ROAD TEST: 2019 Nissan Altima, now with standard all-wheel drive

The Nissan Altima has long been a player in the Canadian family-sedan game and the just-launched re-do of this popular model sees an all-new Altima land for model year 2019.

The biggest news? It’s all-wheel drive (AWD). Every model — basic to loaded — powers all four wheels.

Buy one, then forget about it; the AWD system is invisible, requires absolutely none of your attention at any time, and is always on, always working, and always being optimized by a sophisticated computer control system.

So, you just get in and drive and take in SUV-like winter-traction, from the helm of a nicely-sorted family sedan. Still, even with the all-new, AWD Altima on the scene, there are very few AWD options for shoppers that prefer affordable cars to taller, bigger crossover models. But, here’s another one — and mostly — it’s a pretty good one, too.

Plenty of good stuff happens inside. The cabin is generally roomy in every direction, though headroom may start to disappear quickly for those much beyond about 5’11. Rear seat legroom is very adult friendly as well.

The cabin has a modern, fresh, flowing and upscale feel to it, with the more high-tech interfaces and controls being prominent, but not shouty. There are a few more close-out panels on the dash than some will like, and the wood-look dash trim is plastic-printed and feels cheap, but looks decent. Beyond this, it’s a job well done. Also, Altima’s driver seat is probably the comfiest seat you’ll visit all day, and I almost never say that.

It’s very, very good thanks to some collaboration with NASA that’s resulted in a design that makes you feel lighter and more supported. To this writer’s backside, it’s worked out very nicely.

The Altima’s 2.5-litre, four-cylinder engine creates 182 horsepower, most of which are nearly silent until the revs are pushed well up the dial. - Justin Pritchard

The central command touch-screen can be worked like second nature before long, the instruments are bright and clear, and a secondary digital display in the cluster can call up many additional features and displays, too.

The Altima’s more traditional controls are sensibly placed, plainly marked, simple to locate, and easy to operate.

All said, and especially if Altima will be your first brand-new car in a very long time, there’s very little frustration or funny-business required to find, use, or learn any of the features. There’s a sense that they’ve put in some hours to make even the more overwhelming tech features easy to try, use, and operate.

Outward visibility is decent and there’s a 360-degree parking camera display for safer manoeuvring in tight quarters. The on-screen display is usable, but the graphics are, unfortunately, poor and pixelated.

Other safety systems can take action to warn or intervene if you’re accidentally leaving your lane, at higher risk of a rear-end collision, if another motorist is in the blind-spot area, and more. All of Altima’s outward-looking hazard detection systems are engaged and disengaged via a very obvious button on the steering wheel, making it easy for novices to briefly try the systems out when they see fit, or to easily turn the systems on and off at will.

The driveline is nicely suited to the longer-distance driver concerned mostly with good mileage, pleasing driving range, and very quiet operation. The 2.5-litre, four-cylinder engine develops 182 horsepower, most of which are nearly silent until the revs are pushed well up the dial. The continually variable transmission delivers the power on a seamless wave, no shifting required. The result? In the vast majority of driving, you’ll hear and feel little from the powertrain and a full day’s highway cruising is highly feasible on a single tank.

Passing and merging power are about average for the segment and, here, the engine operates with a pleasingly-restrained growl that never sounds strained.

Highway cruising sees noise levels kept nice and low, and a ride that’s comfort-first but not gelatinous. Brakes feel precise and inspire confidence via a nicely-honed pedal feel that’s eager to get the Altima stopped. Handling is generally flat, even when pushed, but the sportier among us may wish for more ‘feel’ and precision at the controls. This one’s comfort first — even if it’s rarely bothered by a spirited drive.

A generous trunk, which left me wondering how they fit the AWD componentry beneath, helps round out the package.

Here’s a car with many pros, few cons, and a nicely-sorted feel to the majority of its drive, all of its high-tech goodies, and I’d have to argue, even its looks. The new mug capping the front of this thing got some serious attention during my time with it.

Pricing from the high-20s, with my loaded Altima Platinum tester clocking in around the mid-30s.