2006 Nissan Altima Reviews, Pricing & Specs

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2006 Nissan Altima SE-R in smoke gray thumbnail

$18,365 to $30,265

6.8/10

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Expert review

The Nissan Altima is a refreshingly sporty entrant in the midsize sedan set, especially in SE-R trim.

As mid-size sedans go, shoppers typically consider the popular names like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, but there is another contender in the import sedan market. The Nissan Altima offers style and sporty flair, and it wears its “alternative” badge with pride.

Nissan knows the Altima has to stand out against the mainstream sedans, so it imbues this five-passenger midsize family sedan with a bit of attitude and athleticism. The Altima shares this sporty niche of the family sedan market with the Mazda Mazda6, and it is squarely aimed at commuters that want something a bit more exciting than the average sedan. Shoppers that choose the Altima will be rewarded with refreshingly sporty handling in a roomy and comfortable sedan.

6.8

out of 10 expert review

Look & feel

7/10

2006 marks the final year for the third-generation Altima. The car was first introduced for the 2002 model year, and it received a facelift in 2005. That 2005 design update is carried over to 2006.

The Altima advertises this sporty nature with chiseled styling, muscular headlights, and a prominent grille. The Altima has sports-car-inspired “Euro”-style taillights, helping drive home the athletic nature of the car. Outside of these details, the Altima has a very clean exterior design, but one that is far from boring.

Inside, the Altima has a modern and upbeat dash design. It has a traditional layout for the controls, but the centre stack, instrument panel, and steering wheel are all very contemporary. This is similar to the smaller Honda Accord, which has a futuristic cockpit. While the styling is fresh, the quality of materials is often limited to hard plastic, meaning the dash can come off as cold and uninviting at times.

Trims for the Altima in Canada are S, SE, and SE-R. The SE-R is the sportiest of the lineup and provides forged 18-inch alloy wheels, performance dual exhaust with dual outlets, a more aggressive lower front spoiler, and on the inside, black leather sport seats.

Performance

7/10

The base engine in the Altima is a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine, found on the base S trim. It makes power specs of 175 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, sent to a front-wheel drive (FWD) drivetrain through either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

The SE and SE-R come with a 3.5-litre V6, making 250 horsepower and 249 pound-feet of torque. This engine can be had with a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic as part of the powertrain. For the SE-R, the engine is tuned to 260 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of torque, and it is mated to either the five-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission.

Acceleration with the four-cylinder is acceptable in everyday driving, but if you came to the Altima for a bit of excitement, the V6 is the way to go. While the SE-R is the most powerful, the SE variant will provide plenty of motivation.

The Altima features a multi-link suspension that ensures composed cornering, regardless of trim. The SE-R’s suspension is slightly stiffer and is the ideal choice for a driving enthusiast that needs a reliable commuter sedan.

Form & function

6/10

The ’06 Altima features a total of 442 litres of trunk space, which can be expanded by lowering the 60/40 split-fold rear seat. That’s actually more than the Honda Accord, but it falls short of the Toyota Camry’s 473 litres. The Altima is pretty evenly matched with the Mazda6, which has 430 litres.

The Altima features a function-first interior, with decent in-door pockets for items, as well as a helpful cubby in the centre console with a retractable lid. Models without the navigation system feature an additional tray for items atop the dash and concealed by a retractable lid. Power windows, keyless entry, cruise control, air conditioning, power steering, and variable speed intermittent wipers are standard, while heated front seats, leather seats, a power sunroof, an eight-way power driver’s seat, a trip computer, and automatic climate control are optional.

Technology

10/10

The standard radio is an AM/FM/CD player unit with six speakers. The available upgraded Bose stereo features eight speakers and a six-disc changer and is available with satellite radio.

The Altima offers a DVD-based navigation system with full-colour maps and menus. The layout of buttons and icons on the navigation system is easy to read and follow as well.

Safety

6/10

Nissan’s Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) features front dual-stage airbags and supplemental dual-stage side airbags. This system has seatbelt sensors and a passenger classification sensor, which will deactivate the airbag for smaller occupants, such as children. This is because of the lower position of a child’s head relative to the position of the airbag. Side-impact curtain airbags are available as an option. The SE-R comes with traction control.

Cost-effectiveness

5/10

The most efficient version of the Nissan Altima is with the four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual, returning 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving and 6.9 on the highway. With the four-speed automatic transmission, this engine returns 10.0 L/100 km city, 7.3 highway.

If you look to the V6 engine, most versions get similar fuel economy to one another. With the five-speed manual, it returns 11.0 L/100 km city, 8.0 highway, while the five-speed automatic returns 11.6 city, 7.3 highway. The six-speed manual pairing to the V6 uses 11.8 city, 7.6 highway.

The 2006 Nissan Altima 2.5 S has a base MSRP of $24,798 in Canada. The 3.5 SE starts at $29,798, while the range-topping SE-R starts at $36,098. The Altima has a lower price point for most trims, but the SE-R is more expensive than the sporty Mazda MAZDASPEED6, which costs $35,995.

Note: Images show a US model.

by George Kennedy

Published January 9, 2023

What owners say

AI Summary · 37 reviews

"Overall, owners of the 2006 Nissan Altima appreciate its comfort, performance, and reliability, often highlighting its spacious interior and speed. Many drivers love how it handles and the good gas mileage it offers. On the downside, some have pointed out concerns about build quality, particularly with certain components feeling less durable."

4.5

37 reviews

Write a review

by Solomon D

I love this car and I feel very comfortable with it. Personally, there is nothing significant that I dislike about this vehicle. Spare parts are comparatively cheap and easy to find. This car is reliable and very competitive and I would highly recomment it to anybody needing a dependable vehicle.

January 1, 2015

by Ryan-Julie M

I was in love with this car. Great seating with great leg room. Great exterior. Good speed for a smaller engine. Easy clutch for a manual. Good trunk space. Great gas mileage. Parked easily. Never had to do any maintenace.

July 29, 2009

by Jeanne W

I absolutely love my Nissan Altima SE..performance is like a race car, does beautiful corners as long as the roads are built correctly..appearance is classic, well designed and comfortable...great on gas and it is soooo much fun to drive

July 22, 2009