The Nissan Altima: A Look Back at Its History and Legacy
The Nissan Altima has had a tumultuous history in the US market, with many considering it to be one of the most disposable vehicles available. However, this reputation is largely due to the influx of ex-fleet Altimas being sold after full depreciation, coupled with a sense of dysfunction within Nissan HQ. Despite this, the Altima has become an icon in its own right, and many car enthusiasts have spent years searching for first-year examples in car graveyards. Recently, a battered ’93 GXE sedan was discovered in a Denver-area boneyard, providing a glimpse into the early days of the Altima’s legacy.
The Original Altima: A Replacement for the U12 Bluebird-Derived Stanza
The original Altima was introduced as a replacement for the U12 Bluebird-derived Stanza. The Stanza was originally an Americanized Nissan Violet, with its first model year being 1982. The unrelated Nissan Prairie was given Stanza Wagon badges in the US market, while Violet-based Stanzas remained on sale until the 1989 model year. Despite its lackluster sales performance, Nissan decided to include the somewhat-familiar Stanza name on the Stanza’s successor, as several years of Bluebird-based Stanzas meant that the Stanza/Bluebird tradition merited a bit of continuity. As a result, the official name of this car for the 1993 model year was the Stanza Altima. However, by 1994, the Altima name had taken over completely.
The Mid-Prestige Stanza Altima GXE
The battered ’93 GXE sedan found in the Denver-area boneyard is a mid-prestige Stanza Altima GXE, a notch above the base XE but not as nice as the SE and GLE Stanza Altimas. The MSRP on this car was $14,024, or about $29,834 in 2023 dollars. It is assumed that generous rebates and discounts were available on new ’93 Stanza Altimas. The engine is a 2.4-liter KA24DE straight-four, rated at 150 horsepower for 1993. Only the Stanza Altima GLE came with an automatic transmission as standard equipment for 1993; a five-speed manual was the base transmission for the lesser trim levels, and the optional automatic added $825 ($1,755 today) to the cost of those cars.
US-market new cars without driver’s-side airbags in 1993 were required to get powered automatic seat belts. It appears that no airbags were available on any first-year Stanza Altimas in the US market.
Legacy and Reputation
Despite its reputation as a disposable vehicle, the Altima has managed to survive three decades of Big Altima Energy, and it traveled well over 200,000 miles during that time. One of its owners even applied faux-carbon-fiber decals to the dash trim, as one does. While the Altima hasn’t been nearly as bad a car as its online reputation suggests, it may be impossible to overcome the image tarnishing caused by those millions of fleet Altimas.
Conclusion
The Nissan Altima has had a rocky history in the US market, but it remains an iconic vehicle that has captured the attention of car enthusiasts for decades. The original Stanza Altima provides a glimpse into the early days of the Altima’s legacy, and while it may not have been the most luxurious or high-performing vehicle of its time, it has managed to survive and thrive despite its reputation as a disposable car.
