All-new 2013 Buick Regal one great driving car

By Lary Coppola

Buick revived the mid-size Regal nameplate sedan for the 2011 model year, basing it on the same platform as General Motors’ (GM) German sibling, the Opel Insignia, which won major awards when it debuted in Europe.

Shorter than the popular LaCrosse, the Regal is basically a four-passenger car that could accommodate a rear-center child seat if necessary. The leather interior reminded us of the Acura TSX, in that it’s a nice mix of sport and luxury.

The Regal comes in five trim levels — the base Regal (1SL), Premium I (1SN), Premium II (1SP), Premium III (1SR) and GS (1SX). With four option packages (including GS) that allows buyers a fairly high degree of personalization.

Walkaround: Following the lead of manufacturers such as Nissan/Infiniti, Honda/Acura, Toyota/Lexus, Volvo and others, GM designed the Regal as a world car built for sales in numerous international markets. It shares all its body panels with the aforementioned Insignia, and bears the signature sloping roofline of today’s contemporary sedans. It’s visually extended by the edge of the rear lamp housings and a short trunk lid with a subtle lip spoiler. A simple character line sweeps down and back behind the front wheel and carries through the rear door. There’s no lower edge trim but textured paint protection does minimize stone chips.

Side chrome is limited to the window surrounds and a front fender-mounted turn indicator. However, both ends have their share of brightwork. The nose showcases the prominent waterfall grille framed by lamp clusters. A large chrome spear anchors a big, truck-mounted Buick crest, and the sweep of the lamps mirror the LaCrosse.

There are also three new color choices for 2013 — Black Diamond Tricoat, Champagne Silver Metallic, and Graphic Blue Metallic.

Interior: With leather standard, even the base model offers a welcoming interior that’s comfortable and quiet, with its character seemingly changing with the chosen color scheme.

Both our test vehicle’s front seats featured 8-ways with a 4-way lumbar support. Long-term support was good — especially traveling — but the lack of lateral support and softness shows the seats are clearly meant for comfort rather than performance driving.

The rear seats are comfortable for occupants under 6 feet. The sloping roofline limits rear headroom — a problem the smaller VW Passat and larger Mazda6 don’t have.

Instrumentation has the computer/message center situated between a watch-dial-like speedometer and tach, underneath numerical fuel and coolant gauges, which are illuminated in GM’s signature ice blue. GPS Navigation is standard on all models and the 7-inch high-resolution, full-color touch screen sits top center offering excellent line-of-sight viewing.

Standard audio is a 7-speaker, AM/FM/Sirius XM (three-month courtesy subscription) stereo with single CD/DVD player, MP3 player, auxiliary input jack, and iPod/USB port. The available SiriusXM Travel Link feature (subscription required) includes fuel locations with pricing information, weather infor¬mation and movie theater locations.

Optional is a harman/kardon 336-watt, 5.1 Matrix Surround Sound, 9-speaker system.

Also standard with both audio systems is Buick’s IntelliLink system, which uses Bluetooth or USB to connect the driver’s smartphone to the radio display via the screen. IntelliLink allows smartphone control via voice activation and steering wheel-mounted controls. The standard Radio Data System (RDS) also enables streaming stereo from the phone through Internet radio services such as Pandora and Stitcher.

White-on-black buttons on the center stack handle audio, car, and navigation chores, with dual temperature climate controls below, and redundant controls on the sporty steering wheel. Chrome trim abounds, framing the shifter, gauges and rotary dash controls.

The 14.2 cubic foot trunk is fairly long and offers moderate lift-to-load and unload dimensions, securing points, and flat sidewalls. The 60/40 split rear seat folds down with a lockable pass-through in the armrest.

Safety features include six airbags standard with rear-seat side-impact airbags optional, as is GM’s Electronic Stability Control.

