Corolla being the lightest car while the Optima being the heaviest. All the cars have a really good ground clearance but the Altima manages to strike the perfect balance in all the aspects, while also maintaining its proportions well. Some of the highlighting exterior features are:

• Rear Defrost
• Compact Spare Tire
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Steel Wheels
• Wheel Covers

The 2012 Nissan Altima comes into the market with a strong reputation for its safety and comes with a number of safety features as standard. The car comes equipped with airbags, brake assist, ABS, traction control etc. The car has a very strong build quality and that is felt when we sit inside but it appears nothing like it.

Important safety features are:

• Brake Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Child Safety Locks
• Traction Control
• Emergency Trunk Release
• Blind-spot monitoring(optional)
• Cross-traffic alert (optional)
• Lane-departure warning system(optional)

The 2012 Nissan Altima manages to still look modern and fresh. The capable engine, excellent handling, performance, space and the styling make this car a lucrative buy. The car is pretty safe and that makes this car a sweet deal to own.