Overview & Reviews

The Nissan Altima has been sold for nearly two decades, starting out as a smallish midsize sedan and maturing into the full-fledged family sedan it is today. There have been five Altima generations thus far, with the third generation marking the key shift to mainstream dimensions and specifications. Nissan likes to emphasize the Altima's fun-to-drive character, a trait we've come to appreciate in road tests over the years. Significant evolutions in features, finesse and frugality have made the Altima a perennial top pick in this popular segment.

Current Nissan Altima
The Altima is available with one of two engines. The standard 2.5-liter, 182-horsepower four-cylinder returns an impressive 31 mpg combined, while the 3.5-liter, 270-hp V6 achieves a respectable 25 mpg combined. Both are equipped with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

There are seven trim levels to choose from, designated as either 2.5 or 3.5 depending on which engine's under the hood. The base 2.5 model gets you steel wheels along with nice perks like keyless ignition/entry and Bluetooth streaming audio, while the 2.5 S adds a power driver seat and an upgraded stereo. The 2.5 SV includes alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control and a touchscreen interface. The fancy 2.5 SL boasts leather upholstery and Bose audio.

Note that the 3.5 S gets many of the 2.5 SV's features plus larger alloy wheels, and the 3.5 SL tacks on xenon headlights. All SV and SL models are eligible for a Technology package that includes a bigger touchscreen, a navigation system, voice controls and a collection of electronic safety features like blind-spot monitoring.

In reviews, we've been very impressed with the Nissan Altima. Most of its competitors are certainly worth a look, but this Nissan has all the makings of a benchmark. It does all the little things right, and goes the extra mile with its rewarding driving dynamics and high-end cabin. Passenger space is also quite good, though some may find backseat headroom a bit lacking.

If you're having a hard time choosing between the four-cylinder and the V6, consider that the four offers a rare combination of excellent fuel economy and relatively swift acceleration. In Edmunds testing, a four-cylinder Altima accelerated to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds, which is pretty impressive given its high fuel economy. Of course, we clocked the burly V6 at just 6.2 seconds, so if power's a priority, the 3.5 model range is a nice option to have.

Used Nissan Altima Models
The current, fifth-generation Nissan Altima debuted for the 2013 model year. The latest Altima benefits from overhauled styling inside and out, with a focus on a more upscale look and feel. Fuel economy is markedly better for both four-cylinder and V6 models, while updated suspension and steering systems maintain the Altima's reputation as one of the market's best-handling family sedans. For that debut year only, the previous-generation Altima coupe continued to be sold alongside the redesigned sedan. The coupe was subsequently discontinued.

The previous, fourth-generation Nissan Altima sedan was produced from 2007 through 2012 and marked the arrival of the now-ubiquitous CVT. It is in many ways similar to its successor, so a used one could be a good budget-friendly alternative. A coupe version debuted in 2008 and was produced in modest numbers through 2013. A limited-production Altima Hybrid was also available in some states from 2007 through 2011.

The fourth-generation Altima went without major changes for most of its run, though used car shoppers should note that there were some styling tweaks for 2010, along with the addition of an iPod interface and enhanced audio and navigation systems. Both the sedan and coupe were broken into 2.5 and 3.5 model ranges. The 2.5 models had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produced 175 hp. The 3.5 SR (originally called SE) models had a 3.5-liter V6 that produced 270 hp. Though these powertrains are similar to those of the fifth-generation Altima, they were considerably less fuel-efficient. A CVT was mandatory on the sedan, while the coupe got a standard six-speed manual transmission with the CVT as an option.

We mostly praised the power and handling of both the four-cylinder and V6 Altima models in our reviews. The 3.5 models were more sporting, of course, thanks to their effortless acceleration and sport-tuned suspensions. But even the most basic 2.5-liter four-cylinder was one of the more rewarding family sedans to drive, while still providing a comfortable ride. The CVT was one of the best examples of its breed, and we would choose it over the coupe's six-speed manual, which was unrefined and difficult to use.

The third-generation Nissan Altima, produced from 2002-'06, set the stage for the Altima we know today. Radically different from the previous car, this enlarged model put Nissan smack dab in the middle of the family-sedan wars. It was about 6 inches longer than the previous generation, and its new suspension design and stronger body made it both better to drive and more useful for families. At the time, it was one of the most powerful family sedans available, offering either a 175-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or a 240-hp 3.5-liter V6, the latter a shot over the bows of the weaker Camry and Accord V6 models. Both engines offered a choice of manual or automatic transmissions, with four-cylinder Altimas limited to a four-speed automatic versus the V6's available five-speed auto.

The third-generation interior was widely criticized for looking and feeling cheap, but the Altima had a particularly lively feel for a front-wheel-drive family sedan. Our editors concluded that the Altima had gone from wallflower to genuinely desirable sedan overnight. For driving enthusiasts, the 2005-'06 Altima SE-R was the way to go. This specialized model came with a firmer suspension, a bit more power and an exclusive six-speed manual transmission whose slick operation was a cut above Nissan's unimpressive norm.

