The Altima has standard driver and passenger side airbags combined with three-point seat belts, a combination which is 29% more effective in preventing injury and death than seatbelts alone.

To maximize occupant safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Nissan Altima have pretensioners to eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Nissan Altima are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up.

The Altima has shoulder harnesses for all passengers. Shoulder harnesses are 10% more effective than lap belts in preventing injuries from collisions. Recent studies indicate that lap belts alone may cause as many or more injuries than they prevent.

The Altima has standard child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Altima are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out.

The Nissan Altima has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision.

The Altima has standard front and rear seat side-impact airbags and head airbags for both seat rows, which act as a forgiving barrier between the passengers and the door. Combined with high-strength steel door beams this system increases protection from broadside collisions.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Altima deploy with different levels of force or don't deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. Airbags without smart features will always deploy full force.

The Altima has standard four-wheel antilock disc brakes for quicker stops and controlled steering ability, especially under poor traction conditions.

The Altima has standard Automatic Emergency Braking, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn't react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Altima has standard Rear Automatic Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision.

For much better traction, the Altima has front-wheel drive. While accelerating the rear wheels of a rear-wheel drive vehicle can break loose, causing it to fishtail or even spin and lose control completely. ‘Oversteering' or spinning in a rear wheel drive car requires counter-steering, and backing off the gas may not help.

The Altima AWD offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow.

To prevent wheel-spin and loss of control under poor traction conditions, full range traction control is standard on the Nissan Altima.

The Altima has standard Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), which uses the antilock brake hardware along with powerful software and additional sensors to detect the beginning of a skid. VDC then intervenes by automatically applying the brake at one appropriate wheel, preventing a skid. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study showed that skid control systems reduced single-vehicle car crashes by 30%.

The Nissan Altima has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous.

The Altima's lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane.

The Altima has standard Rear Sonar System to help warn drivers about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind their vehicle. The Altima also has a standard backup monitor to help drivers see any and all obstacles behind their vehicle, and a standard (SL) Intelligent Around View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle.

The Altima's blind spot warning system uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle's blind spots where the side view mirrors don't reveal them.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Altima's standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions.

The Altima's driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Altima uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. A body-on-frame design has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Compared to metal, the Altima's plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire.

The Altima's gas tank is mounted inside the frame rails in front of the rear axle to optimally protect the fuel tank in a collision. A gas tank mounted behind the rear axle is more susceptible to rear collisions.

The Altima offers optional NissanConnect Service, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it's stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. Without a GPS response system, if you're involved in an accident and you're incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Nissan Altima is safe:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this original test, results indicate that the Nissan Altima is safe:

(This test is not comparable to the NHTSA NCAP 35 MPH front crash test.)

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Nissan Altima is safe:

(This test is not comparable to the NHTSA NCAP 35 MPH front crash test.)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Nissan Altima is safe:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

In a 31 MPH side-impact test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crashes a 3300 pound sled into the side of new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Nissan Altima is safe:

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) performs roof strength tests. In that test the Altima earned the top rating of “Good” because its roof supported over four times the Altima's weight before being crushed five inches.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the general design of front seat head restraints for their ability to protect front seat occupants from whiplash injuries. The IIHS also performs a dynamic test on those seats with “good” or “acceptable” geometry. In these ratings, the Altima is safe:

(Lower numerical results are better in all tests.)

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Altima, with its five-star roll-over rating, is less likely to roll over.

The Altima comes with a full 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car.

The Altima comes with free roadside assistance for 3 years 36,000 miles. Nissan will send help if you run out of gas, need a jump-start, lock your keys in or need any assistance on the road.

Nissan's powertrain warranty fully covers the Altima for 5 years or 60,000 miles long for any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts.

The Altima's corrosion warranty is 5 years and unlimited miles long.

Nissan pays for scheduled maintenance on the Altima for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Nissan will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 3 visits).

There are 1079 Nissan dealers in the United States, which makes it easy should you ever need service under the Altima's warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Altima's engine. If a rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the Altima have an overhead cam design, rather than an old pushrod design.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Altima has a standard 120-amp alternator.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Altima has a standard 510-amp battery.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it's being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Altima 1 points above average in reliability.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Altima second among midsize cars in their 2024 Initial Quality Study.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are above average in initial quality. Nissan has 29 fewer problems per 100 vehicles than average.