Under The Hood: There is one basic powerplant, with three configurations, and two transmission choices. Our test vehicle was equipped with GM’s standard 2.4-liter, DOHC, four-banger with eAssist, that puts 182 horses to the highway, with 172 pound-feet of torque, and married to a six-speed automatic — the only transmission with this engine. The eAssist system uses power stored in the lithium-ion battery to provide needed electrical boost in various driving situations and enables regenerative braking capability, optimizing engine and transmission operation. Fuel economy is rated at 25/city and 36/highway.

There’s an optional Eco-Tec 220-horse turbocharged, direct-injected 2-liter, that delivers 260 pound-feet of torque, and a high-output turbo version that puts down 270 horses and 295 pound-feet of torque. Both are available with either a 6-speed stick or automatic.

Behind The Wheel: We found the Regal very quiet, with a nice, smooth highway ride. In fact, it may be the quietest car in its class. A bad road surface will transmit some noise however, and we noticed some slight wind noise from behind at speed. But even with the engine pushing hard, it’s little more than background noise, with no audible hint it’s even working hard.

The Regal has a very solid feel, and driving it hard at freeway speeds offered comfort and quiet. The steering provides good feedback, feel and directional stability, and the brakes are certainly up to the challenge. Both the gas and brake pedals are engineered to require some foot travel before you get into heavy braking or kick-down acceleration, rather than the instant bite of a sports sedan. And while it’s not a true sports sedan, like some of its competitors — namely the Acura TSX, Audi A4, Mazda 6, VW Passat, Volvo S60, and Lexus ES — it’s pretty close.

Whines: While the Regal is more than adequate around town or on the freeway, the standard 2.4 could be pushing it passing a truck on a two-lane blacktop or climbing a mountain grade.

Bottom Line: The Buick Regal offers a stylish alternative to the entry-premium midsize sedan segment, delivering visual appeal, soothing quiet, smooth ride, easily deciphered features, comfort and economy conducive to long drives — and a better than average warranty.

Hyundai Veloster: Unique, fun and frugal

 By Bruce Caldwell

The new for 2012 Hyundai Veloster stands out in a crowd for several reasons: unique styling (it’s a 3-door sport hatchback), excellent fuel economy, affordable pricing, versatility, and fun to drive personality. In a world full of copycat cars the Hyundai Veloster dares to be different and succeeds. There are unique cars with minimal functionality, but the Veloster works both as a styling statement and sensible transportation.

The Hyundai Veloster value proposition is strong. Our tester had a list price just over $17,000, but two $2,000 option packages plus freight charges nudged the total past $22,000. We could do without the Tech Package (navigation system, backup camera, etc.), but we’d keep the Style Package (great panoramic sunroof, premium audio system, and various interior upgrades). Regardless of how it’s configured, the Veloster is a great deal.

Walkaround: You won’t have any trouble finding a Veloster in a crowded parking lot. The car is a blend of coupe and sedan. It looks coupe-like on the driver’s side with its single door and more sedan-like on the passenger side with its normal front door and smaller rear door. All doors are front-hinged, unlike some 3-door compact pickups that have a rear-hinged back door. The third door has to fit around the rear wheel well, but it’s workable.

The car’s profile is low and pretty sleek. The wheels are pushed toward the outer corners, which enhances the low look. Our tester had the $2,000 optional Style Package that included handsome 18-inch alloy wheels and P215/40R-18 tires. The flat face wheels look great, but they’re susceptible to curb rash.

A major component of the Style Package is the great panoramic sunroof. The massive glass roof greatly brightens the interior. There is a power shade to help keep the interior cool. The actual sunroof opening is on the small side, but it works well thanks to a nice wind deflector.

Interior: The interior is very spacious for the driver and front seat passenger. Legroom was so extensive that we had to move the seat up in order to work the clutch and we’re 6-2. The panoramic sunroof crowds headroom a little, but a seat height pump helps drivers find an ideal position.

The supportive seats were nicely contoured, as was the thick steering wheel. A tilt/telescopic steering column further eases the task of finding a perfect driving position. The front doors have unique, oversized door pulls, which are great for closing the wide doors. Interior storage bins are ample.

