2023 Nissan Altima

Nissan makes some visual and tech changes to its well-known midsize sedan as the Altima family car heads deeper into its sixth generation. For the 2023 Altima, these updates are surface level and include cosmetic changes like a new lovely shade of blue. Its all-wheel drive option remains, thankfully, as these types of dependable sedans have started to drop this. 

While the lineup begins with the Altima S at $26,385, the brand also drops its Platinum trim, though the sporty SR VC-Turbo trim is frankly the one that should have been axed. The remaining lineup includes front- and all-wheel drive flavors ( save for the base S model):  S FWD, SV FWD, SV AWD, SR FWD, SR AWD, SL FWD, SL AWD and SR VC-Turbo FWD. Other 2023 updates include a new infotainment system and Nissan’s steady revision of its outward styling and material choices means the brand isn’t the underdog Japanese automaker anymore. 

Obvious competitors include staples of the now-shrunken American sedan segment. Clearly the yardstick here is the Toyota Camry. However, the Hyundai Sonata is now a serious contender with an enticing name attached to it—and a killer 10-year 100,000-mile warranty. Also in contention is another recently updated model, the Honda Accord.

The Altima still tempts, especially with its 2023 updates taken into account. On top of that, the Nissan’s turbo-four engine is faster than most will expect, and the ride is composed at most speeds. The base S starts at $25,490 (not including fees) in front-wheel drive and then moves up to the SV ($26,290), SR ($27,690) and SL ($32,190). The top spec is the $36,085 SR VC-Turbo. SV and up are available with AWD for $1,500. 

When it comes to size, storage and comfort, the Altima is securely average, falling between the best and the worst for trunk space and interior room. Styling has improved with the refresh, especially up front with the new grille, lighting and SR trim’s black chrome. A much-needed 12.3-inch touchscreen replaces an 8-inch unit in the center console.

Should a driver run out of either grip or talent, most Altima specifications will come with a raft of safety and driver assistance features. Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and blind spot monitoring will keep you from hitting things. So will lane-keep assist. However, the brand’s Safety Shield 360 tech isn’t standard across the lineup despite its usefulness. The combination of features and pricing makes the Altima a standout, but the competition in this small segment is surprisingly fierce in a world where most consumers would rather buy a crossover.

Performance: 13/15

Nissan offers a raft of engines and wheels for the Altima. All trims are available in front- or all-wheel drive, with the engine offerings kicking off with the standard 188-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. That is paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission—the only transmission offering throughout the lineup.

Nissan offers a 2.0-liter four-banger that is more healthy thanks to the addition of a turbo. Here, it makes 248 horsepower. However, it should be noted AWD is only available with the more asthmatic 2.5 engine. The cream of the crop is the VC-Turbo 2.0-liter engine available on the SR trim, which offers 236 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque.

This engine, paired with the SR trim’s FWD layout, puts the SR into dangerous territory. Spec’d at $36,440, the SR VT-Turbo is, quite frankly, irrelevant when compared to the similarly priced—though smaller—Hyundai Elantra N. Size disparity aside, this is where those looking for a sports sedan should put their money.

The Altima drives well enough, but the CVT transmission makes the car wail and drone at odd times. The brakes are another surprising aspect of the Altima, next to the turbocharged engine. These grab well, hauling the car down from speed at a solid rate. Mechanicals notwithstanding, the Altima is largely a comfortable car, though its seats are somewhat irregularly shaped and lumpy. Thankfully, the plush and mostly quiet ride helps make up for this.

Fuel Economy: 11/15

Fuel economy ratings for the Altima vary vastly depending on spec and number of driven wheels. For the VT-Turbo with FWD, the EPA quotes 29 mpg combined, with 25 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. For gas-powered rivals, these figures don’t detract from the car’s score. However, Toyota offers a hybrid Camry, and Honda’s Accord hybrid is a segment staple. Both easily outclass the Altima in terms of fuel economy. On combined fuel economy, the two hybrids manage 52 mpg and 51 mpg, respectively.

The Altima’s 2.5-liter fares slightly better in terms of fuel economy, netting 30 mpg combined with all-wheel drive. Remove two driven wheels, and the 2.5 will manage 29 mpg combined. The front-driven Sonata, meanwhile, hits 31 mpg combined, with the Camry and Accord both hitting 32 mpg combined.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 11/15

The Nissan Altima offers a solid spread of standard safety features. These include blind-spot monitoring, high-beam assist, rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking. However, among the competition these too are standard.

Nissan differentiates itself slightly with Safety Shield 360. This is a suite of safety features that can be toggled on and off at the push of a button. The software uses the car’s radar and cameras to monitor your surroundings and help prevent collisions. However, the brand’s Safety Shield 360 tech isn’t standard across the lineup despite its usefulness.

