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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  Used 2013 Altima 2.5SL - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By Bruno - December 24 - 5:52 pm

  Overall a really good auto. Styling in my opinion just kills Honda and Toyota. The leather appears to be of a better quality than Honda and Toyota. Excellent 27.5 MPG in mixed driving with mostly city. CVT takes some getting used to. Minor wind noise from what I read is from the outside rear view mirrors. Sometimes I notice it and sometimes I dont. When I do, it irritates me. In this day and age this should not be an issue. On a bright day, the entire dash is reflected in the windshield, another thing in my opinion that should not be. Leather seats are very comfortable. I also recommend the electric seat, I could not find a good position with the manual seat.

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  It aint half bad! - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By v - December 24 - 10:00 am

  It deserves North American Car of the Year

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  Extremely Pleased - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By ElwoodTheCat - December 24 - 10:00 am

  Nissan seems to be working hard to try and overcome Honda and its other competitors. Offering more features standard than Honda and stylish body designs, the Nissan Altima appeals to both young and old. Spacious enough for the family or just a group of college friends, the Altima is open to a wide range of buyers. The 4 cylinder, 175 hp, S and SL models pack plenty of punch, but if that isnt enough for you they offer the 3.5L V6 250 hp SE model. Both engines offer more horsepower than the competing Accord and Camry, 150 and 157 hp respectively. The Altima is simply revolutionizing the mid-size sedan.

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  Great MPG BUT... - 2015 Nissan Altima
  By Dave in MN - December 21 - 11:56 pm

  I purchased an 2015 Altima 2.5SL(new) in August of 2014. I live in MN so I went through a winter with it. Things I liked, MPG was phenomenal, lots of room, audio system was great, ride was comfortable. Things I didnt like, I started to notice what appeared to be rust forming on the trunk where the chrome attaches to the trunk(Dec 14). I kept an eye on it and in March(15) the rust was very noticeable, I contacted my dealer and they didnt seem shocked at all. They said it was fairly common. WTF? The car was 6 months old. They "fixed" it and within a month it was showing rust again. This time they had the body shop fix it. Then about a month later a started to notice rust around the back door opening. I was told it was due to gravel. Hmm I had an Acura TSX which I owned for 10 years and drove on the same roads and didnt have any rust until year 10. After the THIRD round of rust in LESS THAN a year i dumped the rust bucket. I dont know what to tell you other than I have read other reviews with the same rust issues. That is a quality control problem. i wish I could recommend the Altima but i cant. 3 issues with Rust on a car less than a year old is unacceptable. One round is bad but THREE!!! Buyer be ware.

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  Would buy one again - 1999 Nissan Altima
  By Lomagirl - December 21 - 1:13 pm

  Id take this car refurbished over a new one. 5-speed manual shifts okay (except balky in 1st), plenty of spunk. Okay w/ routine maintenance but last 5 years had to replace alternator (w/ core charge refund it wasnt much), belt tensioner, and radiator (less than $100, home installation). Have had suspension work done. Factory tires were weak link. Trunk space is good and very comfortable positioning for short driver (Im 52"). Now at over 150,000 miles starting to show its age but I still love this car.

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  Satisfied - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Roger Hausinger - December 21 - 10:00 am

  Driveability, controlability plus visibilty were greater than expected. Using regular gas was a surprise. Bought in Phoenix and driven to Milwaukee the next three days at speed with nothing to complain about. Have 3600 miles and am pleased. Navigation unit was and is a puzzlement in spite of the big instruction book. Will find someone to help.

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  Been a great car so far - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Halbergrada - December 18 - 7:23 pm

  I have put 57,000 miles on my Altima. Right now Im sitting at just under 75,000 miles. So far I have not had any major maintenance issues and the car has been very reliable. I did have to replace the brakes at 45k miles and the tires at 50k, which I think is pretty reasonable. Its not using a drop of oil. I do have one annoyance. My drivers window switch is going out and sometimes it takes a few tries to get my window to stay up.

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  nice car, needs to be smoothed out - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Aboy - December 17 - 2:00 am

  Great performance, beautiful styling, but still a little rough around the edges. Accelerator is a bit jumpy< and we had a few minor problems with wind noise on the highway and trunk release> rear shocks are squeaky> all in all however< a fun car>

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  3.5SR, Good choice! - 2010 Nissan Altima
  By vgvg - December 16 - 3:20 am

  3.5 winter frost with blonde leather interior. Sport and Premium package. Looks good and drives even better! A lot of power and great performance. Fun to drive. I mean really, really fun to drive! For instance, I can merge onto the freeway, going uphill, from a near crawl, from being behind a semi. Hit 70 or 80 without an effort. Before I an count to 4! Love the CVT. The Bose 9 speaker stereo sounds great. Its better than the Bose premium system I had on my 02 Maxima. 3.5SR Altima is a economical choice of a car that maintains power and performance but not the price of a new Maxima. At 1300 miles, city and highway avg 23mpg.

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  Never again! - 2004 Nissan Altima
  By element - December 14 - 8:26 am

  V6 engine is a +. Interior has a lot of space. Exterior looks very good to be called an Altima. The parts on and in the car is something else. Got my 2004 Altima in Dec. of 2003 and the o2 sensor wend bad @ 1200 miles after that was the left strut at 6000 miles. Then the right at 6800 miles. Over and over. Never ending. Total times struts were replaced is around 7 times for a 2004 Altima w/ 17800 miles. Now Nissan Service has me going in again for a window molding to be repaired for the 4 time now. Nissan Service, and the Altima. NEVER AGAIN! Tips for the ones thinking about the new Altimas. Dont do it. Check all websites w/ info on the Altimas. Wish me luck w/ my lemon.