2023 Nissan Altima: Still Worth a Look
We go in depth on the 2023 Nissan Altima, looking at powertrain, interior options, trim levels, and more. See what our experts think!
2023 Nissan Altima – usa.nissannews.com | Shop 2023 Nissan Altima on Carsforsale.com
What’s New for the 2023 Nissan Altima?
For 2023, the Altima gets a redesigned front end with new LED headlights and Nissan’s new logo. Other updates include new wheels, two new paint options, and a new optional 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen.
Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, blind spot warning, lane departure warning, and high-beam assistance have all been added to the standard safety equipment.The top Platinum trim level is now renamed to the SL trim.
See how the Altima has evolved over the last 3 decades in our Nissan Altima Generations: Through the Years article.
The Breakdown
Excellent fuel economy
Lots of standard safety features
Spacious cabin
Slow acceleration
Poor image quality on cameras and touchscreen
Underwhelming interior
Needs to catch up to rivals in tech
2023 Altima Specs
- 188 horsepower from base engine
- 180 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 5 available trims
- 15.4 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- Remote engine start
- Back-up camera
- Blind spot monitor
- 6-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty
2023 Nissan Altima Powertrain
The first four trims of the Nissan Altima come with a 188-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is optional for the SV, SR and SL.
The SR VC-Turbo trim comes with a 236-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that pairs exclusively with front-wheel drive. Acceleration and braking aren’t strong suits of the Altima, and you’ll hear quite a bit of engine noise when the gas pedal is put to the floor. The turbocharged engine is much quicker, but all models have stable handling allowing you to take the curves with confidence.
2023 Nissan Altima Fuel Economy & MPG
Even though the Altima doesn’t offer a hybrid model like many of its rivals, the two gasoline engines get better-than-average results at the pump.
The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine equipped with front-wheel drive gets an estimated 27 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway. The all-wheel drive Nissan Altima drops down to 26 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, and the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine gets an estimated 25 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
There is nothing flashy or complex about the Altima’s interior. It has improved by leaps and bounds over Altima’s previous generation, and though there are many hard plastics throughout, we didn’t find them to be too attention-grabbing.
Climate control and touchscreen functions are clearly labeled and thoughtfully positioned to allow for easy adjustments while driving. The front seats are roomy and comfortable, but some might like a little more thigh support and find the lumbar support to be too much. Rear passengers will experience a pleasant ride with lots of legroom and comfortable seats.
Deep door pockets and a tray in the center console provide ample interior storage and the trunk can fit six carry-on bags, 17 bags total with the rear seats folded down. The rear seat does not fold flat, however, and releasing the seat is a bit difficult and awkward as it must be done from the trunk.
Think you may need more space for people and gear? Check out our lineup of the Top 10 Best Family Cars.
Entertainment & Technology
The base Altima comes with a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system while other trims get an 8.0-inch or optional 12.3-inch screen. We found them to be responsive and easy to use, but the graphics and display are not as clear and crisp as you’d expect for a 2023 model. This carries over to the backup and surround-view camera displays as well. Low-resolution images make the display hard to see, especially at night.
It’s disappointing that Nissan isn’t offering smartphone integration on the base Altima. That was a big factor that set it apart in our Head-to-Head: Nissan Altima vs Chevy Malibu review. All other trims come standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
Safety Features
Nissan has really beefed up the Altima’s standard safety features, something that really distinguishes it from the 2022 model. Every Altima comes standard with automatic high-beam headlights, lane departure warning, forward collision warning with automatic braking, driver attention warning, rear seat reminder, and blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.
Other available features include adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, a traffic sign recognition system, a 360-degree camera system, and rear automatic braking. Nissan also offers ProPilot, a semi-autonomous drive mode that includes low-speed adaptive cruise control and lane centering.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Altima its Top Safety Pick+ award while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave it five stars overall.
2023 Nissan Altima Trims & Pricing
S – $25,290
The base S trim comes standard with cloth seats, a six-way manual-adjustable driver’s seat, remote engine start, keyless entry and push-button ignition. The interior includes 60/40-split folding rear seat, a 7-inch touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, and one USB port.
Standard driver-assist features include automatic high-beam headlights, lane departure warning, forward collision warning with automatic braking, driver attention warning, rear seat reminder, and blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.
SV – $26,090
The SV trim adds a power-adjustable driver’s seat, 17-inch alloy wheels, an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, satellite radio, and three additional USB ports.
SR – $27,490
The SR trim is the sporty Altima and adds a sport suspension (FWD models only), 19-inch wheels, transmission paddle shifters, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and special interior and exterior styling elements.
SL – $31,990
The SL trim builds on the SV features adding leather upholstery, heated front seats, adjustable lumbar support for the driver’s seat, a four-way power-adjustable passenger seat. Further driver focused amenities include a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The interior also features heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air vents, heated mirrors with turn signal indicators, a sunroof.
The SL includes some nice updates to its technology including a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a nine-speaker Bose premium audio system, navigation, NissanConnect connected services, and a wireless smartphone charging pad with wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay.
Safety features include a ProPilot Assist system, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, a traffic sign recognition system, a 360-degree camera system, rear automatic braking, fog lights, and 19-inch wheels.
SR VC-Turbo – $34,990
The SR VC-Turbo trim comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and combines features of the regular SR trim with luxury and tech features of the SL.
Don’t start your search without checking out our New Car Incentives article for a comprehensive list of all the leasing options, finance offers, and other specials offered this month.
Warranties
Nissan offers a Limited warranty of three years or 36,000 miles and a powertrain warranty of five years or 60,000 miles. Nissan does not offer complementary scheduled maintenance.
What we think
2023 Nissan Altima – nissanusa.com | Shop 2023 Nissan Altima on Carsforsale.com
It’s no surprise this midsize sedan has been around for over 30 years. Nissan continues to improve the Altima giving it a strong presence among competitors like the Accord and Camry. With a slew of standard safety features and great gas mileage we pick the Altima as the commuter’s faithful, reliable friend. For more tech and convenience features we’d go with the SL trim and call it a win.
