Much ado about NFF’s N6.5m car gift to Oliseh

Until his recent appointment as the head coach of Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles, Sunday Oliseh was a former national team player (defensive midfielder) who many football lovers won’t forget in a hurry. Given the winning goal he scored against Spain in Nigeria’s first match during the 1998 World Cup, he has remained in the good books of many Nigerians. As the trainer of the national team, the Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday bought him a new 2015 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL, said to be worth about N6.5m. The announcement by the NFF generated so much excitement among sport lovers. Notably, the 2015 Nissan Altima has continued to be a top choice when it comes to cars that are reliable and has a rare blend of comfort and agility. Its excellent fuel economy and enjoyable driving experience make it one of the most rewarding family sedans to drive. Even though its overall look is simple, it is upscale, made of tight construction quality and reputed to have one of the nicest cabins in its class. Its seats are supportive and offer great comfort that make the occupants want to relax some more in the car. The Altima is neither the sportiest family sedan, nor the most luxurious, but for anyone looking for both traits in the same package, it’s hard to think of a competitor that does it better than the Altima. In real-world driving, it’s the Altima’s well-roundedness that stands out. The ride is quiet and compliant, even on rough surfaces, and there is a sense of control that is hard to come by in some similarly smooth-riding competitors. For IT-savy drivers, the NissanConnect Apps system provides support for various smart phone applications, paired with a five-inch touch screen by default. It can even accommodate multiple users by storing individual profiles for app connectivity. Performance The 2015 Nissan Altima is available in two main configurations: 2.5 and 3.5. The number signifies the engine grade (2.5-litre four-cylinder or 3.5-litre V6). The base engine is the 2.5 or increasing amounts of features through the S, SV and SL trim levels. The 3.5 version is now available in SL trim level. The 2015 Altima model is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine rated at 182 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque mated to a continuously variable transmission. It is a front wheel drive type. In Edmunds performance testing, an Altima 2.5 moved from zero to 60 miles per hour in 7.8 seconds, one of the quicker times measured for a four-cylinder family sedan. The Environmental Protection Agency estimated its fuel economy to be 27 miles per gallon in the city, 38mpg on the highway and 31mpg in combined driving. Features The base 2.5 Altima sedan comes with 16-inch steel wheels, full power accessories, a 4.3-inch LCD information display in the gauge cluster, height-adjustable driver seat, Bluetooth phone, audio connectivity, and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player and an auxiliary input jack. The SL boasts LED tail lights, a heated steering wheel, leather upholstery, heated front seats, four-way power front passenger seat and a nine-speaker Bose sound system. Available packages include the convenience package that adds sunroof, rear air-conditioning vents and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The technology package also adds a seven-inch touchscreen, voice controls, a navigation system and electronic safety features including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and lane-departure warning. The SL, being the top of the trims, also has other available options including automatic headlights, keyless ignition and entry, cruise control, a rearview camera, a USB port, satellite radio and smartphone app integration. The 3.5 SL is equipped similarly to its 2.5 counterpart, adding xenon headlights, front and rear parking sensors. And the opening for loading items in the trunk is conveniently wide. Safety The 2015 Nissan Altima comes standard with antilock brakes, stability and traction control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. In Edmunds testing, an Altima 2.5 SV sedan stopped from 60mph in 123 feet, which is average in its segment. In government crash testing, the Altima sedan received a perfect five stars for overall crash protection, with five stars for total frontal impact safety and five stars for total side impact safety. The good:It has impressive acceleration, fuel economy, exceptionally comfortable front seats and sporty handling. It also has strong crash test scores, satisfying ride, handling balance, user-friendly electronics and above-average cabin quality. The bad:It has tight rear-seat headroom and an average legroom for a family sedan. Some reviewers complained that the four-cylinder engine could be noisy.