2025 Nissan Altima

The Nissan Altima is known for its comfortable seats and driving manners, plus a digestible, if not rock-bottom, base price. It also offers optional all-wheel drive, always a plus in regions that get the brunt of winter. Over the decades, the Altima has earned a solid reputation, but in the face of rivals that only get better year after year, the Altima seems content with the status quo. For some shoppers and Nissan fans, it’s still a good car. But we would also encourage you to see just how much more the competition offers in terms of powertrain choices and standard driver assistance features.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize cars, including the Nissan Altima.

Rumors persist that the Altima might be heading for the exit, just like rivals such as the Chevrolet Malibu and Subaru Legacy, yet this Nissan lives to see another year. Nissan axed the optional turbo engine, leaving only one choice for 2025. New for this year is the SV Special Edition package that brings a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless phone charging pad, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Nissan is also throwing in three scheduled oil changes for the first two years or 24,000 miles.

The Nissan Altima has a starting price similar to the Honda Accord and above that of the Subaru Legacy (which has all-wheel drive standard), Kia K5, and Hyundai Sonata. Moreover, all of those rivals come standard with driver assistance technology such as adaptive cruise control. You can get that stress-saving feature in the Nissan, but it costs extra. Those rivals also offer a choice of powertrains, including hybrid or more powerful options. The new Toyota Camry is offered exclusively as a powerful and efficient hybrid.

Before buying the Nissan Altima, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Historically, the Nissan Altima’s resale value has lagged behind competitors. Remember, recouping more money when it’s time to sell or trade in your car can mean a bigger down payment for the next one.

Sourcing its thrust from a 188-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, the Altima’s power is middle of the pack among its peers. Moreover, the Nissan Altima uses a transmission engineered to maximize fuel economy rather than acceleration and response. Therefore, you will need to settle for the thrill of achieving 39 mpg in highway driving rather than firing off the line when the light turns green. Still, with a zero-to-60 time measured in the mid-7-second range, the Altima is more than quick enough for everyday merging and passing. It’s well suited to around-town driving, as well as highway cruising. Most will be well served by this midsize sedan.

Optional on the SV trim and standard on the SR and SL is Active Ride Control, which utilizes subtle computer-controlled adjustments to power delivery and braking to help smooth the ride quality. Adding to the Altima’s handling capabilities is the optional 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. All-wheel drive is optional on all but the base model.

Fuel Economy

The Nissan Altima earns 32 mpg in combined city/highway driving. Opting for all-wheel drive drops that number to 28 mpg. Against gasoline-only competitors, these numbers are good. But keep in mind the Toyota Camry — all-new for 2025 and with a standard hybrid powertrain — is both more powerful (225 hp) and far more efficient at up to 51 mpg combined. And it’s available with all-wheel drive. Similarly, a gasoline-powered Honda Accord earns 32 mpg combined, while hybrid variants get up to 48 mpg.

If there’s one place we really give kudos to the Altima, it’s the cabin. Particularly those long-touted “zero-gravity” front seats. It isn’t all marketing hype; we really do find them very comfortable to be in, even after many miles on the road. Back-seat passengers aren’t as lucky, with just 35.2 inches of legroom. Compare that with the Honda Accord’s 40.8 inches or the Toyota Camry’s 38 inches.

We do like the available 12.3-inch touchscreen that’s optional on SV and SR trims and included on the SL. The standard screen is 8 inches, which is merely adequate these days — the Kia K5 and Hyundai Sonata have 12.3-inch displays as standard, for example.

At 15.4 cubic feet, the Altima’s trunk is a bit larger than that of the Camry but shy of the Accord’s 16.7 cubic feet of volume.

This is always the most subjective area of a vehicle, but our eyes appreciate the Altima’s lines. It adds just enough spice, especially with that “floating roof” design in the rear. Base 2.5 S models roll on 16-inch wheels, while higher trims get larger 17- or 19-inch versions.

Advanced Drive Assist Display
Assuming we’re all going to ignore the underequipped base S trim, the rest of the 2025 Altima range has a 7-inch digital driver information display. It adds a classy tech touch to a somewhat plain cabin.

Free oil changes
A new perk for 2025, Nissan will foot the bill for three services within two years/24,000 miles.

Safety Shield 360
Nissan’s bundle of advanced safety tech, standard on every Altima, includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking.

LED Headlights
Capable of casting a longer and wider beam, these headlights also feature auto on/off and high-beam assist that dims the high beams when it senses approaching headlights or taillights, re-engaging the high beams as those lights pass.

Available 12.3-inch Touchscreen
Optional in the SV and SR trims and standard in the SL, this ample touchscreen is easier to see and use than the 8-inch version found standard in the lower trim levels.

Available All-Wheel Drive
Improving traction on slippery surfaces, all-wheel drive is particularly valuable on snow.

With the optional turbo engine no longer available, all 2025 Nissan Altima sedans are powered by a a 188-hp 4-cylinder engine mated to an automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option on all except the entry-level S trim.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Nissan provides Altima with the average warranty coverage common among mainstream brands: three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. It also includes a 5-year/60,000-mile warranty for the powertrain.

Safety Ratings

The 2024 Nissan Altima earned the highest overall safety rating of 5 stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Not fairing as well with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in its four tests, the Altima received the highest score of Good on two tests, Marginal on a third, and Poor on a fourth. The 2025 results are not yet available. The Nissan Altima does come with blind-spot monitoring as standard, along with front and rear automatic braking, and lane-departure warning.