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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  Love My Car - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Noah - April 1 - 1:50 pm

  Had my mid-life crisis a bit early and opted to trade-in my Saturn VUE for something more sporty. I saw a few of the Altima Coupes on the road and decided I needed to drive one. 53,000 miles later, its still a great car to drive. I wanted all black, V6, fully loaded and after waiting patiently a few days, my dealer was able to get one. The look of the vehicle is great. Sometimes I think there is a bit too much hesitation when I go from reverse to drive. However, overall, it is just a great car with great acceleration and handling and very good gas mileage. While not the ideal family vehicle, I can fit all 3 kiddos in the backseat.

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  40K Miles - No Problems - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By kayyn - March 31 - 12:00 pm

  Just thought I would post a review letting potential buyers of used 2008 Altima Coupes, know, that after 40,000 miles the car has had no problems for me. I bought the 3.5 SE with CVT transmission, on 6-7-2007 fully loaded. The car has had every maintenance interval done. (oil changed every 3K miles, and whatever else a certified Nissan mechanic, said needed to be done) The only problem I had was a bad valve stem on the tire, NOT caused by driving behavior, stems are steel. Otherwise the car has seemed to run very well. It is very quiet while idling, inside still looks brand new, overall everything has held up well with no major problems in the first 40K mile

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  Please Save yourself a big headache - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By Anthony valencia - March 31 - 4:01 am

  I have 18k miles in my 2013 altima sv. And is been tge worse nightmare to have this car. Specially NMAC nissan corporation does not help you at all once you start having problems with your car. I started having problems with it since 2 thousand miles and nissan corp. keep saying everything is normal. I had plenty of new cars. And NISSAN is the worse car ive ever drove. WORSE CUSTOMER SERVICE and they never want to help once you start having problems. AGAIN. IM ONLY AT 18k miles. And is been in the dealer repair department 3-4 times already.

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  Very happy with the Altima - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Doug - March 31 - 1:23 am

  The 4 cyl is surprisingly responsive and the CVT makes it so you dont even feel the car shift. Lots of interior room. We traded in an 02 Passat which had lots of interior space, but the Altima actually has more. We have two small children and everyone fits in the car very comfortably. Extremely comfortable leather seats. Controls are easily accessible and lots of compartments for your stuff. The dash layout is very nice as well.

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  Highly disappointed - 2007 Nissan Altima
  By nunya - March 28 - 10:03 pm

  Have had this car for less than 48 hrs. and finding out a lot of things I really dont like. Sunroof was not working, so I was really down thinking I had to take it back to the dealer. After some reading I find out it just doesnt work like it should, and this is the gist of what I really hate about this car. Nothing is directly controlled. Everything from the "pushbutton start" to the sunroof and who knows what else, is just a signal being sent to a cpu to run a sequence to do the work. Had I known this, id never considered buying it. I told the salesperson Id gladly pay more not to have the stupid electronic key thing. Its just an expensive trinket waiting to break.

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  Piece of junk - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By rebert - March 28 - 2:52 pm

  Took for a short test drive and bought it. Big mistake. Shouldve taken it for a much longer drive. This car is JUNK! Slight wind and the car is all over the road. Pulls to left or right constantly. Engine skips under slight load. CVT is awful. Two wheels were out of round. Terrible ride and very noisey slight bumps and car soulds like its going to fall apart. Driver seat is comfortable, but upholstery is cheap and wrinkles easily. Cant take it much longer so will trade soon.

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  The Best car ever! - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By I love my altima - March 26 - 5:56 am

  I absolutely love my Nissan Altima sedan. It is absolutely the most fun thing I have ever driven. It is also very spacious,and very quiet! The Interior is absolutely beautiful as well as the exterior. The keyless entry and push button start is so convenient, I never take my keys out of my purse.

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  Nissan Ultima - 2004 Nissan Altima
  By jim fillman - March 25 - 10:00 am

  This model continues to reinforce my confidence in Nissan products. After 19,000 miles now I have only had it back to the dealer for oil changes and a tire rotation. The car is wonderful to drive, very compfortable, sexy and beautiful...I love it...

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  MPG and comfort - 2013 Nissan Altima
  By jmciv - March 24 - 9:19 am

  Leased a 2013 Altima SV in November 2012. The MPG is everything advertised. Averaging around 32-33 mpg city and highway. I was going to purchase a smaller vehicle for fuel efficiency but am not comfortable in smaller cars. The seats are extremely comfortable. Just rented another car for business and could not wait to get back into my Altima. Handling is good, back seat room for kids is good, love the factory remote start. Only minor complaint is the sun visor does not extend. Second Nissan and and have not experienced any problems.

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  Love this Car - 2004 Nissan Altima
  By Battman - March 24 - 2:00 am

  I have driven a V-6 Accord for the last 3 years (bought it new) and the Altima is much more fun to drive. The stability and the acceleration is far better than any other mid size car. Why would anyone spend the extra cash for the Maxima?