Comprehensive Guide to the Nissan Altima: Features, Comparison, and Pricing
Explore the Nissan Altima's features, comparison with rival sedans, pricing, and safety ratings in this comprehensive guide. Learn about its history, engine options, and key specifications to make an informed vehicle choice.
Comprehensive Guide to the Nissan Altima: Features, Comparison, and Pricing
Produced by Nissan, the new Nissan Altima is categorized as a mid-size sedan. Since its debut in 1992, the Altima has evolved from the Nissan Bluebird lineage, which dates back to 1957.
Market Comparison
In the mid-size sedan segment, the Nissan Altima’s main competitors are the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Within Nissan’s range, the Altima is less luxurious, smaller, and less powerful than the Maxima, yet offers more comfort, size, and performance compared to the Sentra. The Altima has five generations; the first from 1992 to 1997, and the current fifth from 2012 onward.
The initial four generations of Altima were exclusively produced in the U.S. and sold across North America, South America, Australia, and the Middle East. The Nissan Teana, a model similar in size to the Altima and Maxima, was marketed outside the Americas, Australia, and the Middle East and later became a rebadged fifth-generation Altima by 2013. The name ‘Altima’ originally belonged to a top trim of the Nissan Leopard in 1986 for the Japanese market, then to the Nissan Laurel in Central America pre-1992.
The American-built Altima was launched in 1992 following the discontinuation of the Stanza.
Features and Pricing Details
The 2017 Nissan Altima starts at approximately $22,500. It features a child seat latch system, ensuring safety. The cabin provides excellent sound insulation, resulting in a quiet ride. Its trunk offers 15.4 cubic feet of space for luggage or groceries. Conveniently located cup holders add to passenger comfort. Under the hood, it packs a 179-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering a blend of power and efficiency. The V6 option boasts 270 horsepower from a 3.5-liter engine, ideal for highway acceleration and passing. Fuel efficiency stands at around 27 mpg city and 39 mpg highway for the four-cylinder, and 22/32 mpg for the V6.
In the 2017 rankings, the Altima is placed 12th among 19 mid-size sedans. It excels in fuel economy, comfort, and seating, though it has not undergone a redesign since 2013, leading to slightly lower scores in technology and driving dynamics. Safety remains a strong point—receiving the 2010 NHTSA Top Safety Pick and the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ in 2017.
