1998 Nissan Altima 2.4L 16V 5MT FWD (154 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Nissan introduced the second generation of the Altima in 1997 for the 1998 model year on the North American market, continuing the successful story of its predecessor.

After selling around 700,000 units in just four years, the first generation of the Altima deserved a worthy successor, which came in 1997. The second generation of this sedan was penned in Nissan’s design studio in La Jolla, California, and stylists tried and succeeded in lowering the car’s drag coefficient from 0.34 to 0.32. Nissan slit the Altima between its smaller brother, the Sentra, and its larger sibling, the Maxima. The automaker offered the vehicle in four trim levels. The entry-level version was the XE, followed by the mid-grade GXE, while the highest versions were the sporty SE and the lux-oriented GLE.

Born during the bio-design era, the car sported rounded shapes. Its front fascia featured an oval-shaped grille crossed by a chromed horizontal slat that supported Nissan’s badge. The horizontal headlights had rounded corners and corner-mounted turn signal lamps. Below, the wrapped-around plastic bumper featured a center-mounted air intake in the apron. As an option, customers could equip the car with a set of fog lamps.

From its profile, the 1998 Nissan Altima boasted a cab-rearward design, suggesting that it was rear-wheel drive, even though it was FWD. Its greenhouse was sloped down at the back, followed by a short and tall deck. Unlike many other vehicles in its segment, it sported body-colored door handles and mirror caps, which made it look more upscale. In addition, the automaker added a horizontal rubber stripe that protected doors from shopping carts. All versions came fitted with alloy wheels. At the back, the Altima featured a set of corner-mounted taillights that flanked the trunk’s wide opening. For the SE version, the automaker added a small wing on the lid.

Inside, Nissan tried to create a premium-oriented ambiance with smooth lines over the dashboard. Fronting the driver was an instrument panel that featured large dials for the speedometer and the tachometer, flanked on the lower side by the fuel level and the temperature gauges. The visor that covered the instrument cluster was extended above the center stack, which also protected the central rectangular vents. Below them, the 1998 Nissan Altima had the HVAC control panel and the stereo, which was available with a CD changer. At the same time, the center console, which was placed between the front bucket seats, housed the lever for the automatic transmission (or the gear stick for three-pedal versions) and the handbrake. In the back, the split-folding (60/40) bench seat with a center folding armrest was comfortable enough for two adults, but three could sit for short jaunts, too. Nissan offered the car with cloth upholstery for lower grades, while the GLE trim level featured a leather-wrapped interior.

Under its skin, the 1998 Nissan Altima had McPherson struts up front and coil-spring struts with transverse and trailing links in the back. Besides the SE trim level, all other grades came with soft suspension settings. The only engine available was the already-known 2.4-liter inline-four featuring a cast iron block, aluminum heads, and four valves per cylinder. Nissan paired it with a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic, depending on the options.