Nissan Altima
The Altima is Nissan’s midsize sedan with seating for five passengers. The Altima sits between the smaller Versa and Sentra models and the larger Maxima. Nissan is unusual among automakers in continuing to offer a full line of sedans rather than shifting entirely to SUVs. With a 2.5-liter engine, automatic transmission, and buyer’s choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive, the Altima is meant to provide affordable, stylish, and comfortable family transportation. The 2025 Altima is available in four trim levels, ranging from the basic S and SV to the sporty SR and more luxurious SL models.
Explore the evolution of the Nissan Altima
Get our expert take on used Nissan Altima models, or view year-by-year changes.
Sixth generation Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima was redesigned for the 2019 model year, adding an available turbocharged engine, available all-wheel drive, and a more comfortable interior. Specifically, the back seat was enlarged to be roomier for three adults.
The standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine was carried over, but buyers could opt for a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with more power. However, the turbo engine was only available on front-wheel-drive models, with the available all-wheel drive limited to the standard 2.5-liter engine. The 2.0-liter turbo was discontinued for the 2025 model year, leaving all-wheel drive as the only drivetrain option.
Inside, the sixth-generation Altima provides spacious comfort and either an eight-inch or 12.3-inch touchscreen display. Early in this generation, advanced driver-assistance features such as lane-keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control were optional, and in 2020 Nissan made the ProPilot Assist system available
Model highlights
Available turbocharged engine (through 2024)
Available all-wheel drive
Automatic transmission
Seating for five passengers
Available ProPilot Assist
Fifth generation Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima provides a comfortable, confident sedan for five passengers. Note that a two-door Altima coupe was available in 2013, but only for that model year. Powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder or a 3.5-liter V6 engine, all Altima trims in this generation used a continuously variable transmission. The fifth-generation Altima offered only front-wheel drive.
Inside, the Altima was larger than its predecessors, but still criticized for limited rear seat headroom for adults. However, Nissan was ahead in dashboard tech, providing an available touchscreen infotainment system with a rearview camera at the start of this generation.
A midcycle update for the 2016 model year made several changes to bring the Altima up-to-date, including a new exterior appearance and available adaptive cruise control and forward collision warnings. A new seven-inch touchscreen became available as well. For the final year of this generation, Nissan added Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay® phone integration capability.
Model highlights
Four-cylinder or V6 engine
Continuously variable transmission
Front-wheel drive
Seating for five passengers
Available touchscreen infotainment
Changes by year
Latest generation from 2019 - present
2025 Nissan Altima
Highlights
New SV Special Edition trim available
Turbocharged engine discontinued
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2024 Nissan Altima
2023 Nissan Altima
Highlights
New 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment available
Updated front-end styling
Platinum trim dropped
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2022 Nissan Altima
2021 Nissan Altima
2020 Nissan Altima
Highlights
Expanded availability of driver-assistance features
New memory function for side mirrors on Platinum trim
New available piano black interior trim
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2019 Nissan Altima
Highlights
First year for redesigned Altima
All-wheel drive offered for the first time
Chassis and suspension upgraded for better handling
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Previous generation from 2013 - 2018
2018 Nissan Altima
Highlights
Forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking standard
Available seven-inch touchscreen added Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay® capability
Final year for this generation of Altima
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2017 Nissan Altima
Highlights
No significant changes for this model year
Base and 3.5 SR dropped midyear
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2016 Nissan Altima
Highlights
Mid-cycle refresh updated exterior and interior
New SR sport trim available
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2015 Nissan Altima
Highlights
3.5 S and 3.5 SV trims dropped midyear
3.5 SV and SL trims got standard Tech package with navigation
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2014 Nissan Altima
Highlights
New NissanConnect® smartphone integration introduced
Available touchscreen infotainment center on base S trim
Altima coupe dropped
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2013 Nissan Altima
Highlights
All-new Altima receives a full redesign for this generation
Updated exterior and interior
Revised chassis and suspension for better handling
Increased fuel efficiency
Two-door Altima coupe carried over with only cosmetic updates
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Reliability
RepairPal gave the Nissan Altima an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks Nissan Altima 14th out of 28 among Midsize Cars.
RepairPal reports that the average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Nissan Altima is $431, compared to an average of $430 for Midsize Cars and $591 for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
According to RepairPal, Nissan Altima owners bring their vehicles into a repair shop for unscheduled repairs an average of 0.8 times per year, compared to an average of 0.9 times for Midsize Cars and 1.3 times for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
RepairPal reported that the probability of a repair being a severe or major issue is 13% for the Nissan Altima, compared to an average of 12% for Midsize Cars and 14% for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
Jeff Zurschmeide has been an automotive journalist for more than 20 years, covering the new car business as well as motorsports and industry news. He lives in Tillamook, Oregon, at the confluence of great roads, nice weather, and plenty of space for a collection of strange old automobiles.
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