Auto123 reviews the 2022 Nissan Altima SR Midnight Edition.
The current, sixth generation of Nissan’s Altima sedan dates to 2019, which makes it, according to my math, three years old. At that stage it’s not uncommon for a model to get a refresh. Here, what we have is a special edition, new for 2022, that represents an appearance package designed to spiffy up a worthy, nicely shaped sedan and make it more of a looker on the road.
Midnight Edition
This version gets a glossy black finish for the front grille, side mirrors and rear spoiler, along with black badging and comely 19-inch wheels. The effect is very … midnight-ish. That’s good, unless you don’t like that sort of look, in which case it’s bad. But anyways.
That’s about it for the distinctive parts of this trim, which sits second on the ladder above the entry-level SE and below the Platinum, except for the LED fog lights and paddle shifters (with manual shift mode) it has and the SE doesn’t.
For the rest, the 2022 Altima, at mid-point of its current generation, is a solid, effective sedan in an age when sedans are definitely not the cat’s meow. But for those who still go for the format, Nissan’s entry in the segment is worthy of real consideration – especially since it comes, standard in all versions, with an all-wheel-drive system. A smart one, to boot.
Above it in the range, the Platinum gets extra goodies like an intelligent around-view monitor, auto-dimming rearview mirror, interior accent lighting and memory function for the driver’s seat and outside mirrors, but it also costs over $3,000 more than the snazzier-looking SR Midnight Edition. The latter does get all of the essential ingredients of Nissan ProPilot Assist suite of safety tech, though, so you’re not getting short-changed there.
Otherwise, the Altima’s most notable features include its very comfortable seats – kind of a must for those shopping in this segment – that are heated in front, as is the steering wheel (on the SR package), and the relative puniness of the 8-inch multimedia screen. But accent on the “relative” here, since this screen is big enough to provide you with the info you need in a user-friendly interface. It’s just that we see bigger elsewhere. This is one of the signs of aging that crop up occasionally in the Altima; others include an underwhelming sound system and a nav system that’s competent but that has seen others bypass it in the trade.
The back row delivers good comfort and roominess, though really that applies to two occupants, the third person being stuck with the middle floor hump and a backrest that includes the folding armrest. That’s where your least-favourite family member will sit.
At 437 litres, trunk space is most acceptable and you can split-fold down the seats for greater loading practicality. Note however that there’s not a huge opening between the folded down seats and the trunk, due to the support brace that’s part of the car’s structure.
The Altima runs on a 2.5L 4-cylinder engines that delivers 182 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque working with a, gulp, CVT, although here that transmission does as good work as I’ve seen it do anywhere else in the Nissan lineup. So often have Nissan’s CVTs dragged down the performances of very capable engines that it’s quite something to find that here, it’s no hindrance at all, in fact shifts happen quickly and unobtrusively and I can’t say I ever really heard the engine start to scream when I pushed the gas pedal at all hard. Ok, maybe when I really got aggressive, but still. A pleasant surprise.
There is a Sport mode you can activate (via a hard-to-spot button on the back of the shift lever), and it does actually tighten things up enough to make it worth it. Shift points are stretched, steering gets a little heavier and overall you get a more dynamic feel from the car. Nothing dramatic though, so don’t get any outsized expectations.
Otherwise, the Altima benefits from a stiff chassis, which, helped by the independent front suspension and multi-link independent rear suspension makes the car very, very drivable on winding roads with no traffic in front of you.
As for that AWD system, Nissan calls it Intelligent, and not without reason. Working in conjunction with something called Intelligent Trace Control, which is part of the stability control system, it sticks to powering the front wheels in normal driving to help reduce fuel consumption, but brings the rear wheels into it when you’re cornering or accelerating sharply. Up to 50 percent of power goes to those rear wheels when needed, and it really helps reduce understeer. Vice versa is also true, so that it will cut more of the supply going to the back axle in situations of oversteer to make it easier for the front wheels to get you straight.
One of the nicest benefits of this system is that it gives you pretty much all the advantages of AWD when you need them, but won’t cost you much in terms of added fuel use unless you drive like a maniac. Ratings for the Altima for 2022 are 9.1L/100 km city and a very appealing-sounding 6.7L/100 km.
Overall, the combination of the Intelligent AWD and its complementary systems, the car’s stiff chassis and the blessedly do-no-harm quality of the CVT make for a very positive driving experience in this family car. The 2022 Altima Midnight Edition looks cool, but it drives cool too.
We like
Wonderful handlingSurprisingly able CVTVery comfortable front seating
Roomy cabin
We like less
Multimedia screen looks a bit smaller every yearOpening between folded down seats and trunk is pretty small
Some signs of aging un the multimedia system, interface
The competition
Honda AccordHyundai SonataKia K5Subaru Legacy
Toyota Camry
Keyword: 2022 Nissan Altima SR Midnight Edition Review: A Likeable Fancy-Pants