Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5 S

A small coupe is not terribly practical, with a back seat that is usually cramped and hard to access.

Nissan Altima Coupe offers a stylish profile for a regular car. (Photo: Nissan)

But a sleek two-door car has one very important thing going for it: A coupe is sexier looking than a sedan. Why else would so many car companies be struggling to make their sedans looks like coupes?

The new Altima Coupe certainly fits the bill. The styling is classically proportioned with a sloping roofline and hardtop-style side windows. The look is sporty, the stance is wide and the car seems to be saying, “I’m ready for some fun.”

Under its curvaceous skin, however, is a pretty ordinary little car that may drive well, handle well and stop well, but overall seems like nothing special. The thrills are not forthcoming, however good it may look.

Altima Coupe's interior echoes some of the style of the 370Z sports car. (Photo: Nissan)

Sort of like a beautiful date who just doesn’t do it for you despite her pretty face. Actually the styling is fairly derivative, looking much like a Honda Accord coupe, its key competitor.

Certainly, there is much demand for a good-looking car that demands little of its driver. For many owners, good looks and competent drivability are all that matters. That’s why there are six-cylinder versions of Mustangs and Camaros.

Altima Coupe falls under the category of attractive poseur, but really, that’s OK.

The two-door version of the popular Altima is shorter and lower than the sedan and its own grille, headlights and taillights. The good-looking dashboard gives some flavor of the 370Z sports car.

I drove the version with a 175-horsepower four banger and six-speed manual transmission, both of which performed well. Maybe if I had the 3.5 S model, which boasts a 3.5-liter, 270-horsepower V6, I would have been more impressed.

The Coupe was nicely equipped for its $24,406 price tag, including shipping and some desirable comfort and convenience upgrades. The V6 adds about $5,000 to the bottom line.

Not a bad car at all, but hardly a great one.

What it is: Five-passenger, two-door coupe, front-wheel drive.
Engine: 2.5-liter inline 4, 175 horsepower at 5,600 rpm, 180 pound-feet of torque at 3,900 rpm.
Transmission: Six-speed manual.
Wheelbase: 105.2 inches.
Overall length: 180.9 inches.
Curb weight: 3,080 pounds.
EPA mileage rating: 23 city, 31 highway.

Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEEDtv.com, is a veteran auto writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, who has driven and evaluated essentially every new vehicle sold in the United States. A lifelong car enthusiast with a passion for collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle, he annually attends and writes about Arizona's famous January collector-car auctions, focusing on Scottsdale’s monumental Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event. SPEEDtv.com fans email veteran Automotive Editor Bob Golfen at

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEEDtv.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or Speed Channel