Lots of stainless trim and contrasting colors make the interior as bold as the exterior. The look fits the car’s personality. Material quality and execution is very good.

Overall cargo capacity is ample for a relatively small vehicle, but the space isn’t super easy to access. The split rear seats don’t fold completely flat and there is a noticeable height difference between the seat backs and trunk floor. The hatch opening is big, but the wide cargo area is restrictive for tall objects. The rear lift over is quite high. A lot of soft cargo can be accommodated, but tall, rigid boxes pose a challenge.

In keeping with the car’s high-tech styling, the interior was loaded with state-of-the-art electronics and info/entertainment/communications features, including Hyundai’s Blue Link Telematics System (it requires a subscription after the 90-day free introduction).

Under The Hood: Our tester was a 2012 model, which was only offered with a 1.6-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine rated at 138 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of torque. The smooth 6-speed manual transmission helped make the most of the modest horsepower and also contributed to an impressive EPA fuel economy rating of 28 mpg city/40 mpg highway.

The big news for 2013 is the availability of a new turbocharged and intercooled engine that produces 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque from the same 1.6-liter 4-cylinder powerplant. The turbo engine is available with either the 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic with manual shifting capabilities. The turbo engine is more in keeping with the car’s swoopy styling.

Behind The Wheel: The ride quality was quite good. It’s a good blend of sporty and comfortable. Despite its styling the Veloster isn’t a hardcore sports car. That’s fine for most buyers. It’s sporty enough to be fun, but not so responsive as to be harsh. The freeway ride is generally smooth, but big expansion strips and potholes can be felt. The build quality is solid and sound insulation is decent. At high rpms the standard engine lets you know how hard it’s working. Otherwise, things are reasonably quiet. The excellent sound system is a big plus.

The driving experience is tied to one’s attitude. If you consider the Veloster a versatile, four-passenger economy car it exceeds category expectations, but if you’re looking for a sports car experience the 2013 turbocharged engine is a must.

Whines: The hatchback design and the rear seat headrests hamper rearward vision, although the backup camera helped a lot. The rear seat is best for children or short, flexible adults.

Bottom Line: We liked the Hyundai Veloster a lot. Unique styling and an overall sporty attitude pushed the Veloster well up the fun scale. Fuel economy that can hit the magic 40-mpg mark and prices in the very low twenties (high teens without the two $2,000 option packages or the new turbo engine) seal the deal. The Hyundai Veloster proves that practicality doesn’t have to be boring.

Automotive Design Studios Envision Law Enforcement's Road Ahead

2012 L.A. Auto Show invites design studios from around the world to compete in the ninth annual Design Challenge: Highway Patrol Vehicle - 2025

