Ask the Car People.SM


Midsize Sedans 2.0

18198 messages,  Last post on May 21, 2013 at 5:27 PM

You are in the Toyota Camry Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Volkswagen Passat, Mazda MAZDA6, Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu, Kia Optima, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 4 of 1820

#31 of 18198 Re: 2008 Mazda6 [elroy5] by jd10013

Apr 14, 2007 (8:28 pm)

Replying to: elroy5 (Apr 14, 2007 8:19 pm)
not always. the 07 altima is a few inches smaller than the 06. But, it's just a simple matter of affluence. bigger, in some cases, is better. a larger car offers more room and hence, more comfort. especially for people with a family. As people become wealthier, the larger and more expensive cars become affordable for them. Most people tend to buy as much car as they can afford.
It was one of the primary reasons I bought my altima. The wife and kids fit in it better than the 4 door civic she drives. I still drive my 2 door coupe to and from work because of the better MPG, but for the family car, I wanted bigger.

#32 of 18198 Re: 2008 Mazda6 [jd10013] by thegraduate

Apr 14, 2007 (8:30 pm)

Replying to: jd10013 (Apr 14, 2007 8:28 pm)
Nobody I know of has mentioned this, but could Nissan be trying to differentiate the Altima and Maxima a little bit better with the size difference (Altima made smaller)?

#33 of 18198 Re: 2008 Mazda6 [thegraduate] by jd10013

Apr 14, 2007 (8:36 pm)

Replying to: thegraduate (Apr 14, 2007 8:30 pm)
I doubt it. although the altima is smaller this year, It isn't by much. Just an inch or two. In contrast, it appears to me, that nissan isn't trying to differentiate the two. A fully loaded 3.5sl altima isn't that different from a max.

#34 of 18198 Re: 2008 Mazda6 [jd10013] by backy

Apr 14, 2007 (8:43 pm)

Replying to: jd10013 (Apr 14, 2007 8:36 pm)
Nissan is differentiating the Altima from the Maxima in several ways:
 
* Price: Altima starts around $20k, several thousand less than the Maxima.
* Powertrains: Altima has I4, V6, and hybrid powertrains available; Maxima is V6 only.
* Content: Altima is positioned as a family sedan, although a sporty one; Maxima is positioned as a near-luxury sedan, with a more upscale interior and features like the sky roof.
* Models: Altima is available (soon) as a sedan and a coupe; Maxima is a sedan only.

#35 of 18198 Re: 2008 Mazda6 [jd10013] by thegraduate

Apr 14, 2007 (8:47 pm)

Replying to: jd10013 (Apr 14, 2007 8:36 pm)
Interestingly, with the refreshed Maxima and the new Altima, i've pointed out to my friends "look, a new Altima" by looking at the fascia, only to be mistaken that it the car I was seeing was actually a revised Maxima, so you may have a point jd10013.

#36 of 18198 Re: 2008 Mazda6 [jd10013] by elroy5

Apr 14, 2007 (8:47 pm)

Replying to: jd10013 (Apr 14, 2007 8:28 pm)
not always. the 07 altima is a few inches smaller than the 06.
 
The 07 Altima is shorter, but it is also wider. The few inches shorter probably didn't cause the car to loose any leg room, but the few inches wider probably helped with hip room. Without checking the figures, I bet the interior volume increased, rather than decreased, despite the body dimensions.

#37 of 18198 Re: 2008 Mazda6 [elroy5] by thegraduate

Apr 14, 2007 (8:49 pm)

Replying to: elroy5 (Apr 14, 2007 8:47 pm)
I just read in my Dec. 2006 issue of Motor Trend about the poor amount of headroom for anyone over 6', as well as the backseat being "skimpy for the class." The trunk is overly massive however, at 18 cu.ft.
 
The previous Altima was noted for a nice large interior, IIRC.

#38 of 18198 Re: 2008 Mazda6 [thegraduate] by jd10013

Apr 14, 2007 (8:59 pm)

Replying to: thegraduate (Apr 14, 2007 8:49 pm)
Nah, the car has plenty of room. at least equal to others in its class. I'm not saying this as a nissan homer (which I am) but the '07 is by far the best, and most complete altima nissan has made. It's probably still a notch below the accord, but I'd also put it slight bit better than the camry, and the mazda6. The rest, IMHO, are quite a few notches below those four.

#39 of 18198 Re: 2008 Mazda6 [jd10013] by backy

Apr 15, 2007 (7:11 am)

Replying to: jd10013 (Apr 14, 2007 8:59 pm)
I had the opportunity to compare the Altima and Versa side-by-side at my local auto show recently. When the driver's seat was adjusted for my 5'10" frame, the Versa had noticeably more legroom than the Altima. Part of that was because the Versa had lots of foot space under the driver's seat, moreso than the Altima.
 
Every review I've read on the new Altima notes its reduced rear legroom compared to the prior generation. Not that the legroom is unacceptable for a mid-sized sedan (not nearly as crasmped as the Mazda6 or Legacy, for example), but it's no longer at or near the top of the class in that regard.

#40 of 18198 Re: 2008 Mazda6 [backy] by jeffyscott

Apr 15, 2007 (8:15 am)

Replying to: backy (Apr 15, 2007 7:11 am)
I guess we have a different concept of "cramped". My 6 foot son is able to sit behind 5'11" me in my Mazda 6, without feeling "cramped".
 
This is why these cars keep getting bigger and bigger. The perfectly adequate (to me) Mazda6 is called "too small" and "cramped". I read the same complaints about the Contour, which was a little tight, but the back seat was usable and at least set at a comfotable height. Those who criticized that car's rear seat, apparently were unaware that Ford made the Taurus and Crown Vic for those wanting a more spacious back seat.

Messages Page 4 of 1820

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement