Though the Nissan Altima is already the second best-selling midsize sedan so far this year (behind the Toyota Camry), the competitive nature of this segment means that Nissan can't afford to rest on its laurels. As such, the company is rolling out a refreshed 2016 Nissan Altima that gets a new Maxima-inspired exterior design, slightly improved highway fuel economy, a new sport-oriented SR trim, and newly available active safety features.

This is still just a mid-cycle refresh, and the Altima stays mostly the same under the skin. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder and 3.5-liter V-6, both mated to a CVT, remain the two powertrain options, and the car's overall footprint is unchanged. But the 2016 Nissan Altima does look quite different from the outgoing 2013-2015 model, as it gains Nissan's V-motion front grille and angular headlights with boomerang-shaped LED accents up front, and a new rear fascia with wider taillights out back. If you squint a bit, the look is remarkably similar to the 2016 Nissan Maxima, if a bit less swoopy and daring—the Altima's high sales numbers mean that Nissan can't get too crazy with this family sedan's appearance.

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The outgoing four-cylinder Altima already beat all comers in non-hybrid highway fuel economy with its 38 mpg rating (save for the Mazda6 with its optional i-ELOOP regenerative technology). Now, a few tweaks to the Altima mean that the Nissan furthers its lead over these competitors. All 2016 Altima 2.5 models, except for the new SR trim, will rise 1 mpg to an estimated 39 mpg highway, thanks to the new car's sleeker aerodynamic profile, a lower-friction engine, and active grille shutters. The four-cylinder's city and combined numbers of 27 mpg and 31 mpg, respectively, remain the same, as do the V-6 models 22/32 mpg city/highway ratings.

Nissan also says that the CVT has been retuned with artificial shift points for more responsive acceleration, while additional sound deadening is said to reduce engine noise in the cabin. The steering is also retuned, and the suspension tuning revised. A new 2016 Nissan Altima SR model, available for both 2.5 four-cylinder and 3.5 V-6 models, adds stiffer front and rear anti-roll bars, along with larger wheels, smoked headlight trim, a rear decklid spoiler, and contrasting blue stitching inside.

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Updates to the 2016 Nissan Altima's interior are less noticeable than the exterior tweaks, and consist of a revised center stack and center console. A few more active safety features are available, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and emergency braking, while the previously offered blind-spot warning system transitions to a radar-based system and is standard on SV and SL trim levels.

Look for the 2016 Nissan Altima to go on sale later this fall. Though pricing has yet to be announced, expect a similar starting price as the 2015 Altima 2.5 that costs $23,125 with destination.

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