Let me start with my story — I graduated from university in 2022 and just recently entered the working world. I’ve been working for a year now, I’m 23 years old, and I don’t have much in savings. Thankfully, my income is stable and my family supported me financially to buy a car. Being young and excited, I was deciding between the Mercedes A-Class and the Nissan Altima. I really liked the A-Class — even test-drove it and negotiated prices with several dealerships — but honestly, I eventually realized it wasn’t the right choice for me at this stage, so I went with the Altima instead.
I got the car for AED 169,000 (white color + AED 2,000 extra). On delivery day, the salesperson wouldn’t let me take the car unless I paid another AED 2,000 for 9 service visits! Dealerships always try to pressure you at the last minute, but I went along with it.
The exterior? Honestly, it looks a bit like the Nissan Sentra — just longer. Not a huge difference. But with a few minor modifications, you can make it look much better. The car sits low to the ground — I scraped the bottom just a week after getting it, so be careful.
The interior? It’s fine — not luxurious, but not bad either. Gets the job done.
Space? Absolutely great. I’m 175 cm tall and weigh 140 pounds, and every seat feels spacious and comfortable.
Driving experience? I got the 2.0L naturally aspirated engine. Acceleration is smooth but not powerful — especially in Eco mode, the car feels sluggish. But comfort-wise? Amazing. Right after picking it up, I drove over 300 km in one go and didn’t feel tired at all. The insulation and ride comfort are great, especially for people who drive long distances or go on road trips.
Pros: Reliability — Nissan has a good reputation, and the 2.0L is more than enough if you’re not into high performance. The car is really comfortable — even my parents were very happy riding in it.
Cons: Fuel economy isn’t the best. On the highway, it’s around 5L/100km, but in the city, it can go up to 8 or 9. Less than two weeks in, I started hearing a slight noise from the rear window. And as with many Japanese cars — the paint is very thin. I accidentally tapped a parked scooter near my house, and it left a scratch.
But in the end, I don’t regret getting the Altima. It’s comfortable, practical, reliable — a great choice for young people looking for a car that will serve them well for years without headaches.
