NissanAltima

　　

2024 Nissan Altima Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　, rating written byChristian WardlawSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　The midsize family sedan market has been shrinking in recent years as consumers switch to more popular crossover SUVs. A handful of sedans are still around, with one of them being the Nissan Altima. The Altima boasts appealing design, competitive pricing, an optional turbocharged engine and available all-wheel drive. What's missing is a significant defining trait that elevates it above the alternatives in the class. Learn more by reading our testing team's Expert Rating below.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$118/mo  for Altima 2.5 S

　　Altima 2.5 S

　　2.5 S 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $25,730 MSRP2.5 SV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $26,530 MSRP2.5 SV 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $28,030 MSRP2.5 SR 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $27,930 MSRP2.5 SR 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $29,430 MSRP2.5 SL 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $32,430 MSRP2.5 SL 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $33,930 MSRPVC-T SR 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $35,430 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　

zzdcar spotlight: The Altima's VC-Turbo engine

The Altima offers two engines: a base 188-horsepower four-cylinder engine or an optional turbocharged engine that makes up to 248 hp. The latter, which Nissan calls the VC-Turbo, is distinctive in that it can automatically adjust the compression ratio to provide power or efficiency depending on the situation. The concept is a noble one, but the reality falls short. Maximum power requires 93 octane fuel, yet the resulting acceleration fails to impress. In addition, the VC-Turbo easily misses its EPA fuel economy rating of 29 mpg in combined driving if you regularly press harder on the accelerator.

　　

Competitors to consider

Honda and Toyota remain two solid options. The Accord got a complete redesign in 2023 and an all-new Camry is arriving in 2025. Hyundai is giving the Sonata a dramatic makeover for 2024, and a freshening is due for the related Kia K5. All of these sedans earn higher scores from zzdcar' rankings evaluation process.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Please note that this rating is based on a prior year and may change slightly once complete information about the 2024 Altima becomes available.

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.5

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Altima drive? The Altima won't win you over with stellar acceleration or braking. Our test all-wheel-drive Altima had the 2.5-liter engine, and it accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in an unremarkable 8.4 seconds. The CVT automatic is well tuned, however, and helps make the Altima an almost invisible partner during day-to-day driving.

　　Another bright spot is the stable handling. You'll have confidence guiding the Altima through fast, sweeping curves. But this handling prowess underscores the Altima's overly light and vague steering.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Altima? The Altima is a calm place to sit out daily traffic. The front seats are generally comfortable, but some drivers might wish for more thigh support. Engine noises are commendably well isolated even under hard acceleration.

　　Less appealing is the constant stream of little impacts you'll feel when driving over rough road surfaces. The Altima's ride seems continuously busy in these instances, and larger impacts can be pretty jarring.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below