2012 Nissan Altima Trims and Specs

The base trim of the 2012 Nissan Altima sedan lineup is the well-wrought 2.5. This 5-passenger midsize struts its stuff with standard 16-inch steel wheels, velour upholstery, remote power door locks, power windows and outside mirrors, cruise control and telescoping tilt-wheel steering. Split-folding rear seats, air conditioning, a trip computer and phone pre-wiring also come with this handsome 4-door, but, curiously, no entertainment provisions are made save pre-wiring for 4 speakers. The 2.5 isn’t even eligible for optional audio equipment, though front and rear floor mats, accent lighting and aluminum kick plates are available as accessories.

Adequately agile, yet pleasingly comfortable, the self-described 2012 Altima 2.5 sedan comes with a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine as its sole powerplant offering. Mated with the standard continuously variable-speed transmission (CVT), this efficient front-wheel-drive (FWD) 4-door family car puts out 175 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque, and variable valve timing means an estimated 23 mpg city/32 highway.

Standard safety equipment delivered with each 2.5 includes 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front head restraint whiplash protection and front side-mounted airbags. The standard remote antitheft alarm, meantime, can be augmented with Nissan’s optional Vehicle Tracking and Recovery System (VTRS) and/or an alarm impact sensor.

Sitting firmly in the middle slot of the midsize 2012 Nissan Altima sedan's lineup, the 2.5 S offers seating for 5, some adept handling and more than its share of ride comfort. Sporting standard 16-inch steel wheels, this handsome 4-door also boasts velour upholstery, remote power door locks, power windows and mirrors, telescoping tilt-wheel steering and steering-wheel-mounted cruise controls. Air conditioning and a trip computer also come standard, as does a single-CD player with 6 speakers.

Where the 2.5 S lords it over its lesser siblings is in the plethora of options offerings. The 2.5 S 20th Anniversary Package offers a leather-wrapped steering wheel, rear spoiler, alloy wheels, universal remote garage door opener and Bluetooth hands-free communications. A number of other packages, including the Convenience and Convenience Plus Packages, Technology Package, Value Package and Special Edition Package offer remote-operated power windows, power-adjustable driver’s seat, a 9-speaker Bose premium audio system with satellite radio, hard-drive-based navigation, dual-zone climate control and a power moonroof.

Again carrying the variable-valve-timed (VVT) 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine, the front-wheel-drive-only (FWD) 2.5 S, in all its various guises, uses a standard continuously variable-speed transmission (CVT) to produce 175 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. Estimated mileage figures, meanwhile, stand at 23 mpg city/32 highway.

For 2012, the Altima 2.5 S once more boasts 4-wheel antilock braking (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front head restraint whiplash protection and front side-mounted airbags. Front fog/driving lights are optional, as are turn-signal-integrated mirrors, while Nissan’s Vehicle Tracking and Recovery System (VTRS) and/or a vehicle alarm impact sensor can augment the standard remote antitheft alarm.

Packing a variable-valve-timed (VVT) 3.5-liter V6 powerplant and sport-tuned suspension, Nissan’s 2012 Altima 3.5 SR sedan makes for one quick and nimble family automobile. Mated with the ubiquitous continuously variable transmission (CVT), the six-banger throws out 270 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque to the tune of 20 mpg city/27 highway. The beefed-up suspension, meanwhile, takes this snappy front-wheel-drive (FWD) 4-door though corners with enough élan to satisfy the most jaded commuter.

Nimble and peppy as it is, the flagship 3.5 SR is no slouch when it comes to standard goodies. Velour upholstery, heated front seats with power-adjustable driver’s throne, 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, telescoping tilt-wheel steering and air conditioning are just a sampling of what this heady 5-passenger 4-door has to offer. An MP3-capable single-CD player sports 6 speakers, while phone pre-wiring is bolstered by Bluetooth hands-free technology. Finally, a leather-wrapped steering wheel mounts handy audio and cruise controls.

A number of options packages, such as the 3.5 SR Premium Package, the Sport Package and the Technology Package are, of course, offered with this classy commuter car. Dual-zone climate control, a power moonroof, leather upholstery, hard-drive-based navigation, a 16.5-inch color monitor, a universal remote garage door opener, Bose premium audio and a rear spoiler are among the available items for which the 3.5 SR is eligible. Beware, however, that mixing and matching is all but impossible in Nissan’s convoluted options packaging scheme.

Primary safety features aboard the 2012 Altima 3.5 SR include 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front head restraint whiplash protection and front side-mounted airbags. Standard front fog/driving lights, turn-signal-integrated mirrors and a remote antitheft alarm also endow this handsome sedan. Finally, optional safety equipment includes Nissan’s Vehicle Tracking and Recovery System (VTRS) and xenon high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights.

Essentially a sub-trim of the comfortable and tolerably agile 2012 Nissan Altima lineup, the 2.5 SL midsize 5-passenger sedan adds a number of goodies above and beyond its already well-endowed S sibling. Starting with leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, this snazzy 4-door sports 16-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, a split-folding rear seatback, all power accessories including power-adjustable outside mirrors, a universal remote garage door opener, cruise control, telescoping tilt-wheel steering, illuminated center console and air conditioning. Entertainment is provided by an MP3-capable single-CD player and 6 speakers, with a premium 9-speaker Bose system, satellite radio and a rear-view camera available in the Premium Audio Package.

Further options include a power moonroof and dual-zone climate control in the Convenience Plus Package and navigation with a dash-mounted display in the Technology Package. A number of further packages offering Bluetooth hands-free technology, a rear spoiler, upgraded audio, genuine wood-veneer cabin accents and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror are also available to the 2012 Altima 2.5 SL.

This feature-laden front-wheel-drive (FWD) 4-door cooks along on a variable-valve-timed 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder (I4) engine that combines with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for 175 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. Look for an estimated 23 mpg city/32 highway.

Safety-wise, the 2012 Altima 2.5 SL carries 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front head restraint whiplash protection and front side-mounted airbags. Secondary safety equipment includes standard front fog/driving lights, turn-signal-integrated mirrors and a remote antitheft alarm. Nissan’s Vehicle Tracking and Recovery System (VTRS) and/or a vehicle alarm impact sensor are also available.