2005 Nissan Altima Trims and Specs

Nissan's most popular car is its Altima, a mid-sized front-wheel drive sedan, and the 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5 is the base model. It comes with a 2.5-liter, 175-hp I4 engine and only a 5-speed manual transmission. It is sparsely equipped, but does come with power windows and locks, power steering, intermittent wipers, a tachometer, and a tilt and telescopic wheel. Air conditioning is not offered at all, and a radio/cassette or CD player is optional. In 2005, the Altima S gets a reworked front end, new smoked head and taillights, more chrome trim, and a reworked dashboard.

Dual front airbags are standard in the family sedan, which features split-folding rear seats that open onto a roomy 16 cubic foot trunk. The 2005 Altima 2.5 features front and rear independent suspension and disc brakes, with no option for ABS. Foglights can be added. At 24/31 mpg, owners love the fuel economy, and families like the roomy interior. Drivers say the 4-cylinder is surprisingly peppy. Some road noise and the lack of ABS brakes, even as an option, are downsides of the 2005 Altima 2.5.

One of the most popular trim levels of Nissan's most popular car, due to its combination of features, performance, and price, the 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5 S comes with a 175-hp, 2.5-liter I4 engine and choice of 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. It rides on 16-inch alloy wheels and earns five stars in frontal impact test thanks to its dual front airbags. The 2005 Altima 2.5 S earns only three stars in side impact tests, but side bags for both rows are offered as an option.

The 2.5 S adds air conditioning, a CD player, cruise control, and power mirrors to the power windows and locks, tachometer, and intermittent wipers found on the base model. Interior legroom is ample for a mid-sized, and the rear seats split-fold 60/40 to expand the 16 cubic foot trunk. There are a lot more options available on the 2005 Altima 2.5 S, including ABS brakes, foglights, automatic headlights, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Interior comfort is enhanced with heated leather seats and mirrors, a power driver's seat, trip computer, and a sunroof. Good engine performance, tight handling, decent 24/31 mpg, lots of interior space, and a sporty look attract owners. Disappointments include cheap-looking plastic interior materials and some engine noise on the highway.

The 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL is more of an option package than its own trim, basically adding the features you get on the 3.5 SL onto the 2.5 S model. This front-wheel drive family sedan comes with a 175-hp, 2.5-liter DOHC inline-4 engine and 4-speed automatic. No manual transmission is offered. Like the 2.5 S, the 2005 Altima 2.5 SL comes with cruise control, power features, a CD player, and dual front airbags. Similar to the V6 model, the 2.5 SL adds leather upholstery, an 8-way power driver's seat, a CD changer, heated seats and mirrors, a trip computer, wheel-mounted audio controls, and automatic headlights.

Available options include a sunroof, foglights, a rear spoiler, a new optional navigation system, antilock brakes, and airbags. Dual front airbags earn 5-star crash ratings, but side impact bags are extra. Rear seats split-fold 60/40, and the trunk holds nearly 16 cubic feet and can be outfitted with a cargo net. Owners say the I4 engine is energetic and fun to drive, and the 2005 Altima 2.5 SL is comfortable, roomy, stylish, and good on gas. There are reports of rattling, a cheap-looking interior, and a hard-to-read radio display due to sunlight glare.

A true sporty performance will please those who buy the mid-sized Altima for its family sedan uses. The 2005 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE provides a stiffer sports suspension along with a 250-hp, 3.5-liter DOHC V6 (that's 5 more horsepower than last year) and a choice of a 5-speed manual or a new 5-speed shiftable automatic. The 2005 Altima 3.5 SE also gets larger 17-inch alloy wheels and all-season tires, and adds automatic headlights, foglights, a security system, leather interior trim, and wheel-mounted audio controls for the CD player. This is in addition to full power features, a tachometer, trip computer, and cruise control.

Dual front airbags are standard, and side impact bags for each row are optional, as are ABS brakes, traction control, and xenon headlights. A rear spoiler can be attached for a sportier look, and the interior can be outfitted with heated leather seats and mirrors, a garage opener, sunroof, automatic climate control, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. New for 2005 is an optional navigation system. Great power, handling, and acceleration make the 2005 Altima 3.5 SE fun to drive, and the interior roominess is an extra bonus. Owners don't like excessive torque steer and the cheap materials used inside the sedan.

The 2005 Nissan Altima 3.5 SL is a brand new trim this year, a more luxurious and top-end version of the mid-sized, front-wheel drive performance sedan. Its 3.5-liter, 250-hp V6 engine is mated to a 5-speed shiftable automatic transmission, which is also new this year. The 2005 Altima 3.5 SL adds a power driver's seat, heated front seats and mirrors, leather upholstery, a CD changer, and automatic climate control beyond what the 2.5 S or 3.5 SE offer. This is in addition to a full power setup, a sunroof, intermittent wipers, automatic headlights, wheel-mounted audio controls, cruise control, a trip computer, leather trim, and a security system.

In terms of safety, dual front airbags are standard, but side impact for both rows is only optional, and the sedan fares only average in side impact crash tests. The 2005 Altima 3.5 SL comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, 4-wheel ABS brakes, xenon headlights, foglights, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. A new option this year is a navigation system. Traction control is also available. A lot of power without spending a lot of money on gas (24/31 mpg) is a highlight for owners of the 2005 Altima 3.5 SL, who also like the roominess, style, and features such as heated seats. There are few complaints, though some are disappointed with a plastic-looking interior, and there are those who always want more convenience features.

It's rare to find a mid-sized sedan that doubles as both a roomy and feature-full family car and a personal sports performer, but the brand new 2005 Nissan Altima SE-R strives to be all that. Featuring a stiffer sports suspension than the regular SE, larger brakes, 18-inch alloy wheels, sport seats, and chrome accents, the 2005 SE-R hugs the road and feels responsive with its 3.5-liter, 24-valve, 250-hp DOHC V6 engine. A 5-speed shiftable automatic is optional, but the preferred choice is a new 6-speed manual transmission.

Other standard equipment found only on the 2005 Altima SE-R is a remote garage opener and a rear spoiler. Inside, it's much like the 3.5 SL, with a trip computer, a sunroof, a power driver's seat, automatic climate control, xenon headlights, 4-wheel ABS brakes, dual front airbags, foglights, automatic headlights, cruise control, wheel-mounted controls for the radio and CD changer, leather upholstery and trim, and heated seats and mirrors. Side airbags and traction control are optional, but the new navigation system is not offered on the 2005 Altima SE-R. The sedan still impressively gets 21/30 mpg, and drivers love how fun it is to drive and the sporty styling, which doesn't sacrifice interior space or the roomy 16 cubic foot trunk. Some say the interior materials look cheap and the coinholder is not ergonomically efficient, and torque steer can be extreme.