2024 Nissan Altima

We’ve thought long and hard about what we don’t like about the Altima. Other than its less-than-enthusiastic acceleration, we are hard-pressed to come up with any sort of list. On the other hand, even the pokey acceleration is offset by impressive fuel economy. So, this Nissan presents solid bang for your buck in the hotly contested midsize sedan arena, where the Altima faces off against the likes of the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Subaru Legacy.

Nissan has pretty much left the Altima alone for 2024. The good news is that the entry-level price has only increased slightly from 2023.

Before buying the Nissan Altima, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Historically, Altima’s residual value lags behind the rest of the segment.

Sourcing its thrust from a 188-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, the Altima’s power is mid-pack among its peers. Unfortunately, Nissan provided a transmission engineered to maximize mileage 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 0-60 time measured in the mid-7-second range, the Altima is quick enough for everyday merging and passing. It’s well suited to around-town driving, as well as highway cruising. Most families, we believe, will be well served by this midsize sedan.

The 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. This alone is worth the SV’s extra $1,200 cost. This system also includes 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 SR trim’s available turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, bringing 248 horsepower to what has now become a party of sorts — that is if the driver fills up with premium gasoline.

Although all-wheel drive is available (somewhat 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.

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

Fuel Economy

Compared to the competition, the Altima’s mileage is on the high side of the group, which varies in combined mileage between 30 and 32 mpg. Its government-estimated combined fuel economy is 32 mpg (27 city, 39 highway). Only the Camry equals its highway number. Opting for AWD has a notable impact. Here, the combined mileage is 30 mpg (26 city, 36 highway). Taking advantage  of the SV’s turbo option drops the numbers a bit more to 29 mpg combined (25 city, 34 highway). You can find more fuel economy information on the EPA’s website.

The big story inside the 2024 Altima midsize sedan is the availability of a 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.

The front seats are exceptionally comfortable. Rear passengers aren’t quite so lucky. They make do with 35.2 inches of legroom. Nearly every rival offers more, starting with the Honda Accord’s 40.8 inches. Only the Hyundai Sonata (34.8 inches) provides less. Similarly, a trunk space of 15.4 cubic feet falls somewhat short. It does offer more than the Camry (15.1 cubic feet); however, the rest of its peers have more.

We appreciate the Altima’s exterior lines. It’s a handsome sedan, managing a uniqueness in its segment.

Advanced Drive Assist Display
Assuming we’re all going to ignore the underequipped base S trim, the rest of the 2024 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.

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, but standard in the 2.0 SR and SL grades, 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, AWD is particularly valuable on snow.

Most Altima models feature a 188-horsepower 4-cylinder engine mated to an automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, with AWD available as an option on all except the entry-level S trim. Nissan does provide the option of a 248-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine for the SR trim level.

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 Nissan Altima earned the highest overall safety rating of 5 stars from 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. Many cars have not done well on the fourth test that was instituted since the current-generation Altima was introduced.