New 2013 Nissan Altima does more of what made it so popular in 2011

AURORA | You wouldn’t believe what passes for foreign these days.

Mein Volkswagen Passat? Built in Chattanooga, Tenn. Derr Mercedes M-class is built in Alabama.

Toyota Camrys are “Made in the USA” too.

Now guess what? More Nissans nowadays are less Hideo and more Jimbo. The 2013 Altima, for instance, is made in Smyrna, Tenn., which is now home to Bojangles Chicken and Biscuits and the Nissan D platform line.

This isn’t reverse xenophobia; I’m fine with foreign manufacturers making cars in the United States for Americans. It’s been that way for years, and it couldn’t be truer sometimes that the (insert major beer manufacturer here, or baseball team here, or newspaper) is less “American” than the Nissan in your driveway.

These things are relative here people, as are the changes in the all-new 2013 Nissan Altima.

Yes, it’s fair to say that the new, fifth-generation Nissan Altima is “all-new.” In terms of advertising, manufacturers lie a lot more than that.

But in terms of mountains crumbling, seas changing, platforms tossing or paradigms shifting, this ain’t it. It’s like looking for a change of scenery and hopping onto a plane to Provo.

Yet you can’t blame Nissan for messing with the Altima too much. Last year couldn’t have been any more successful for Nissan and the Altima.

The mid-size segment that the Altima lives in is the major leagues of cars. Hundreds of thousands of cars are sold as mid-sized sedans, and the No. 1 and No. 2 top-selling mid-size sedans are coincidentally the No. 1 and No. 2 cars sold in America in any category.

If I told you the Toyota Camry came in first — and has since the Clinton administration — care to guess who came in second for the first time last year?

The leapfrog into second place for the Altima was a surprise on several fronts. First, cars toward the end of their life cycle tend to slow in sales and everyone knew the Altima would be redesigned for next year. And two, Mother Nature can take some of the credit for better Altima sales.

So, a combination of popular old model and fortuitous circumstances catapulted the Altima to the No. 2 selling car in America, and you already have the wheels in motion for an update in 2013? What’s an Asian carmaker to do?

Nothing.

Keep true, hold the line, stay the course, biscuit remains in the basket — or something.

Basically, Nissan had a winner last year so why mess with the formula?

That’s why the new 2013 Nissan Altima has the same wheelbase as last year’s, is only 2 inches longer, and an inch or so wider. Interior capacity stays the same, which is good and bad — more on that later — and the engine options stay exactly the same.

When it comes to grunt under the hood the main player for the Altima is it’s 2.5-liter, inline four-cylinder engine that produces 182 horsepower this year, up from 175 horsepower last year. Nissan also offers a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 270 horsepower; however with the proliferation of turbo 4s, I’m curious to see how long that lasts.

Both engine options are mated only to a continuously variable transmission this year, no manuals allowed. Nissan improved its CVT this year to be 40 percent more efficient — partially how they can achieve the advertised 38 mpg highway rating — and it’s proficient at keeping the engine in optimal rev ranges.

Nissan claims the CVT has a higher final gear ratio than Lexus’ 8-speed automatic, which allows it to keep the revs low and the mileage high on the interstate. As a rule, I’d like to set fire to most CVTs in the world, however, it seems that Nissan’s CVT is less annoying than others on the market — I actually like it in the Murano, oddly. The transmission is capable in the Altima, and is responsive in highway passing. In the 3.5-liter, the CVT will emulate a traditional automatic with the standard paddle shifters mounted near the steering wheel.

As for performance, the Altima handles capably. Tested 0-60 times for the smaller-engined Altima is 7.1 seconds and in the 6-second range for the bigger engine.

A larger grille helps feed air to the engine this year, and is one of the bigger changes for the Altima. Styled after a samurai’s coat (?!) the pinched trapezoidal look announces the Altima better than previous generations’ bulbous look. Overall, the styling is sleeker and lower, helping the Altima cut the air better and achieve a coefficient of drag around 0.29 down from 0.31 last year.

Inside, the Altima features a 4-inch screen nestled in the instrument cluster, as well as an updated stereo and navigation unit if you’re willing to spring for the $580 upgrade.

Considering the whole car is priced at $21,500 to start, it shouldn’t startle folks to tick a few option boxes at the dealership. A fully decked, 2.5-liter model won’t break $30,000 easily, but a 3.5-liter can touch $32,000 if you’re trying.

My guess is, you are. In the mid-size segment, it’s all about convenience and conveyance. We ask our sedans to drive us to and from work daily, shuttle the kids and go out to dinner on Saturday nights.

In a crowded field of Camrys, Accords, Fusions, Passats, Sonatas, Malibus et al. there’s a crowd to navigate when shopping. To the Altima’s credit, the 38 mpg highway figure for the 2.5-liter is best in class for non-hybrid models, and the $21,500 starting price is good value for money.

For my money, the Passat — especially diesel — is my choice based on driving experience. But that’s only my choice. And I know I’m wrong.

How American of me.

Aaron Cole is a syndicated auto columnist. He’s wrong, but would like to hear it from you. Reach him at aaron.m.cole@gmail.com