Altima

Make
Nissan
Segment
Sedan

While Nissan has been accused of having a rather stodgy lineup, you can't say the brand hasn't been trying to remedy the situation. The Leaf will gain a battery-powered sibling in the form of the Ariya and the ancient GT-R won't be the only performance model for much longer: the much-awaited Z car is getting ready to terrorize the Supra.

But what about the rest of the range? Well, it seems the midsized Altima will soon gain several updates to bring it more in line with newer models if these spy shots are anything to go by. First seen on Sohu.com, the images show a Chinese market Altima with minimal concealment.

Look closely and you'll see some changes that enliven the fairly conservative sedan. While the front headlamps appear to retain the same shape, new styling details within the lighting cluster may give the Altima a fresher look. What is different, however, is the front bumper design. A more pronounced front vent takes the place of the current model's fog lamp housing.

The side profile of the Altima appears unchanged which is no bad thing. Familiarity has concealed just how handsome the Altima is, so we're happy it keeps the clean lines. The rear is where the biggest changes have taken place. The rather old-fashioned red/amber lenses have given way to far more attractive and modern-looking LED items. The design of the lighting bears a faint resemblance to the taillights found on the refreshed BMW X3.

At first glance, the interior remains untouched. However, eagle-eyed readers will spot the enhanced infotainment screen on the center console. The spy shots show a slightly larger touchscreen which lacks the knobs and buttons found on the current item. Depending on your personal preferences, this is either a good or bad move on Nissan's part. It certainly lends the cabin an air of minimalism, though.

Other than a slightly redesigned front cupholder and more angular detailing, we can't see that much else has changed. That's no big deal; the Altima is blessed with a well-built cabin that's pleasing to sit in and look at. First seen in 2019, the sixth-generation US-spec model could do with a facelift.

We're just happy to see that Nissan is looking to improve one of its sedan models, despite many manufacturers moving away from the body style. If this redesign is headed to the US, expect an official announcement before year-end.