STARSHIP SUBS,
Soups, Catering, and
more...
Wm. B. Sullivan Realty & Co.
Claudia Hommel
Cabaret Singer
Extraordinaire
Cordell Koland
Car Writer
Weekly Reviews
 Nissan Altima and Saturn Aura by Cordell Koland Two new and important mid-size sedans ended up in my driveway at the same time and present an interesting head-to-head comparison. There are several reasons to evaluate the Nissan Altima and the Saturn Aura side by side. First off, both have garnered important industry recognition. A jury of automotive journalists named the Aura the North American Car of the Year. Meanwhile, Consumer Reports placed the Altima at the top of its ratings for family sedans, in a dead heat with perennial category leader, the Honda Accord. And there¹s a corporate story here too. The Altima is the big gun in Nissan's attempt to revive falling sales in the U.S. as the parent company announced a Q3 earnings plummet of 23 percent. Likewise, General Motors is investing a lot of dollars and credibility in a Saturn turnaround with the Aura assuming the starring role in that challenge. General Motors rightfully has been characterized as a manufacturer of big gas guzzling trucks and SUVs. A revived Saturn represents a kinder, gentler GM with fuel-efficient cars and even a hybrid or two. Let's see how the two corporate saviors stack up. Styling As you can see from the photo‹the Nissan Altima is on the left‹both cars are graduates of the contemporary school of design. In fact, the profiles are remarkably similar. Both feature long rooflines that extend well into the rear deck. The designs express gentle wedge shapes and large taillights assemblies that wrap around into the side view. From a pure design basis, I'd give the Aura a slight advantage based on its sleeker roofline and spiffy standard 18-inch wheels. In fact, I'd pronounce the Aura as the most pleasing sedan design in a very crowded category. Interior Both of our test sedans offer well-conceived interiors with decent layout of gauges and controls. Likewise, seating is comfortable and easily adjusted to various body types and sizes. While the Aura generally gets good marks in this category, there were plastic trim pieces that looked cheap and belie its overall design direction. Drivetrain Nissan's V-6 engine is a multiple award winner‹as they'd say in show biz, and the new Altima boosts power to 270 robust ponies. The Altima engine is the current power champ in its class and the delivery is smooth and linear and delivers a kick at any speed. The Altima utilizes a continuously variable transmission that works wonderfully with the potent engine to deliver absolutely seamless acceleration. There's nothing wrong with the Aura engine/transmission, but in this case, it goes up against best-of-class performance and doesn't quite have either the power or the refinement. The driving experience On the road in mixed driving, the Nissan again comes out on top. It feels agile and responsive and likes to be pushed. The Altima's braking system also seemed more effective. On the other hand, the Saturn Aura had a softer, more forgiving ride quality. Value Given the fact that both sedans are in the $26,000 price point, a comparison can be made in terms of bang for the buck. In this case I'd give a slight nod to the Aura. While both vehicles as delivered‹standard features plus options‹had a full range of safety equipment including stability control, I'm moved by the Aura's snappy 18-inch wheels, leather interior and moon roof. In fact, given its styling and level of equipment, the Aura just might fool your friends and neighbors into thinking you'd spent over $30,000 for your new car. Bottom line As a guy who likes to drive, I'd have to go with the Nissan Altima in a forced choice. The combination of power, engine refinement and handling is as good as it gets in this class. The Altima is now on my list of recommended mid-size family sedans. But if you're looking for a mid-size ride that says you've moved into the executive class, the Saturn Aura might be the ticket. Vehicle: Saturn Aura XR
Price as tested: $26,919 Engine: Type: 3.6-liter V-6 Horsepower: 252 @ 6,400 rpm Torque: 251 lbs.-ft. @ 3,200 rpm Fuel economy, automatic transmission City 20 mpg Highway 28 mpg Curb Weight: 3,647 lbs. Vehicle: Altima SE Price as tested: $26,315 Engine: Type: 3.5-liter V-6 Horsepower: 270 @ 6,100 rpm Torque: 258 lbs.-ft. @ 4,400 rpm Fuel economy, CVT automatic transmission City 22 mpg Highway 28 mpg Curb Weight: 3,334 lbs.  Cordell Koland is an automotive journalist based in California's central coast. He can be reached at cordellkoland@oakparkjournal.com |
