Used 2023 Nissan Altima

If the 2023 Altima had a report card, it would probably say the same thing we’ve all read countless times over the years: Good, but could do better. If the Altima was a kid on the playing field before a game, it wouldn’t be a captain’s first pick, but it wouldn’t be the grudging, “OK, come with us, but stay over there” scenario either.

However, the 2023 Nissan Altima has a few talents that some might overlook. This Nissan offers all-wheel drive. Not all midsize sedans do that. Or it can come with a superb turbocharged engine.

From a horsepower perspective, the 2023 Altima sedan does fairly well even in its basic form — 188 is better than some contenders, but not as good as the Toyota Camry. This doesn’t translate into a thrill machine, however. “Nice, but not really special” is a more accurate description.

The next-up SV trim and those models beyond it come with Active Ride Control, where subtle computer-controlled adjustments to power delivery and braking help smooth the ride quality.

They also include Intelligent Trace Control, a brake-based simulation of torque vectoring. Once again, imperceptible braking is employed, slowing individual wheels to help the Altima track around corners effectively.

Front-drive versions of the SR trim have a sport-tuned suspension. This is especially welcome when paired with the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, bringing 248 horsepower to what has now become a party — as long as the driver fills up with premium gasoline.

Although all-wheel drive is available (something of a rarity among midsize sedans), you can’t combine it with this more powerful engine. And when all four wheels are driven, they result in slightly less muscle produced by the base 2.5-liter engine.

The big story inside the 2023 Altima midsize sedan is the availability of a new 12.3-inch touchscreen. It’s standard in the 2.0 SR and the top SL trim, optional in the two trims below. This touchscreen also adds wireless Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, but Android users need to keep their cables handy.

Other slight changes include the finishings over the instrument panel and a dual-stitched design for the SR models’ upholstery.

The front seats are exceptionally comfortable. Rear passengers aren’t quite so lucky. They only have 35.2 inches of legroom back there. There are several alternatives with more. Similarly, a trunk space of 15.4 cubic feet fails to make the Altima any more compelling.

A styling update for the 2023 Altima sedan brings a new corporate logo and a new grille flanked by new LED headlights fitted as standard. The SR versions have a black chrome finish to their grilles.

Nissan has also whipped up some new alloy wheel designs for most of the range. Gray Sky Pearl and Garnett Pearl Metallic join the paint choices. We think the company means garnet with one t, a deep-ish red.

ADVANCED DRIVE ASSIST DISPLAY
Assuming we’re all going to ignore the under-equipped base S trim, the rest of the 2023 Altima range has a 7-inch digital driver information display. It adds a classy tech touch to a somewhat plain cabin.

VC-TURBO ENGINE
The alternative turbocharged 2.0-liter engine in the SR model has variable compression, as signified by the VC initials. Fixed compression has been the usual method in combustion engines for the past 100 years or so. This ingenious piece of engineering revolutionizes all that by optimizing performance or efficiency, according to the requirements of the moment.

Nissan hasn’t done itself or the 2023 Altima sedan range any favors by equipping the base S trim so sparsely. Let’s take a quick look at what this car lacks: Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, alloy wheels, and dual-zone automatic climate control. This doesn’t compare well with rivals.

One positive aspect is that safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and — newly standard this year — rear parking sensors, rear automatic braking, plus blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. It also gains LED headlights with automatic high beams.

Otherwise, there are things like 16-inch steel wheels, cloth upholstery, and a basic infotainment system with a 7-inch display and one USB-A port.

S trim doesn’t offer the option of all-wheel drive, either, or much of anything else.

The next-up SV model looks rosier, coming with 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry/ignition, 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, satellite radio, a type-A and type-C USB port for both seating rows, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

Even here, buyers will probably want to select the SV Premium package for a moonroof, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen (new for this year), wireless Apple CarPlay (also new), wireless charging, Wi-Fi, navigation, and adaptive cruise control.

SR trim has 19-inch alloy wheels and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, but isn’t eligible for adaptive cruise control.

An SR Premium package adds a moonroof, heated front seats, 4-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, leather seating surfaces, 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, Wi-Fi, and navigation.

This trim level also offers the option of the turbocharged engine. The SR VC-Turbo model has a greater array of standard equipment than its naturally aspirated counterpart, including dual-zone automatic climate control, a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, and a 9-speaker Bose audio system, plus the contents of the SR Premium package.

SV trim reverts to the non-turbo 2.5-liter engine and the standard suspension, adding a heated steering wheel, remote start with intelligent climate control, and most of the above extras.

The main engine in the 2023 Altima sedan lineup is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder unit making 188 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. That’s with a front-wheel-drive (FWD) configuration. Output dips to 182 horsepower and 178 lb-ft with all-wheel drive (AWD) added.

The SR VC-Turbo takes the Altima driving experience down a more exciting road with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine developing 248 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque.

Front-wheel drive is the sole setup with this turbo unit, which requires premium gasoline to achieve its maximum muscle. The non-turbo engine above is fine with regular.

A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) comes on every 2023 Altima.

2.5-liter inline-4
188/182 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm (FWD/AWD)
180/178 lb-ft of torque @ 3,600 rpm (FWD/AWD)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/39 mpg (FWD S), 27/37 mpg (FWD SV, SR, SL), 26/36 mpg (AWD SV, AWD SL), 25/35 mpg (AWD SR)

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (SR 2.0 VC-Turbo)
248 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
273 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/34 mpg