The 2020 Nissan Altima SL is a competent mid-size sedan, but is it good enough?

We can certainly speak on authority when it comes to the Nissan Altima. We’re on our second, a 2011 Altima SE, which we purchased brand new. Our first, a 2008 Altima S, was a bread and butter model upon which we were thinking we were going to dump at ton of miles. As rentals, I drove a bunch of 2002-2006 models, all of which I found comfortable to drive lo9ng distances as well as terrific on gas mileage. Our 2008 and 2011 were EPA rated at 27 city/ 32 hwy/ 29 combined; not too shabby for decade-old tech. Our 2020 tester is EPA rated at 26 city/ 36 hwy/ 30 combined. We chose the 2.5-liter four over the more spirited 3.5-liter V6 that’s now restricted to the Nissan Murano and Maxima. Apparently most other buyers did as well, since the take rate was 9-1 for the four-banger.

So last year Nissan did the unthinkable and dropped the V6 altogether in lieu of a brand new 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve I-4 engine, that it shares with the Infiniti QX50. So, not only does this powerplant get gas mileage the 3.5-liter could only dream about, it has similar power and refinement of the six; far more than the old pushrod I-4.

Since the Altima was refreshed from ground up last year, don’t expect any major enhancements for 2020. Unlike the domestics, the Asian brands have not given up on sedans. While sales are down, the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Altima are faring quite nicely against the insane popularity of crossovers. Some people just want the simplicity of a sedan over a Ute.

I’ll admit I was a little disappointed that the execution was not as dramatic as the redesigned 2016 Maxima or even the 2020 Sentra. The grille motif follows Nissan V-Motion theme, but I would have liked to have seen the floating C-pillars. Also, I would have liked to have seen a panoramic roof, like the Camry, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima have. But this is where my nitpicking stops; from here it’s all positive, except I will have to diss the infotainment screen, for it’s virtually impossible to see when the sun reflects on it.

The model lineup remains intact: The S, SV, SR, SL and Platinum. The S remains the bread and butter budget model, with the SV dressed more like our personal 2011 Altima SE, offering automatic climate control, power driver’s seat and optional sunroof.

Like on the Maxima, the SR is Nissan’s performance (cough) edition. Yes, it does include paddle shifters and a 2.0-liter turbo engine, but that’s about the extent of it. If you want a hole in the roof, move on. The Camry has it beat in Spades, especially with its upcoming TRD edition.

The SL has just about everything you need without going crazy nuts on pricing. At $34,855 this was an absolute bargain among its competition. Though it’s dressed in far more elegance, you’ll pay a king’s ransom for the Platinum. Desired amenities included a power glass moonroof, though again, was not panoramic.

And oh, did I mention that this sixth-gen Altima comes with standard AWD? At least for the moment it’s the only model in its segment to do so. That’s subject to change when the Camry will adopt AWD, thanks to the RAV4 AWD system. This will be the first time in 18 years, since the 1991 Camry All-Trac, that the Camry will have this “option”, but not as standard affair.

Over the past decade I’ve driven just about every generation Altima, but to spend a week with the 2020 model was as different as night and day. Our 2011 has served us 93,000 trouble-free miles (something I could say for the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited Hemi I had previously leased). With the proper maintenance, I feel our Altima could easily go on for at least another 100k miles or so.

Nissan's driver assistance technologies work well with ProPilot Assist active; a Nissan exclusive. It does an excellent job keeping you centered in your lane and maintaining enough distance between you and the vehicle ahead, so that no one can cut in. With ProPilot Assist deactivated, the lane centering and steering assist functions disengage too, leaving you with an erratic lane keeping assist that use the brakes to jerk you back into your lane rather than gently steer you back.

I applaud Nissan for their blind spot monitor system that puts the indicator on the interior A-post, instead of in the mirror. And it has an audible that alerts the driver when a vehicle approaches your blind spot. Another feature I found innovative was that Nissan has a feature that audible alerts you (like a navigation turn by turn) when road construction is ahead, or traffic lanes decrease.

I do so like the Murano and Maxima Platinum, but I could be perfectly happy with the Altima SL. Our tester started with a $31,590 base sticker, with only a few selected options, such as floor mats, trunk mat hideaway net ($300), ground lighting ($380), interior accent lighting ($456), illuminated sill plates ($420) and impact sensors ($210). All totaled, it brings the MSRP to $34,856 including a designation charge of $895.

That puts it in the same ballpark as the front-drive Toyota Camry and Honda Accord with their standard powertrains, both of which are more powerful than the Altima. With all-wheel drive, the Altima's 2.5-liter I-4 is only rated at 182-hp and 178 lb.-ft because of a different exhaust system (FWD models get 188 hp and 180 lb.-ft).

The Altima’s base powerplant has all the power the average consumer needs. The CVT makes the most out of the engine without calling attention to itself, amplifying the Altima's relaxed demeanor. With under 200-hp, it's nearly impossible to break traction on dry surfaces because the all-wheel-drive system sends up to 50 percent of its torque to the rear wheels at the slightest hint of wheel slip.

Inside you'll find a spacious cabin which accommodates four passengers comfortably (plus a fifth in a pinch). Despite the low-slung roofline, the Altima has excellent visibility to keep you from feeling claustrophobic, and there's abundant head- and legroom for all but the tallest adults. The Altima's spacious 15.4-cubic-foot trunk swallows plenty of cargo and the standard 60/40 split-folding rear seats lets you accommodate bulky items.

Nissan has nearly everyone beat in seat comfort having NASA-engineered Zero Gravity seats. Regardless of where you sit, the Altima has soft cushy seats, ideal for road trips and commuting. The front seats offer great support, you relax into them like you would in a La-Z-Boy recliner, providing the driver and whoever’s riding shotgun the best seats in the house. Only Lincoln’s multi-functional seats can match Nissan's in comfort.

Material quality and attention to detail, especially on the leather-ladened models is top notch, although there was a little too much plastic being used. The dashboard was a clean design; again the only issue was the, what seemed tacked on, infotainment screen which was impossible to read exposed to sunlight.

Other than NissanConnect’s infotainment system being almost impossible to read, it combines a responsive 8.0-inch touchscreen with an intuitive button layout to keep the controls familiar. Even the most tech-averse consumer can use this interface in seconds without having to investigate the owner's manual. Improved graphics, particularly the onboard navigation maps, bring it into the modern age without adding complexity. Our tester also had a Bose audio system.

Between the spacious interior, user-friendly multimedia system, and comfortable seats, living with the 2020 Nissan Altima proved easy but forgettable. Whereas the Honda Accord and Mazda 6 punch above their weight with their great driving dynamics and premium-level interior, the Altima doesn't move much beyond mainstream. Some, if not most journalists are not crazy about Nissan’s CVT tranny. I’ve have never had issues with it; and one of the reasons we’ve never upgraded, was that I’d miss shifting through the gears, an option the Altima lost in its 2013 upgrade. Also, I’d miss the three cupholders in the console, with even a cover to hide them out of sight.

Despite its edgy exterior styling, not much is memorable about the Altima, aside from the available all-wheel drive, Pro Pilot Assist, whiz kid technology and ingenious base engine. It's worth a look but don't expect much against the Camry, Accord and now completely reworked 2020 Hyundai Sonata and upcoming 2021 Kia Optima.