Reliable, easy to drive, and some nice styling? Those are all things that you may find on the 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5. As a bit of an older car, you may be wondering why the sticker price is as high as it is. That’s probably because it’s super reliable and built to last. Is it the type of vehicle that’s right for your needs?
What does the 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5 have to offer?
As the base model for the Altima lineup for the 2005 year, the 2.5 has some key things to offer. That includes a 2.5L I-4 engine producing 175 horsepower. It has a five-speed manual transmission with overdrive and is a front-wheel drive car. With few upgrades, this five-seater has a starting price (when new) of over $17,400.
The 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5 has much to offer, but is it right for you? Before we can go that far, there are a few things you’ll want to learn about it. We’ll break down some of those specs for you here and shed some light on whether this sedan is the right choice for your needs.
An Overview of the 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5
The 2.5 is the base trim of the Nissan Altima lineup for 2005. Other options included the 2.5 S, 3.5 SE, 3.5 SL, and the 3.5 SE-R.
A few key videos help showcase the look and feel of the 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5S. This is a reliable car, and that shows in the body styling and condition in this example. Yet, you’ll want to dig deeper before you make the decision to buy.
It has ample features to offer drivers. Here are some of the key specs for this vehicle.
Engine and Powertrain Features
The Nissan Altima 2.5 has a 2.5L I-4 engine onboard. This engine produces 175 horsepower. It also has a five-speed manual transmission with overdrive and front-wheel drive. One of the limitations of this model is the lack of any upgradable engine or transmission. Of course, you could go with the 3.5L engine on the upper trims. That gives you far more power and a lot of improvement in handling as well.
Still, this vehicle gets 180 lb-ft. and has a fuel tank with a 20-gallon capacity. In addition to this, it has 16 valves, an aluminum cylinder head, and a variable intake manifold.
This vehicle’s 2.5L engine gets respectable fuel economy for its age. It gets an EPA-estimated 21 city and 29 highway, for a combined 24 miles per gallon. The larger engines drop this efficiency significantly.
One opportunity to upgrade the transmission includes moving to an ultra low-emission vehicle powertrain. That’s a good option for reducing emissions overall. The vehicle’s engine, which is a DOHC, also has solid handling and a front anti-roll bar.
It has rack and pinion steering, speed-sensing hydraulic power-assist, rack-pinion steering, more precisely, and independent front struct suspension. Overall, the Nissan Altima performs well.
Here’s another video to showcase some of the interior and exterior specs of the 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5.
The exterior body looks pretty basic, but this is designed to be an affordable vehicle. It has a grille with some chrome features. This is a four-door sedan. It may not be impressive to look at, but when you consider it is reliable and affordable to maintain, that can change your mind a bit.
Inside, you have a roomy interior without a lot of overall features. There are power windows with one-touch down. There is also a full floor console with a covered box and the standard features for storage.
As the base model, the interior is comfortable but not elegant or upscale. There is an auto-dimming rearview mirror option if that’s important to you.
When it comes to overall entertainment features, keeping in mind this is a 2005, there are just a few. To get XM satellite radio, you’ll need to upgrade. There’s also no extra speaker or sound system upgrades or any type of connectivity in this vehicle. That’s a bit less when it comes to performance over some of its competitors’ offerings.
It’s also important to mention that, unlike some of its competitors, the Nissan Altima 2.5 is solid when it comes to safety features. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave it full marks (though no overall rating was provided for this year). Also, notable, there are only two recalls on this vehicle as of October of 2020. That’s pretty good compared to competitor ratings.
Choosing the 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5 Makes Sense for Many
With good fuel economy and a roomy interior, that is good reason to consider the Nissan Altima 2.5. However, we have to say, going for that bigger engine and more enhanced features on the upper trims may also be well worth the investment.
To learn more about your options, check out the 2005 Nissan Altima’s Vehicle History.