The pace of change in society accelerates every year, with breakthrough technologies and rapidly developing countries constantly rewriting the rules in a global economy. How this translates into life on the road for the general public is open to interpretation, but for law enforcement, it is a mission-critical assignment. To better patrol our roads and effectively "protect and serve," the future highway patrol vehicle will have to be designed with an entirely new set of considerations, including advanced powertrains, alternative fuels, telemetrics and new sizes to effectively navigate dynamic urban environment. This year's Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge asks a highly competitive field of major auto manufacturer design studios, from the U.S., Germany and Japan, to solve this puzzle and create the ultimate law enforcement patrol vehicle for the year 2025. So far, design studios from Bentley, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai and Subaru have accepted the challenge to use their innovation and insight to explore creative solutions as they contend for this annual design honor. "One of the most difficult yet important tasks in design is looking into the future to envision and create the trends and tools that haven't been imagined," said Chuck Pelly, director of Design Los Angeles and partner in The Design Academy, Inc. "Adding the element of law enforcement to this year's competition creates another layer of importance that makes a challenge equal to the level of our participants." The winning design will be announced Nov. 29 during an event at the LA Auto Show Press Days. Judging criteria will be based upon various factors including: consideration of future needs for advanced technology, speed and agility on future freeway systems; creativity of the solution; meeting a specific region's emission standards; and environmental sensitivity, including maintenance and recyclability. All entries will be unveiled online at LAautoshow.com in early November.  Entries will be judged by Tom Matano, executive director, School of Industrial Design at San Francisco's Academy of Art University; Imre Molnar, provost and chief academic officer at Detroit's College for Creative Studies; and Stewart Reed, chair of Transportation Design at Pasadena's Art Center College of Design. This year's guest judge, Bruce Meyer, is a board member of the California Highway Patrol 11-99 Foundation, which provides emergency benefits to CHP employees and the members of their families in times of crisis. Mr. Meyer is perhaps better known as a high-profile collector, former racer and past chairman of the Petersen Automotive Museum.  The Design Challenge is sponsored by Faurecia, the world's sixth-largest automotive supplier specializing in automotive seating, emissions control technologies, interior systems and auto exteriors, as well as Yokohama Tire, which works closely with auto manufacturers in the U.S., Europe and Japan to develop tires for the latest concept vehicles. Other sponsors that make Design Los Angeles possible include, Dassault Systemes, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) and Lacks Enterprises. About the Design Challenge The Design Challenge takes place annually during the LA Auto Show Press Days, Nov. 28-29, 2012. For each of the past nine years, a new Design Challenge theme is chosen and the major automotive design studios showcase their talents, competing against one another to further explore new ideas in automotive design. The LA Auto Show Press Days hosts the largest gathering of design professionals in North America for a variety of design-focused activities including a Designers' Night party that brings together design industry leaders from around the world.

Ford Claims Focus is About To Unseat Toyota Corolla As World's Top-Selling Car

Ford Focus

By DEE-ANN DURBIN

AP Auto Writer

The stylish and nimble Ford Focus is on track to unseat Toyota's aging Corolla to become the world's top-selling car, according to Ford. The company says it sold 489,616 Focus sedans and hatchbacks globally in the first half of 2012, besting the Corolla by almost 27,000.

The Focus has several advantages, says Aaron Bragman, an automotive industry analyst for IHS Global Insight. It is newer, features better handling and styling, has superior technology and a much nicer interior than the Corolla. "I'd rank it superior to the Corolla in pretty much most ways," says Bragman.

But Toyota isn't conceding the title. It has disputed Ford's numbers, saying its car is still on top when you include Corollas sold under other names. Hatchback versions of the Corolla are sold as the Auris in Europe and Matrix in the U.S.

Toyota Corolla

Toyota also sells the Corolla Verso, a van-like vehicle that Toyota has traditionally counted as a Corolla, says spokesman Mike Michels. Including all the models, Toyota sold 603,840 Corollas in the first half, beating the focus by about 114,000, Michels says

Toyota is working on a new version of the Corolla which is expected to go on sale next year, although the company hasn't made it official.

Ford made the announcement at its assembly plant in Rayong, which opened in May to build the Focus. The Thailand plant, which is one of Ford's most advanced, has the capacity to produce 150,000 cars per year for sale in Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and other countries in the region.

Ford's recently revamped Focus is sold in more than 100 countries worldwide. It's a strong seller in the U.S., where Focus sales were up 31 percent in the first half of the year compared with 2011. But the Corolla is still king in the U.S., where it outsold the Focus by nearly 27,500 in the first half of the year.

The Corolla could still pass the Focus as the global top-seller this year, Bragman said. Toyota had few Corollas to sell at the start of the year because last year's earthquake and tsunami in Japan slowed its factories. But now the car is back at full supply and selling well. Also, last year at this time the Focus was ahead of the Corolla, but the Corolla pulled through in the end, outselling the Focus by more than 100,000 vehicles.

"It might be a bit premature to declare a sales crown," Bragman said. Also at the plant, Ford executives were celebrating the production of the 350 millionth vehicle Ford has made since its founding 109 years ago.

