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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  GREAT CAR - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Canadian owner - May 27 - 12:10 am

  This vehicle has done well even in the extreme temperatures that we have here in Canada. Im in sales and as a result spend alot of time in my vehicle. My hats off to the company for making such a great car. Im picking up my new one on Saturday!

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  Keeps on Ticking - 2001 Nissan Altima
  By Road Warrior - May 25 - 2:00 am

  This is my third Nissan (92 & 96 sentras prviously) and is certainly the best and most reliable. I just had my first service problem this week after passing 70,000 miles in 26 months. The check engine light came on- I needed two new oxygen sensors. $400 is not bad after some serious use.

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  Good Alternative to Accord and Camry - 1998 Nissan Altima
  By Donna (TX) - May 22 - 3:16 pm

  For less money than the Accord and Camry, youre getting a car with similar reliability and build quality. I owned this car for 5 years and never had any, even minor, problems. Service only involved regular oil changes and such. The car did have a horrible turning radius for its size.

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  This car is a winner - 2016 Nissan Altima
  By Diane Pain - May 21 - 6:42 am

  I priced my car using Edmunds.com; this helped to get me the car at an excellent price. It is everything I have been looking for in a car: comfortable and fuel-efficient.

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  This car is a winner - 2016 Nissan Altima
  By Diane Pain - May 21 - 6:42 am

  I priced my car using Edmunds.com; this helped to get me the car at an excellent price. It is everything I have been looking for in a car: comfortable and fuel-efficient.

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  consider yourself forewarned - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By lmth10 - May 20 - 9:28 pm

  I bought my 02 altima in 2005 with 26k miles. Loved it at first; did all the recommended maintenance; highway mpg 26 but it seemed like I was always spending money on things going wrong that never occurred with my familys hondas and toyotas. My catalytic converter was replaced and less than a year later the engine light came on signaling it needed to be redone. My car also wouldnt start and I got a new crank shaft sensor and that took care of the problem for a few months until it happened again. Got another crank shaft sensor and cam shaft sensor and it still wouldnt start regularly! Finally the mechanic said I needed a new gasket which could cost $2500. I traded it in for $2k with 114k mil

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  A HEAD TURNER - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By MMPP - May 20 - 10:00 am

  FAAAAAAAST CAR! Too fast for a middle model. Got pulled over for speeding 2 wks in a row; luckily Im a female.I get nothing but compliments. Very sexy- head turner. Sporty. Easy to dress up. Engine is great.Interior could be refined, but could be the same elsewhere. Wouldnt trade it. ENJOYING THE RIDE!

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  Great Car but beware of certain Dealers - 1997 Nissan Altima
  By Hurricane - May 19 - 11:36 pm

  After buying the car in Apr. 1998 for $13k I am happy i have put 140K miles on the car to a total of 174K miles. As with some reviews my car has dash gremlins which can be obnoxious. In the past month I have had the shock joints changed and the battery cables replaced. Carriage Nissans service has been very unsatisfactory. The car has had electrical problems since the replacement of the battery cables. Leaving me stranded twice. I hop after the fourth set of battery cables that it is fixed. Other than that every thing seems to working great.

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  My first Nissan - 2015 Nissan Altima
  By Billy Todd - May 19 - 5:42 am

  bought my Altima at the end of october of 2014, already have just over 5,500 miles on it and this is the first Nissan I have owned and I absolutely love it. Black exterior and black interior just makes it look so sweet. Car has plenty of get up and go, looks very sporty and to top it off has the best gas mileage of any car I have ever owned. Think the only thing I dislike is that the blue toothe feature crashes alot when connected, other than that. no complaints.

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  Great Value - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By Kristi - May 16 - 12:50 pm

  I admit that I JUST got this car, but I just love it. I wanted a pretty inexpensive, reliable car so I went looking for the best price on either a base model Camry, Accord, or Altima. I was surprised by how much "cheaper" the base model Honda and Toyota felt vs. the Altima. I really felt like I was getting the value I wanted, but that the car still seemed to be of a higher level than the other two. Definitely the best bang for the buck.