The Altima AWD's standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 182 horsepower and 178 lbs.-ft. of torque. The Altima's standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 188 horsepower and 180 lbs.-ft. of torque.

As tested in Car and Driver the Altima AWD is fast:

On the EPA test cycle the Altima gets excellent fuel mileage:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Altima uses regular unleaded gasoline. Mid-grade can cost on average 49.8 cents more than regular, and premium can cost on average 84.9 cents more.

The Altima AWD's standard fuel tank has 16 gallons of fuel capacity, for longer range between fill-ups. The Altima FWD's standard fuel tank has 16.2 gallons of fuel capacity.

The Altima has a tether attaching its gas cap to prevent its loss, so it can't be left at a gas station if the driver forgets to screw the cap back in.

The Altima has a standard locking fuel door. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Nissan Altima a 6 out of 10. This means the Altima produces up to 45.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants every 15,000 miles.

The Altima has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration.

For better stopping power the Altima's brake rotors are large:

The Altima's standard front disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading.

The Nissan Altima has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Drums can heat up and make stops longer.

The Altima with its standard antilock brakes stops short:

For better traction, the Altima has large 215/60R16 standard tires. The Altima SR/SL's tires are larger 235/40R19.

The Altima S' standard tires provide better handling because they have a low 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall. The Altima SR/SL's tires have a lower 40 series profile.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Altima S has standard 16-inch wheels. The Altima SR/SL has standard 19-inch wheels.

The Nissan Altima's wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength.

The Altima has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle's integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure.

The Altima has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. If a vehicle has no spare tire you are forced to repair the tire and if that fails you will have to call roadside assistance and get towed. Even run-flats can fail if they are sufficiently damaged.

The Nissan Altima's independent front suspension is much lighter than a solid front axle, which allows the Altima's wheels to react more quickly and accurately to the road's surface, improving both ride and handling.

For superior ride and handling, the Nissan Altima has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort.

The Altima has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Altima flat and controlled during cornering.

The front and rear suspension of the Altima uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than leaf springs. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For much better steering response and tighter handling the Altima has rack and pinion steering, like Formula racecars, instead of a recirculating-ball type.

The Altima has standard power steering to make quick and controllable low speed maneuvers easy.

The Altima has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Altima's wheelbase is 111.2 inches.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Altima is 62.8 to 63.6 inches wide.

The Altima handles at .91 G's of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Altima executes Motor Trend's “Figure Eight” maneuver in only 26.3 seconds at .68 average G's.

For better maneuverability, the Altima S' turning circle is 36 feet. The Altima SR/SV/SL's turning circle is 37.4 feet.

The Nissan Altima may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs only 3253 to 3490 pounds.

The Altima is only 192.9 inches long, making the Altima easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Altima is only 72.9 inches wide, making it easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Altima is only 56.7 to 57.3 inches in height, making the Altima much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

Unibody construction makes the Altima's chassis much stiffer, which contributes to better handling, and enables softer springs to be used for a better ride. Unibody construction's stiffness also contributes to better durability and less body squeaks and rattles.

The design of the Nissan Altima amounts to more than styling. The Altima has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .26 Cd. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Altima get better fuel mileage.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Altima has standard flush composite headlights.

The front grille of the Altima uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Altima SR AWD is quiet:

Because of its passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Altima a Mid-size car.

The Altima has standard seating for 5 passengers.

The Altima has 100.6 cubic feet of passenger volume.

The Altima has 39.1 inches of front headroom, 43.8 inches of front legroom, 54.7 inches of front hip room, 58.2 inches of front shoulder room, 36.9 inches of rear headroom, 35.2 inches of rear legroom, 54.5 inches of rear hip room and 57.1 inches of rear shoulder room.

The front step up height for the Altima is 14 inches. The Altima's rear step up height is 14 inches.

The Altima has a large 15.4 cubic feet of trunk volume with its rear seat up.

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Altima easier. The Altima's trunk lift-over height is 26.9 inches.

The Altima's standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo.

The Altima's standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. A single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can't share the rear seat.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Altima to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes, based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer.

The Altima's entire steering wheel hub sounds the horn, facilitating hitting the horn in an emergency.

The Altima has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior.