Plug-in Hybrid Sales Soar; All-Electric Cars Stay In Low Gear

The original EV Pioneer, the Nissan LEAF

By Jerry Hirsch

 Los Angeles Times

Since a new generation of electric cars went on sale 18 months ago, the results have been far from jolting.

Sales of what are considered “pure” electric cars — they run off just a battery — have risen to slightly over 4,100 during the first six months of this year, up just 6 percent from the same period a year earlier, according to auto-information company Edmunds.com.

The gain, which amounts to just 234 cars, comes even though Ford, BMW, Honda and Mitsubishi all have joined pioneer Nissan in offering electric vehicles. Analysts say electric cars’ limited range and higher prices, as well as the lack of a widespread public charging infrastructure, have hurt the appeal of the vehicles. The pure electric cars have no backup to power them when their batteries run out.

“Range anxiety just kills it for a lot of day-to-day consumers,” said Ivan Drury, an analyst with Edmunds.com.

But sales of plug-in hybrids — vehicles that can travel some miles on battery power before a traditional gasoline engine kicks in — are soaring.

Thanks to a resurgent Chevrolet Volt and Toyota’s introduction of a plug-in version of its popular Prius, sales of such vehicles have jumped 381 percent to more than 13,000 in the first half of this year, according to Edmunds.com.

“A lot of consumers believe an ideal vehicle might be an all-electric, but the distance they drive might be greater than what an electric can handle,” said Michael O’Brien, the electric — and hybrid-vehicle marketing chief at Ford.

Ford recently announced the range of its first plug-in hybrid — the C-Max Energi small crossover, which comes out later this year. It will be able to travel about 20 miles on electricity alone but could go an additional 530 miles with the help of its gasoline engine, Ford said. The automaker said this week it plans to charge $33,745 for the vehicle.

General Motors has sold 8,817 Chevrolet Volts in the first half of this year, a 221 percent increase. That includes 1,760 sold in June. Volt sales have been helped by the car’s recent qualification for California’s rebate and carpool-lane permits. About 28 percent of its sales last month were in California.

Toyota has sold 4,374 of its Prius plug-ins through June, about 60 percent in California. The company has forecast that it will sell about 15,000 Prius plug-ins this year.

By comparison, Nissan sold only 3,148 all-electric Leafs in this year’s first half, down 18.8 percent from a year earlier. Just 535 of those sales took place in June.

Mitsubishi has sold 333 of its i-MiEV electric-only car.

“The battery-electric solution that is 100 percent gasoline-free really caters to a small audience because of the limited range of those vehicles,” O’Brien said.

Conventional hybrids, like the original Prius, route energy — much of it generated when the vehicle brakes — into a battery.

They use that electricity to power an electric motor to get the car moving from a stop and to assist in accelerating, passing or hill climbing, all areas in which cars burn up the most gas, which is why they get terrific fuel economy.

But they don’t give drivers the option of driving gas-free. Plug-in hybrids enable car owners to straddle both worlds.

“It is the best (electric) option right now because they overcome the idea that you can’t drive the vehicle past a 75- or 80-mile limit,” Drury said.

He believes plug-in hybrid sales will grow to 40,000 to 50,000 vehicles in 2013, but that their price — higher than that of a conventional hybrid — will remain an obstacle to faster growth.

“Plug-ins are in their early stages, similar to the first years of conventional hybrids,” he said.

As more companies come out with plug-ins — look for versions of the Ford Fusion and Honda’s Accord in the next year — the debate will turn to what is the best electric-only range for these vehicles.

Toyota’s plug-in Prius checks in with an 11-mile electric range, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The Volt gets 35 miles. (Individual drivers might do better or worse. The numbers are just guidelines.)

Ford says the 20-mile electric range of the C-Max is a sweet spot that can cover most one-way commutes and allow the driver to charge up for the return home.