The first and second generations saw the Altima trying to find its groove. All models of this vintage were powered by a reasonably peppy 150-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Introduced in 1993, the original Altima fell somewhere in between the compact and midsize categories, and American car shoppers weren't overly impressed. We found the second-generation Altima, sold for the 1998-2001 model years, to be a decent handler, but its overall design was simply too bland, and its odd size remained an issue. Mainstream success would have to wait for the blockbuster third-generation model.

User Reviews:

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  a real car - 2012 Nissan Altima
  By omar - August 1 - 2:22 pm

  I have a 2.5s special edition no issues I put good gas 89 octane lasts me 2 weeks and drive it every day very strong reliable. brakes wasnt too impressive but upgraded them to cross-drilled slotted rotors and its perfect now great car to have

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  Terrific car even @ $8k more - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By Sbone - August 1 - 1:50 am

  Really like this car, having looked at Honda, Subaru, Volvo, and others. In the end the finalists were the Altima and the Infiniti G37x (really). I actually like to exterior of the Altima better, with the interior nod to the G37. The Altima gives me fold- down rear seats, better fuel economy and oh, by the way was over $10k less. I may miss the AWD on a few days here in CO, but my snow tires will help. I was very surprised at how unwilling the Infiniti dealers were to discount the 2010s even with their lots full and the 2011s arriving in Sept. Oh well, good for us, and Ill pocket the $10k, thank you very much!

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  2007 2.5SL altima i love it - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By gcs - July 27 - 10:26 am

  I got a 2.5SL Nissan altima and its great. Leather seats are good and comfy.

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  Fantastic car - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By motosys - July 25 - 7:31 pm

  We purchased the last 2013 on the lot and got a great deal. The ride is very comfortable I took it on a 250 mile road trip and wasnt sore at all. The fuel economy was fantastic especially for a V6 I got 35 mpg for the trip. The only issues is the fabric that the seats are made of are nice and plush with a white dog who sheds we have to vacuum it out at least once a week to keep it looking good inside. The voice commands are awful. In my 2013 Hyundai the voice commands are better and work. However the interface on the Nav works great so I dont feel the need to tell the car to do things. for the bulk of what I do the buttons on the console and on the steering wheel are great

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  Comfortable, Reliable, Roomy Sedan - 2011 Nissan Altima
  By Patrick McClatchey - July 24 - 3:10 pm

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  Great Car - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By JEPOP - July 22 - 8:23 am

  Bought a new Altima 2.5S last month and (so far) I really love this car. Other contenders in my new car hunt were the Accord and the Camry. In the end I went with the Altima because of price and the CVT (transmission). Highway MPG is fantastic (averaging between 32 and 36 MPG). The car is quick, quiet and very responsive. I am a first time Nissan buyer and hope that this car holds up as well as the Honda or the Toyota, time will tell.

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  A decent car to buy - 2001 Nissan Altima
  By Dipti Narayan - July 21 - 4:43 am

  I bought the car as used one. The car is looking great & interior is excellent. The car has power transmission. The audio, CD player is good. No sound inside the car. The car has some problem on the highway, e.g. some noise but not too much. AC is good, heater, power set are easy to manage.

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  Satisfied with this choice - 2004 Nissan Altima
  By wshwasmdnjpn - July 21 - 2:00 am

  It rides and drives very well and the interior is laid out well with plenty of smaller storage compartments to put things. The seats are comfortable enough for longer trips. My only complaint is some of the interior plastic somewhere in the dash near the passenger side door will rattle slightly going over rough roads and also the roof under the cloth lining will also. Its one of those things that is so slight that if you took it back to the dealer they wouldnt be able to find the problem to fix it. Nissan just needs to make the fittings tighter during assembly.

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  Excellent car for the Money - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By johnny D - July 19 - 6:33 pm

  My wife and I considered a Camry SE , and a Honda EX , compared these makes to the Nissan Altima , and the Altima won hands down. Love the way the Altima handles the winding roads , the interior is very impressive, nice ergonomics, love the 3.5 motor in the SE , the interior cabin is quiet, seats are nice, ours has the sports package , rear spoiler, Sunroof , fog lamps , excellent car for the money , the 3.5 SE had a $27,459 tag bought the car for $ 24,500.00 including shipping .

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  50,000 km follow up - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By hartotis - July 18 - 11:56 am

  Just under the 50,000 km mark and have no complaints. Radiator and radio were replaced under warranty other than that no problems. Gas mileage is close to the 30 mpg mark in a city/ highway daily commute. Replaced the Continental tires at the 40000 kms mark these tires dont seem to stand up to well. Excellent service from Brasso Nissan in Calgary. Still very impressed with the car.