2012 Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5 S Review

2012 Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5 S

2.5L 4-cylinder engine, 175 hp, 180 lb-ft, front-wheel drive, CVT automatic, push-button ignition, cloth seats

This one had under 1,000 miles, so nothing was worn out yet.

Nissan’s Intelligent Key system is pretty trick once you figure it out. You do not have to mess with the keyring at all, just press the button on the door handle to lock or unlock. Same with the push button start.

The halogen projector headlights put out a good amount of light, but a set of xenons would have been better. For some reason, xenons are bundled with the $2k Leather Package. Fog lights are a $310 option that was also absent on this one.

Styling up front is remiscent of the sedan, but the similarities end as you move rearward.

The coupe shape looks like a bubbly and overweight sibling to the 370z and cousin Infiniti’s G coupes, fitting since it is slower too.

It is not terrible, but it does look a bit plump from some angles.

But it also has some athletic qualities, when viewed in the right light. Check out the dual exhaust and rear diffusuer. It wants to be fast like big brother, but the four-banger lets it down.

Even the 17″ alloys are trying to be sporty-ish.

The available 3.5L V6 packs a decent 270 hp, besting this Brilliant Silver beast by one whole liter and nearly 100 hp; perhaps that one provides a little driving fun. The QR25DE 2.5 just doesn’t have enough. The hood cannot even hold itself up; it must be propped up with a stick.

The interior was simple and easy to navigate. There was no Technology Package ($1,780 option) with 6.5″ color touch-screen to complicate things, although operating Nissan’s trip computer with the square and dot buttons took a few times to get right. There was no Premium Package ($2,070 option) with 4.3″ color display, dual-zone climate control, or moonroof. There was no heated leather seats either; that requires the $2,060 Leather Package, which also gets you xenon lights. The cloth seats were fine since they were practically new, but they did not seem like they would hold up to wear too well.