The engine computer on the Altima automatically engages the starter until the car starts with one twist of the key and disables the starter while the engine is running. Without this feature the starter can be accidentally engaged while the engine is running, making a grinding noise and possibly damaging the starter and ring gear.

The Altima's standard tilting steering column adjusts to different sized drivers and makes entering and exiting easier.

To help each driver find a more comfortable driving position, the Altima has a telescoping steering wheel. Much better than just a tilt steering wheel or adjustable seat, this allows a short driver to sit further from the steering wheel while maintaining contact with the pedals.

The Altima's foot pedal parking brake releases with one motion.

The Altima's standard power windows allow the driver or passenger to lower and raise the windows without leaning over or being distracted.

The Altima's standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children from operating them.

The Altima's driver's power window opens or closes fully with one touch of the switch, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths.

The Altima's standard power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access.

If the windows are left open on the Altima the driver can close them all at the outside door handle.

The Altima's standard power locks allow the driver or passenger to lock or unlock all the doors at a touch without leaning over, or reaching to the back seat.

The Altima's power locks have a lockout prevention feature. When the key is in the ignition or smart key is in the passenger compartment and the driver's door is open, the locks unlock every time you lock them.

The Altima's standard doors lock when a certain speed is reached. This is an important feature for occupant safety. Locked doors are proven to open less often in collisions, and they are also effective in preventing crime at traffic lights.

The Push Button Start standard on the Altima allows you to start the engine without removing the key from the pocket or purse. The Altima SR/SV/SL's available Intelligent Key also allows you to unlock the doors from either front outside door handle and open the trunk.

The Altima's driver power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night.

The Altima's speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn't have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers.

The Altima's LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

Consumer Reports rated the Altima's headlight performance “Good.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don't exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Altima's headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, the highest and second highest ratings

The Altima has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Altima detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams.

The Altima's standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. Without side window demisters the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger's vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Altima has standard extendable sun visors.

The Altima's sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows.

The Altima has standard power remote mirrors. Without a remote driver side or passenger side mirror the driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

The Altima's available outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility.

The Altima's power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access.

The Altima's optional rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver.

Unlike fixed side view mirrors, the Nissan Altima features foldable mirrors that offer convenience for drivers and pedestrians alike. When parked, these mirrors can be manually folded to create a smaller footprint, making it easier to walk past or park more vehicles in an area. Additionally, the Nissan Altima's foldable exterior mirrors are designed to absorb impact force if struck, reducing the likelihood of costly repairs.

The Altima (except S) offers optional heated front seats, which keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter.

On extremely cold winter days, the Altima SL's standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up.

The Altima has a standard center folding armrest for the driver and front passenger. A center armrest helps combat driver fatigue.

The Altima has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children.

The Altima SL/SR VC-Turbo's standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won't have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible.

The Altima SL/SR VC-Turbo's standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Altima has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable.

A built-in pollen filter removes pollen, exhaust fumes and other pollutants from the Altima's passenger compartment. This helps prevent lung and/or sinus irritation that can trigger allergies or asthma.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Altima (except S/SR) offers an optional Intelligent Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic.

To help keep the driver's hands on the wheel, the Altima has standard steering wheel controls for the radio.

Standard smartphone integration for the Altima SV/SR/SL allows the driver and passengers access to select programs on their smartphones, including reading text messages aloud, playing internet radio stations, searching the internet, following twitter accounts and other connected activities without taking their eyes off the road or their hands from the wheel.

To direct the driver from any location to a given street address, a GPS navigation system is available on the Altima (except S). The Altima's navigation system also has a real-time traffic update feature that offers alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.)

With standard voice command, the Altima offers the driver hands free control of the radio and the navigation computer by simply speaking.

The Altima's standard stainless spring steel antenna stays in place and resists damage.

The Nissan Altima eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Bluetooth wireless connectivity is standard on the Altima, connecting the driver and passenger's cell phones to the vehicle systems. This allows them to use the vehicle's stereo and hand controls to place calls safely and easily.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Nissan Altima (except S) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Altima is less expensive to operate than average because typical repairs cost much less on the Altima than average, including $256 less for a water pump, $312 less for a muffler, $33 less for front brake pads, $166 less for a starter, $21 less for fuel injection, $99 less for a fuel pump, $89 less for front struts, $175 less for a timing belt/chain and $308 less for a power steering pump.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Altima, based on reliability, safety and performance.