2009 Nissan Altima Coupe Review and Prices

By Chuck Giametta

2009 Nissan Altima Coupe Buying Advice

• The 2009 Nissan Altima coupe is the best car for you if you’ve outgrown the Mitsubishi Eclipse, think the Honda Accord coupe is a little prissy, and picture yourself someday in a BMW 3-Series.




• Should you buy a 2009 Nissan Altima coupe or wait for the 2010 Nissan Altima coupe? Not much will differentiate the two mechanically, but if you want the very latest look, wait to see if Nissan alters the coupe’s styling for model-year 2010. The 2009 Altima two-door coupe uses the same engines and front-wheel-drive chassis as the 2009 Nissan Altima four-door sedan. From the windshield rearward, the coupe is already wholly different from the sedan, and isn’t likely to change much for 2010. But the two body styles share front-end sheet metal, and the sedan is likely to get a “mid-cycle” freshening for 2010. The 2010 Nissan Altima coupe could get a restyled front end to mimic the sedan’s new look. If Nissan’s really on the ball, it’ll give the coupe its own, a more aggressive look than the sedan.
• The 2009 Nissan Altima Coupe is intended to reach a younger, more style-conscious buyer than the 2009 Altima sedan, and Nissan does more than give it racier looks: the coupe is smaller, lighter, lower, and more nimble than the sedan. It has special suspension tuning and its front bucket seats provide better support in fast cornering. The downside is a ride that’s jittery and stiff. And as in most two-door cars, the rear seat is cramped and demands some dirty-dancing to wriggle into and out of.
• Like its competitors mentioned later in this article, the 2009 Nissan Altima coupe has front-wheel drive. This improves traction in the snow by putting the weight of the engine over the driving wheels. But it’s not the layout used by true high-performance cars, which tend to be rear-wheel drive, a design that counts among its advantages better weight balance for optimal dry-road handling.

2009 Nissan Altima Coupe Changes

• Changes to the 2009 Nissan Altima coupe are limited to added standard equipment and some reconfigured options packages.
• Like the 2008 model, the 2009 Nissan Altima coupe comes as the 2.5 S model with a 175-horsepower four-cylinder engine and as the 3.5 SE with a 270-horsepower V-6. Both are available with a six-speed manual transmission -- Nissan claims improved shift feel for 2009 -- or continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). In the only appearance change of note, the grille trades its medium-gloss finish for a high-gloss paint treatment. On both models, the power door locks now automatically lock as the car starts to move.
• The 2009 Nissan Altima coupe 2.5 S model’s optional Connection Package now includes dual-zone automatic temperature control and rear air conditioning vents.
• The 2009 Altima coupe 3.5 SE now has standard 18-inch alloy wheels and 235/45R18 tires; the 2008 model had 17s. Also added to its standard equipment is Nissan’s Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) antiskid system, xenon headlights, and a rear spoiler.

2009 Nissan Altima Coupe Prices

• Standard on equipment includes a tilt/telescoping steering column, cruise control, air conditioning, power mirrors, an auxiliary jack connection for iPods and other digital media devices, and an outside temperature indicator. Also standard is handy keyless locking and ignition that allows you to keep the keyfob in your pocket, purse, or backpack while unlocking the doors and using a dashboard pushbutton to start the car.
• The 2009 Nissan Altima 2.5 S coupe has a base price of $22,445 with a six-speed manual transmission and $22,945 with the CVT. (All prices quoted here are manufacturer’s suggested retail prices; they do not factor in any options, but do include Nissan’s mandatory $695 destination fee.)
• The 2009 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE has a base price of $27,085 with the six-speed manual and $27,585 with the CVT. Standard on the 3.5 SE are an eight-way power driver’s seat, moonsunroof, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and heated power mirrors.
• Among available equipment packages for the 2009 Nissan Altima coupe 2.5 S is the $1,300 Convenience Package with 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels in place of wheel covers, an eight-way power driver’s seat with manual lumbar adjustment, auto on/off headlights, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
• The $3,800 2.5 S Premium Package for the 2009 Nissan Altima coupe 2.5 S model includes the contents of the Convenience Package and adds leather-appointed seats, heated front seats, a Bose nine-speaker audio system, dual-zone automatic temperature control, HomeLink universal transceiver, a power sliding glass moonroof, premium interior finishers (wood grain for Blonde, metallic for Charcoal), a Bluetooth hands-free phone system, and more.
• Optional for the 2009 Nissan Alitma coupe 3.5 SE model is a $3,200 Premium Package that includes leather-appointed seats, High Intensity Discharge (HID) xenon headlights, heated front seats; the Bose nine-speaker audio system, HomeLink universal transceiver, premium interior finishers (wood for Blonde, metallic for Charcoal); Bluetooth hands-free phone system, and more.
• Available on 2009 Nissan Alitma coupe 2.5 S and 3.5 SE models is the $2,000 Technology Package with a navigation system that includes a rearview camera, the moonroof, and fog lights.

2009 Nissan Altima Coupe Gas Mileage

• The 2009 Nissan Altima coupe 2.5 S model rates 23 mpg city/32 highway with manual transmission, 23/31 with CVT. The 2009 Nissan Altima coupe 3.5 SE model rates 19/27 with manual, 19/26 with the CVT. Nissan recommends premium-octane fuel for the 2009 Nissan Altima coupe 3.5 SE.  

2009 Nissan Altima Coupe Release Date

• Release date for the 2009 Nissan Altima coupe is August 2008. The 2009 Nissan Altima coupe is assembled at Nissan’s facilities in Smyrna, Tennessee.

2009 Nissan Altima Coupe Competition

• 2009 Honda Accord coupe: Larger and a bit upmarket from the Nissan Altima coupe in both price and refinement, the two-door version of the popular Accord has nose-to-the-pavement styling and comes as a 190-horsepower four-cylinder model or a 268-horsepower V-6. Both have better-quality interior materials and are more satisfying to drive than their Altima coupe counterparts. Rated fuel economy for the four-cylinder is 22/31 with a five-speed manual transmission, 21/30 with automatic, For the V-6, its 18/27 with a six-speed manual, 18/28 with automatic.  Accord’s next full redesign is likely for model-year 2013.
• 2009 Scion tC: This two-door coupe from Toyota’s youth division doesn’t offer a V-6 model, so it’s really a rival for the four-cylinder Altima coupe. It’s not as aggressively styled and has only 160 horsepower, but its handling is friendly and so is the price, starting around $17,700 with the five-speed manual transmission, around $18,500 with the four-speed automatic. The tC is rated at 20 mpg city/27 highway with manual transmission, 21/29 with automatic. If you like the 2009 tC act quickly; reports are the 2010 model will be fully redesigned.
• 2009 Pontiac G6 coupe: Less-well-built and less fun to drive than most import-brand rivals, the G6 is not easy to recommend, but does have appeal in a raw-boned American sort of way. It doesn’t bother with a four-cylinder engine, instead offering V-6s that make 219 horsepower in the GT model and 252 in the GXP. Starting price is a reasonable $24,000 or so, and discounts are readily available. The GT comes only with a four-speed automatic transmission and is rated at 18/29 mpg. The GXP comes only with a six-speed automatic and is rated at 17/26. This Pontiac also is available as a convertible with a retractable hardtop, but it starts over $30,000. No major design changes are in store for the Pontiac G6 for the next couple of years.