The New Signature Look For Lexus

 

The new look for Lexus is a spindle grille, which is debuting on the LS460 that was introduced this week. The F Sport features a black eggcrate trim in the grille, but still offers the chrome border,

Nissan Altima is all-new vehicle for 2013

By Lary and Dee Coppola

After four highly successful generations, the venerable Nissan Altima enters its fifth generation as a totally new vehicle for 2013. Boasting a combination of innovative mechanical improvements, painstakingly tuned ride and handling, coupled with advanced cockpit connectivity and sleek styling, the 2013 Altima feels and drives like it’s in a class above its crowded midsize segment. 

The 2013 Altima arrives with a choice of a newly redesigned 2.5-liter four-banger that puts a surprisingly peppy 182 horses to the highway — or a more forceful 270-hp version of Nissan’s revered 3.5-liter V6, which has replaced the small-block Chevy of yore for being universally recognized as one of the best, strongest and most versatile powerplants ever built.

Safety equipment on all Altima models include ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, all federally mandated airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, child seat anchors, LATCH child-seat system, power window lockout, child safety rear door locks, emergency inside trunk release, Vehicle Dynamics Control, Traction Control, tire-pressure monitor, and Vehicle Immobilizer System.

The Nissan Altima competes with the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Mazda 6, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Volkswagen Passat, Chevy Malibu and Ford Fusion.

Model Lineup: The four Altima 2.5 models — base, S, SV and SL — are powered by the aforementioned 182-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder, while all three Altima 3.5 models — S, SV and SL — feature the 270-hp 3.5-liter V6. Both Altima versions come with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The base Altima 2.5 ($21,500) features standard cloth upholstery, 6-way manual driver’s seat, AM/FM/CD with 4 speakers, hands-free Bluetooth phone and Bluetooth Streaming Audio. It also offers Nissan Advanced Drive-Assist display, power windows, power locks, dual remote power sideview mirrors, remote keyless entry, steering wheel cruise control, center console w/ armrest and power outlet, four cup holders, four bottle holders, 16-inch steel wheels, 215/60R16 tires, and halogen headlights.

The Altima 2.5 S ($22,500) adds six-way power driver’s seat, and six-speaker AM/FM/CD.

The Altima 2.5 SV ($24,100) adds leather-wrapped steering wheel, 17-inch alloy wheels, 215/55R17 tires, speed-sensitive audio volume control, USB port with iPod, satellite radio, Pandora, Google POI Search, hands-free text messaging, rearview monitor, dual-zone climate control, rear heating/cooling vents, and remote engine start.

An optional 2.5 SV Convenience Package ($1350) includes power moonroof, fog lights, sideview mirrors with integrated turn signals, manual folding sideview mirrors, illuminated vanity mirrors, one-touch auto up/down on the front passenger window, auto-dimming rearview mirror, Homelink Universal Transceiver, compass, mood lamp, and side cargo net.

The SV Navigation Package ($590) adds a 7-inch color screen, turn-by-turn navigation integration into Nissan Advanced Drive-Assist display, and steering wheel navigation system controls.

The 2.5 SL ($28,050) upgrades include leather seating, heated front seats, eight-way power driver’s seat w/ power lumbar, two-way adjustable head restraints, Bose 9-speaker AM/FM/CD/Aux, compass, folding power sideview mirrors, Homelink Universal Transceiver, power moonroof, wood-tone trim, metallic texture trim, side cargo net, LED front map lights, mood lamp, fog lights, outside mirror LED turn signals, and LED taillights.

An optional SL Technology Package ($1090) features everything in the SV Navigation package plus Blind Spot Warning, Moving Obstacle Detection, and Lane Departure Warning.

The V6-powered Altima 3.5 S ($25,360), 3.5 SV ($27,780), and 3.5 SL ($30,080) are all equipped the same as the respective 2.5 models and offer the same option packages.

Walkaround: The 2013 Nissan Altima features sleek, aggressive styling that gives it the appearance of being a class above its competitors. For 2013, the Altima has the same wheelbase as previously, but is 1.4 inches wider, and its fenders are deeper, giving it a sporty, aggressive, muscular-looking stance.

