The Triangle

Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: Philly Auto Show

Media Credit: Courtesy Nissan The 2008 Altima coupe is available in a 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine and a larger 3.5-liter V6. The smaller model starts at $20,670.

Yes, it may be a bit pricey, but the 2008 Altima coupe is a beauty of a car. It shares some styling with its far more expensive older brother: the Infiniti G37.

The Altima coupe is available in a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a larger 3.5-liter V6. The 2.5S model starts at $20,670 and gets 23 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway with its nifty CVT (continuously variable transmission). It has a 175-horsepower engine under the hood. The V6 packs 270-horsepower, gets about four mpg less than the four-cylinder engine and adds a few additional features for about $5,000 more.

One downside to the Altima coupe is the lack of features in the less expensive trim level. It doesn't even include stability control. Also, Nissan's feature packages are confusing and often result in you getting more features than you may want (and paying more than you want as well).

If the Altima coupe doesn't do it for you, take a shot with the Honda Accord coupe. With similar base pricing and fuel efficiency, the LX-S includes a 2.4-liter 190-horsepower engine.

If you're looking for smaller coupes, take a look at the Honda Civic coupe or the Scion tC. The Pontiac G5 is also worth considering.

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