AutoTrader SCORE
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STYLING8/10
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Safety8/10
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PRACTICALITY8/10
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USER-FRIENDLINESS9/10
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FEATURES8/10
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POWER8/10
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COMFORT8/10
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DRIVING FEEL8/10
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FUEL ECONOMY8/10
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VALUE9/10
Sedans may have lost serious market share to SUVs, but they’re still around, including the 2024 Nissan Altima.
It received a makeover for 2023 with new styling and features, and so it moves into this model year with no changes. All Altima trims come standard with all-wheel drive (AWD).
It starts with the S at $33,628, including a non-negotiable delivery fee of $2,030, and then moves to the SR at $36,528. My tester, the SR Premium, started at $38,728 and then had a $300 coat of Pearl White paint added. From there, the lineup finishes with the Platinum at $40,028.
Styling: 8/10
The Altima is a good-looking car with a swoopy profile, although that raked roof comes at the expense of some rear-seat headroom. The base S gets 16-inch steel wheels, while all other trims ride on 19-inch alloys. All models get LED headlights, and all but the S include a single-panel sunroof.
The cabin has a handsome and integrated design with simple, straightforward controls. The S and SR have an eight-inch centre touchscreen, while the SR Premium and Platinum upgrade to a 12.3-inch screen.
Safety: 8/10
The Altima receives the highest five-star crash-test rating from the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earns the top “Good” rating in legacy tests for front- and side crashes from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but it’s ranked “Poor” for the updated side test, which better simulates being struck by a large SUV. At time of writing, it hadn’t been rated in the updated front crash test that assesses potential injury to a rear-seat occupant, as well as those in the front seats.
All trims include emergency front and rear braking, driver and front passenger knee airbags, rear seatbelt reminder, automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, driver alertness monitor, and the back-up camera that’s mandatory on all new vehicles. The SR and up further add adaptive cruise control, highway driving assist (which Nissan calls ProPilot), and lane-keep assist. The SR Premium adds traffic sign recognition, and the Platinum exclusively has surround-view cameras.
Features: 8/10
The SR trim includes a remote starter, dual-zone automatic climate control, power driver’s seat, heated front seats and steering wheel, wireless charger, eight-inch centre touchscreen, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and satellite radio. The $2,200 move up to the Premium is appealing, as it adds the 12.3-inch screen, wireless smartphone mirroring, a premium stereo, Wi-Fi hotspot and Nissan connected services, navigation, garage door opener, auto-dimming rearview mirror, power passenger seat, and leather upholstery. The $1,300 move from there up to the Platinum primarily gives you a different wheel design, surround-view camera, driver’s side memory, and chrome accents.
User-Friendliness: 9/10
The Altima depends on hard buttons and dials for most of its functions, and they’re very intuitive and simple to use. That’s also the case with the centre screen, which may not always look as high-tech as systems from competitors, but it’s easy to access the menus and work your way through them. As far as the car itself goes, it’s easy to get in and out, and visibility is good.
Practicality: 8/10
An SUV can have the advantage of being able to slide items into the cargo compartment, as opposed to lifting them in and out of a trunk, but there’s still a lot to be said for a sedan, with its lower height and less bulk. At 437 L, the Altima’s trunk is about mid-pack with its rivals. The rear seats fold almost flat for carrying long items, but the seatbacks aren’t quite level with the cargo floor. Up front, small-item storage is about average for the segment, including an open cubby in the console, the covered console box, and well-sized door pockets.
Comfort: 8/10
Nissan calls its seats “anti-gravity,” and they really are well done, with comfortable cushions that stay supportive on long drives. The Altima is more generous with front-row headroom than some rivals, but for rear passengers, it’s at the bottom of the pack at 932 mm (36.7 in). There’s also good legroom in the front row. It’s tighter than most competitors for rear legroom, but that’s relative since there still is a fair bit of space back there. The Altima’s ride is firm, and bumps do make their way into the cabin, as well as road noise. It’s far from unbearable, but you definitely notice it.
Power: 8/10
All Altima trims use a 2.5L four-cylinder engine that makes 182 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. That’s less than some of its turbocharged competitors, where the Honda Accord makes 192 hp and the Subaru Legacy churns out 260 hp, but some may prefer the relative simplicity of a non-turbocharged engine as the Altima has. That engine is mated to an automatic continuously-variable transmission (CVT) which works very well with it, operating smoothly and quietly. The Altima’s lack of turbo power shouldn’t be an issue, as it accelerates well from a stop and has enough power for highway passing.
Driving Feel: 8/10
The Altima is a nice commuter car; it feels tight and responsive, with well-weighted steering. It’s not spectacular, but the handling is predictable and it’s confident on the highway. The standard AWD primarily powers the front wheels, but can send up to 50 per cent of torque to the rear wheels when traction is required, as well as when accelerating, and it sends 30 per cent to the rear on a curve to maximize stability. It’s not a sport sedan, but it’s a decent performer for everyday driving tasks. However, the adaptive cruise control can be a bit jerky as it accelerates or slows down for traffic in front, while some other automakers have much smoother operation.
Fuel Economy: 8/10
The Altima is rated by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) at 9.3 L/100 km in the city, 6.7 on the highway, and 8.1 in combined driving in most trims. The base SR, with its smaller wheels, rates 7.9 L/100 km combined. In my bitterly-cold week with the SR Premium, I averaged 9.5 L/100 km, and it takes regular-grade gasoline.
The Altima is on par with AWD-equipped, non-hybrid rivals, where the Toyota Camry rates 8.2 L/100 km combined; the Kia K5 is 8.3 L/100 km; and the Subaru Legacy ranks at 9.0 L/100 km.
Value: 9/10
The 2024 Nissan Altima ranges from $33,628 to $40,028, and for its list of features, the SR Premium tested here seems like the best value in the lineup at $38,728. Keep in mind that when you’re comparison-shopping, the Altima has AWD standard across its lineup, whereas most of its rivals are front-wheel only, or AWD is optional. Those offering both include the Toyota Camry, at $32,850 to $40,650; and the Kia K5 at about $32,495 to $43,495. For front-wheel only, the Honda Accord has a single non-hybrid trim at $39,330, while the Chevrolet Malibu is $30,699 to $33,899. The Subaru Legacy is AWD-only, in a single trim at $45,390 (all prices including delivery). At time of writing, Hyundai hadn’t announced full specs on its all-new 2024 Sonata.
The Verdict
Thanks to the popularity of SUVs, the sedan segment is considerably cut down from its glory days when every automaker had a few on offer, and that smaller selection should give you the opportunity to possibly test-drive most of them to see which one fits the bill. The 2024 Nissan Altima does enough right, and at a reasonable price for what you get, to be on the list.
| Engine Displacement | 2.5L |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | I4 |
| Peak Horsepower | 182 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
| Peak Torque | 178 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm |
| Fuel Economy | 9.3 / 6.7 / 8.1 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb |
| Cargo Space | 437 L |
| Model Tested | 2024 Nissan Altima SR Premium |
| Base Price | $36,698 |
| A/C Tax | $100 |
| Destination Fee | $2,030 |
| Price as Tested | $39,128 |
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Optional Equipment
$300 – Pearl White tri-coat paint, $300
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