A chrome-trimmed, blacked-out grille and smooth-looking headlight cluster meet the short hood, and all flow easily to the steeply raked windshield. A single character line runs high and cleanly along the side towards the rear. Nissan designers intentionally avoided multiple, opposing character lines such as the Hyundai Sonata, avoiding cluttering Altima’s simple but elegant design. Chrome trim around the windows and bright 10-spoke wheels add to Altima’s near-luxury allure.

At the rear, a bold chrome bar rides above the ending of the side character lines at the bottom of the trunk. The trunk has a convenient low lift-over height and the design signs off with dual chrome tailpipes.

Interior: The 2013 Altima lineup offers a varied range of interior trim levels, depending on the model.

The white-on-black instrumentation is extremely legible, and surrounded by nice soft-touch dashboard padding. The Advanced Drive-Assist Display — standard on every model — is a four-inch color display located between the speedometer and tach, providing fuel economy, trip computer, audio information, tire-pressure readings, and most importantly, turn-by-turn navigation.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel offered the usual audio and cruise controls, plus controls for the navigation system, which provided good information via simple, effective graphics.

Two things particularly worth mentioning are the Altima’s quietness, and new zero-gravity seats.

Nissan made considerable strides in strengthening the body structure and soundproofing its panels, which strongly contribute to the car’s class-above feeling, since quietness is a luxury car trademark.

Nissan’s Zero-Gravity seats are designed to provide consistent support from pelvis to chest, and during our six-hour road trip, which included a lot of winding two-lane blacktop through the Tennessee countryside, as well as freeway driving, they were extremely comfortable. Before embarking on the trip, we had an opportunity to sit side-by-side in them and in a competitor’s seats. There was absolutely no comparison in comfort.

The new Altima also boasts great electronic connectivity. All models come with Bluetooth hands-free phone connections and streaming audio. Also available is hands-free text messaging, Pandora integration, a USB/iPod connection and Sirius/XM satellite radio.

Under The Hood: The 2.5-Liter inline 4-banger is newly redesigned and married to a vastly improved Nissan CVT. This drivetrain delivers a segment-leading 38 mpg EPA Highway rating — better than Chevy Malibu ECO, Hyundai Hybrid, Ford Fusion Hybrid, or any other competing midsize sedan.

The strong 3.5 V6 is married to the same CVT.

Behind The Wheel: We found the 182-horse 2.5 worked hard to deliver what we’d term slightly above-average performance for this segment. Nissan says it does the 0-60 drill in 7.14 seconds. We’re thinking 8 seconds is probably more realistic — and for 38 mpg, you can handle 8 seconds.

Meanwhile the 3.5 V6 is a brilliant performer, doing the same drill in a very honest 6.2 seconds — fastest in this class.

The secret to the 2.5-Liter’s efficiency is the CVT. At 70 mph the Altima ran at 1,650 rpm — barely awake, and just sipping fuel. While the competitors hype their hybrids while forgetting to mention the excess cost, Nissan slipped under the radar and beat them all at the pump.

The Altima’s highway manners are superb. The top-of-the-line Altima SL trim is very luxurious, while the cloth SV trim isn’t bad either, with all models extremely quiet.

The multi-link suspension has been redesigned for excellent handling on all terrains, and the 4-wheel ABS disc brakes are equipped with electronic brake distribution, delivering minute degrees of braking control in slippery conditions. Understeer control, vehicle dynamic control (VDC) and traction control, each of which are fully automatic and self-activating, combine to give this car the full meal deal of modern safety and security.

Whines: On the 2.5, intelligent circuitry and the CVT regulate engine speed automatically, but we still missed the paddle shifters — available only on the 3.5 models.

Bottom Line: Headline-making fuel efficiency, great handling, unusual quietness, innovative connectivity and extraordinary creature comforts make the 2013 Altima a stylish, affordable and tempting choice regardless of the trim level you choose. The 2013 Altima interior feels like anything but a midsize car, while the higher trim models are absolutely lavish.