How Good Is the Nissan Altima's All-Wheel Drive System?

Until we’re able to buy an Altima with snow tracks, like the Altima-te AWD Concept—born from a partnership between Nissan and Canadian race car preperator Motorsports in Action—that was presented at the 2019 Montreal Auto Show, the Japanese manufacturer has equipped the latest generation of its mid-size sedan (introduced for 2019) with a standard all-wheel drive.   

The idea was not only to compete with the Subaru Legacy, but also to fight against the consumers’ strong apetite SUVs. Other companies have followed suit, like Kia with the K5. Even the Toyota Camry now offers a all-wheel drive option.

Of course, when the Altima received such a system, its popularity increased: to face Quebec’s winters, it’s a considerable advantage. And for buyers who didn’t expect this change, it’s a cool surprise. But how good is the Altima’s all-wheel drive?

The Car Guide’s team has reviewed it a few times, notably on Quebec's finest snowy and pothole-ridden roads. Here are the comments that best described the situation:

“You quickly get used to the all-wheel drive’s contribution. It effectively gives the driver a sense of control and safety that’s usually found in higher-end vehicles.” – Frédéric Mercier

“In winter, on snowy, slushy or even icy roads, we were surprised by the stability and the grip it provided during acceleration. Nissan says on their website that it’s a smart all-wheel drive. Usually, you must be careful with this kind of claim, which only means that the drive is controlled by a computer. […] But we must admit that this control unit can truly read and understand the road conditions, and adapt accordingly.” – Marc-André Gauthier

“While Subaru was able to build an enviable reputation thanks to its all-wheel drive system, Nissan should continue their efforts to reach the same level because, although it’s a good system, it’s not quite as effective.” – Germain Goyer

In short, without being the best and operating continuously (only the front wheels are driven in normal conditions in order to save fuel), the Nissan Altima’s all-wheel drive works well and is a good argument in favour of this model that’s also generally cheaper than its competitors.