The 01 Altima was actually a few cubic feet less room than the Sentra, my father bought a 01 Sentra, it seems bigger than the O1 Altima.
The 02-04 Altima under took large improvements, Renault actually bought out Nissan, Nissan is now one of the biggest American car plants now.
The 02+ Altima has many factory features, rear sway bars, all wheel disc brakes standard, 175 horsepower, 320K km steel timing chain and you cant hear it(this is a great value in not replacing belts) liquid engine mounts, 150K sparkplugs, independant suspension multilink (very nice handling, dont get a 6 cylinder though because the engine is too heavey and takes away the great handling, I like the five speed feature of the rpm raising 500 rpm on each shift. The muffler stays closed at low rpm, then only opens on acceleration for more power. Micro finish camshafts and crank shafts. Quiet ride, 60% quieter than the 01, 60% smoother ride. Largest car in its class in every way. An lets face it, the 02 Altima has been copied by every manufacturer, look at the door and body lines of an Accord, Masda 6, Ion, Chev Optra, those line come from the Altima in 04. That is a compliment to the Altima.
One thing about the 03 Altima, rev it and work, it, is much higher reving engine than the 2400 cc in the 01. Bread to work, the 2400 cc is the chev small block in Japanese cars, the 175 HP 2500 is a 2400 modified. This engine loves to work, at about 3000 rpm with the 175 horses it is enough for an old **** for me, lots of poop, some auto journalists have stated that 02+ Altima 4 cylinders can rival some of its competion's 6 cylinder products due the great output of power in these 4 bangers .
People are in a funny mindset now, they once had an underpowered four banger in 80's or 90's, they remember the trouble passing and accessing to merge traffic, they now walk into my Nissan/Honda/Toyota dealerships wanting the 265 HP v-6 with crappy mileage, man, what a waste, the 4 cylinder is all one needs, we access onto the Trans Can Highway every day from our acreage. Average traffic is about 75 to 85 Miles per hour out there, no problem, we safely blend into traffic and thus being safe.
On the mileage thing, remember the US/Canadian gallon 20% different, also, many people no longer buy the 4 bangers, they get the 260 Horsepower 6 bangers, this will decrease mileage. Also, fuel octane, I dont know the American octane levels, I do use a premium gas. My mileage is taken on miles traveled in relation to gas gallons consumed. Also, I use a synthetic oil. The Canadian Transport Canada fuel rating on the 01 was 39 miles per gallon, we got around 38 to 38.5 mpg Canadian. This 03 Altima is rated at 40 miles per gallon, we get 40.5 mpg on flat drive to Regina and back on Trans Canada, I attribute the good mileage due to the power, this engine hardly works with the 4 banger overdrive 5 speed, remember too, few people drive 5 speeds anymore, we had to special order ours, auto cause less mileage too. Also, keep in mind different enviromental anti pollution parts may be on the American Altima that may not be on them up here, I dont know the eviromental laws.
Nissan was in dire straits until Renault bought them out, Renault actually has pumped billions into Nissan, billions recently in their big plant in I believe Tenessee or Virginia, cant remember.
When my 1986 Accord with 320K got hail damaged I went looking for a new Honda Accord in 2000. The Accord priced at $26,500.00 Canadian in Medicine Hat, AB., air conditioned with 15inch alloy wheels, manual seat adjustment, no auto security features, no block heater (extra), cd, 5 speed, no spoileror or undercoat priced, We nearly signed the papers, I had read about Nissan, I told the Honda salesman we would have a cool off period before signing and we checked out Nissan accross town. We ordered the 01 Altima limited editions factory direct, convience package included in $24,400.00 price. This Altima had $16 inch allow wheels, full power front seat, 6 cd 120 watt stereo compared to Honda single. Full security system keyless entry (not at Honda for 26,500.00) 155 Horsepower, road side assistance 3 years (never used it and not at Honda). Spoiler, undercoat on car, interior scotch guard including in Altima. The Altima was a little smaller but suitable for family of three with a 10 year old son. I priced the Honda with the same options as we got on the Conv package for $24,000.00 and that Honda would have cost $32,000.00 optioned equally to the conv package in the Altima. I price both cars option for option equally, no contest, the base list prices are the same, once the options start, Nissan is the better value.
We found the same on the 03 Altima, when the 02 Altima won car of year in N.A. I had to have it because it was biggest, most powerful, beter mileage, smoother, quieter and styled. These factors convinced me to buy it, I have no quality issues with Nissan, driven them since 1978, they are proven to me, I wont knock a Honda either, just a style choice for me. This Altima is now our car for next 12 years no matter what any manufacturer comes out with, I regret the newer Altima didn't come out in 01, it would have saved me going through this new car ordeal twice.
I recommend one on personal experience, when I met my wife in 1984 she had a Honda, we bought two more Honda along with Nissan/Datsun, she too loves the Altima based on style and options, the reliability issue is no issue to either one of us. We have driven this 03 over a year now, no glitch, no problems, runs great, I change oil, has not been in shop, it wont be, just maintain them and drive them. Every Japanese car I have driven is equal this way, take care of them and they take care of you 10 fold.
One thing I have to say in ending, Nissan has spent billions on their plant in the U.S. They do a lot of Hydrogen research in B.C. Can, they spend and build part with N.A. companies. Many poeple in my rural conservative town dont think much of my Japanese Altima, thing is, this Altima is more American than most domestics, my 1992 Dodge Ram diesel has a "made in Mexico" stamp on it. In 1992 Chrysler was Japan bashing. Renault bailed out Nissan, Nissan is very American, they seem to stick to Japanese quality though. Honda and Toyota are also based here too, I take nothing from them, just that Nissan plant in the southern states is awesome. They now expanded with billion dollar plant where they make the Altima and Maxima to my understanding.
Worth looking into, Nissan is on the move, Honda and Toyota are looking over their shoulders, lots of Altimas up here now, our climates here are harsh, drive conditions tough, if any car toughs it out here, it will anywhere. In Sask here, the saying is, "if you dont like the weather, wait five minutes, it will change" We can be + 40F one day with tail end of chinook and -40 F next day anytime in winter, that is hard on any car and these Nissans take it as good as any Honda I have had.
There is no such thing as a bad Japanese product in my experience, it is a choice of style, personal preferences and value for cost to me.
Cyprs
