Nissan Altima Side-View Evolution 2002-2019

Nissan's Altima model was enlarged for the 2002 model year to become a "standard" size car in terms of the North American market, and has maintained essentially similar wheelbases (1.9 inches, 4.9 cm variation) over three later redesigns.

Although he retired from Nissan's California styling center in 2000 before all details were finalized, the design theme was developed under the direction of Jerry Hirshberg (1940-2019).   He later appeared in television advertisements discussing the new styling.

As might be expected, over time original theme features fade somewhat.  Yet they are still present in modified form.  Side views are presented blow.

Gallery

Hirshberg's original 2002 Altima design.  Salient features are the dogleg C-pillar, the wide, flat brows over the wheel openings, and the side character line crease that rises towards the rear.

A 2007-vintage Altima.  According to the link above, it used a different platform.  Yet the body has every appearance of a modest facelift, and not a redesign.

The 2013 Altima redesign is more apparent.  The rising character line is now an extension of a line originating by the hood, and its rise is less than before.  The eyebrows and dogleg are retained, though altered in detail.

For 2019, the wheel base was increased from 109.3 inches (277.6 cm) to 111.2 inches (282.5 cm) and the height reduced from 57.9 inches (147.1 cm) to 57.0 inches (144.7 cm).  These are not large changes, but sufficient to create a slightly different "feel."  The C-pillar dogleg is disappearing into a faddish "separate-top-delineated-by-a-black-wedge" treatment.  The wheel opening brows are less wide.  However, the rising side character line has reappeared, though accompanied by a higher beltline character line.