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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  Buying 2002 Altima - BIG MISTAKE! - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By Jewels83617 - February 7 - 10:00 am

  I have had this car towed 3x and in the shop 6x all for failure to start but told that it was a different cause each time. Ive had the throttle body replaced, parking sensor replaced, 3 recalls fixed, and the alarm system taken out all because they were blamed for failure to start (this all happened in the first 7 mos of ownership, bought brand new). I have since taken it in 2x for failure to start and they blame us by saying that we flooded it, as far as I know these kind of cars cant flood. I knew after my Sentra not to buy Nissan again but this time I really learned my lesson, what a waste of my money and time!

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  great car for the price - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By amelia arbona - February 6 - 1:06 am

  just bought it! great car for the money. thousands less than accord or camry here in puerto rico. the new interior looks and feels great. much better than domestic interiors and on par with cloth interior accords or camrys. acceleration is great. just wish i could use regular gas instead of premium. and last but not less, the looks!!! it looks more expensive than it is, better than acuras tsx, vw jettas, even better looking than lexus es 330.

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  Great car!! - 2014 Nissan Altima
  By Ernest Neeley - February 4 - 3:13 pm

  I love this car; this is my second Altima and it is way better than the first, which I drove for 210K miles before giving it to my nephew as his first car. I have owned two Accords before these two Altimas, and they were so overrated and the Altima is way better with reliability. No issues at all!

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  This is a great car - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By Gus DeMarco - February 3 - 3:23 pm

  There are so many things I love about this car. It is very comfortable. The tilt wheel is an american style, not the usual japanese column up and down. The Telescoping steering column is great. The brakes are the best ever. The headlights really light up the road for a great distance. Very fash and responsive , one could never tell this is a four cylander car. It is faster and than my last car the had a v 6 engine. The redone interior is beautiful and I loved the exterior design, thats what cought my eye in the first place. Far more attractive that the Camry or the Honda. The size of the car is Perfect. All the room you could ever want, yet it is still a rather compact car.

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  great car - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By mike - February 2 - 7:50 am

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  600 miles so far, no complaints. - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By arthurcc - February 2 - 12:12 am

  I recently purchased this vehicle and I have had no problems with it thus far. I bought it new with only the initial 16 miles on it. So far, I have put 600+ miles since getting it and have no complaints so far with it. I was surprised by how well the vehicle accelerated considering it is a v4. The only thing I dont like about the car is that it will sometimes not display the song playing on the information display; I cannot figure out how to program the caller ID for when someone is calling me while I am driving. Other than those two quibbles there isnt else that would tell me to deter you from purchasing this vehicle.

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  Better than a Camry and Accord - 2006 Nissan Altima
  By Joy - January 30 - 2:23 pm

  I love my car! It looks and drives great. And compared to the 2006 Camry and Accord, it has more standard features. The entire car is roomy without feeling like youre driving a boat.

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  Nissan hate is easy! - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Nissan hate is easy - January 28 - 7:00 am

  I drove my Nissan to 50k it stopped running. Took it to dealer, fixed under recall then the real problems. But the damage had already happened! Started to over heat, burning oil. Burned up my catalytic converter, cylinder failed! Need a new engine! It has a lot of recalls on it! Im going to drive on 3 cylinders to have them done! Dont buy a Nissan! Ever!

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  This is an AWESOME CAR - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Rich270 - January 27 - 1:23 am

  The 2005 Nissan Altima has to be one of the best cars I have ever driven. With the cost of fuel these days, the efficient 2.5L engine is easy on the wallet but doesnt sacrifice performance even with the air conditioner on. Thoughtfulness is everywhere in this car - from the sunglasses holder, on the wheel audio controls - even down to the two cupholders. Stylish, comfort and combined fuel economy sets the Nissan Altima above all the rest in its competition.

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  Good & Bad - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By malloryexoh - January 26 - 9:40 am

  This car has been fun overall, I have had some problems with it though. It is very high maintenance. I have had to replace the stereo once. The lights from the info kept fading in and out. Now, my second stereo is doing the same thing. My lease is up in a couple weeks, so Im not going to bother replacing it. It also seemed like every time I turned around, I was having to get my oil changed. And the tires absolutely awful. They are almost completely bald right now. The take off is a little slow at first from a red light. It takes a while to get its speed, then when you accelerate after gaining speed, it takes off like lightning. I know its only a 4 cyl, still. Fun first car though!