In addition to Safety Shield 360, Nissan offers ProPilot Assist, the brand’s advanced driving assistance software. This package includes adaptive cruise control and automated steering, meaning occupants only have to watch the road ahead while letting the car do the work. At the Altima’s mid-20s to high-30s price point, it works well, though the system could stand to be smoother with braking when cars jump out of traffic in front of it.

As for crash safety, the Altima fares well, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had given the Altima a Top Safety Pick+ designation for the 2022 model year, but a more rigorous testing standard dropped the score to only “Good” marks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has given the car a five-star rating. Safety is a focus in this segment, and other models, like the Accord and Camry, claim similar accolades.

Comfort & Room: 12/15

The Nissan Altima manages to keep all its occupants comfy in any weather. The available heated steering wheel could be described as “nuclear,” and the heated seats accidentally melted a tub of ice cream during testing, which surely counts for something. Occupants in the back don’t benefit from heated surfaces, but they do benefit from 35.2 inches of legroom. That doesn’t stack up to the Accords’s 40.4 and the Camry’s 38 inches. Up front, Altima owners can expect 43.8 inches of legroom. For context, the Sonata, Camry and Accord’s front legroom are 46.1, 42.1 and 42.3 inches, respectively.

There are some gripes. Above, the Altima’s subpar front seats were mentioned. These are not as good as the seats from Honda right now, or any of the competition, for that matter. Additionally, the lumbar support included in some trim levels does not provide as great a range of adjustment.

Infotainment: 13/15

Nissan has massively improved its infotainment offerings for 2023. The Altima benefits from an available 12.3-inch touchscreen—the brand’s latest and an upgrade from the previous 8-incher. This screen can be paired with wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, as well as wireless charging. The combination is great, and phones pair quickly and flawlessly. Behind the wheel sits a revised instrument panel with a 7-inch driver info display.

Resort to Nissan’s built-in nav, and you’ll still arrive where you need to on time, just with more dated graphics. Stick to the phone connection for a more seamless tech experience. Nissan has other tech goodies: a Bose audio system with nine speakers and Active Noise Cancellation technology along with Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant.

Cargo Space & Storage: 10/15

Sedans in this segment are defined by their trunks, and the Altima is on par with many competitors in this regard with 15.4 cubic-feet. The Camry’s trunk volume comes in at 15.1 cubic-feet, with Hyundai and Honda’s efforts totaling 16 and  16.1 cubes, respectively. 

Interior volumes are a similar story. Nissan boasts 100.6 cubes of interior space, with Hyundai, Honda and Toyota totaling 104.4, 102.8 and 100.4 cubic-feet respectively. Generally speaking, this makes the Accord the most spacious of the lot, something that has been true for some time. Still, the Nissan is on par with other competitors, and it deserves some level of praise for that.

Style & Design: 7/10

Moving past the usual styling-related, opinion-based caveats, the Nissan Altima gets a bit more handsome this year. The revised Nissan badges add some extra flair, and Nissan offers some interesting paint choices depending on trim. Deep Blue Pearl is a particular hit, and a nice change of pace from the usual Hertz Rental Gray so many Altimas find themselves wearing. The new Gray Sky Pearl is more of a blueish gray and more compelling.

Other notable design highlights include the Hofmeister-like kink in the rear window and the new V-shaped nose and chrome front on the SR trim. However, Honda builds the best-looking midsize or large sedan of the moment with the newly restyled Accord.

Is the 2023 Nissan Altima Worth It? Which Altima is the Best Value?

For 2023, Nissan as a whole has made great strides. Its alliance with Renault continues to pay dividends, as has lineup-wide updates along with the introduction of its new Z sports car. The story is much the same for the Altima—steady improvement from a sedan that has become a meme. Early Altima drivers may act like lunatics on the road, but this Altima is more mature. Nissan offers a flavor for anyone at almost any budget, from the base $26,385 S trim to the not-quite-sporty $36,085 SR VC-Turbo.

For now, the best place to park your money is in the SR trim. Ignoring its feigned sportiness, the $28,585 SR adds plenty of great features—and AWD for only $1,500. This trim level grants access to upgraded infotainment, as well as power seats with leather trimmings for the steering wheel. Buyers can also spend some money on the Premium package, which nets heated seats and a sunroof. What’s more, the SR is priced relatively competitively. A similar Camry will run $28,855, and Honda will charge $30,155.

These numbers mean Nissan now has a formula: Undercut the competition while offering similar levels of equipment. Thus far, it appears to be working for the brand, and the Altima is no exception.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2023 Nissan Altima?

The 2023 Nissan Altima is not an expensive car to insure and aligns with most of its peers. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium that goes up to $2,518, though this averages all 50 states. A Honda Accord owner might pay $2,140 per year, while the Toyota Camry is $2,095 and the Hyundai Sonata starts at $2,225. For a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.