Before You Buy

Nissan Altima: Buy Score, Reliability & Ownership Costs

Midsize Car · Sedan

MSRP Range$27,580–$30,980
A black 2026 Nissan Altima sedan parked on a city street in soft evening light, shot candidly at a three-quarter angle.
Engine2.5L 4-cylinder, 188 hp
TransmissionCVT
Fuel Economy28-30 mpg combined, depending on drivetrain
DrivetrainFront-wheel drive standard, all-wheel drive available

Our Verdict

Based on model-specific reliability data, ownership costs, and longevity signals.

Consider
78/100

Buy Score™

Pros

  • AWD available — a rare feature among midsize sedans, most of which are FWD-only
  • Repair cost ($483/yr) runs below the midsize-sedan class average
  • Roomy trunk and back seat for the segment
  • Standard Nissan Safety Shield 360 driver-assist suite

Cons

  • Did not earn a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick award, unlike several rivals in this comparison set
  • RepairPal ranks it only 11th of 24 midsize cars — mid-pack, behind the Camry, Accord, and Sonata
  • Nissan's CVT has generated more class-action lawsuits and extended-warranty programs than any other CVT on the market, with the 2017-2018 Altima specifically named in settlements
  • iSeeCars shows steeper 5-year depreciation (44.2%) than the Camry, Accord, or Sonata

Can this car reach 300,000 miles?

Likely

RepairPal's model-specific score (4.0/5.0) ranks the Altima a mid-pack 11th of 24 midsize cars. Nissan's CVT class-action lawsuits (Weckworth, Gann, Stringer, Martinez) specifically named the 2017-2018 Altima, extending its powertrain warranty to 84 months/84,000 miles — the current generation uses an updated CVT, but the pattern is worth knowing.

First-Time Buyer Friendly

72/100

Approachable overall, though a first-time buyer should budget a little extra for insurance or upkeep.

Reliability Timeline

What tends to need attention, and when — based on model-specific reliability data.

RoutineModerateMajor

30,000 miles

Oil changes, tire rotations

60,000 miles

CVT fluid change — Nissan's CVT has a well-documented shudder/overheating complaint history on past generations, including the Altima
Brake pads

100,000 miles

Spark plugs

150,000 miles

Suspension bushings

200,000+ miles

Reaching this mileage depends heavily on disciplined CVT fluid maintenance, more so than with a conventional automatic

What It Actually Costs to Own

Repair costs run below the midsize-sedan average, but iSeeCars shows steeper depreciation than the Camry, Accord, or Sonata — and the CVT's documented history makes disciplined fluid maintenance more important than usual.

Estimated Annual Fuel Cost$1,400
Estimated Annual Insurance$1,350
Estimated Annual Maintenance$400
Estimated Annual Repairs$483
Estimated Annual Registration$180
5-Year Depreciation~44% of purchase price

Full Specifications

Engine2.5L 4-cylinder, 188 hp
TransmissionCVT
Fuel Economy28-30 mpg combined, depending on drivetrain
DrivetrainFront-wheel drive standard, all-wheel drive available
Seating5
Warranty3 yr/36,000 mi basic, 5 yr/60,000 mi powertrain

Check for open recalls before you buy

We don't yet have a live recall feed wired up for the Nissan Altima, so we won't guess at a number here. Before you buy any specific Altima, run its VIN throughNHTSA's free recall lookup tool— it takes about 30 seconds and confirms whether that exact vehicle has any open, unrepaired safety recalls.

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Sources: RepairPal model reliability score (4.0/5.0), annual repair cost ($483), and 11th-of-24 midsize-car ranking: repairpal.com/reliability/nissan/altima (live lookup, 2026). 2026 MSRP ($27,580-$30,980), trims, and engine/mpg/AWD specs: nissanusa.com and truecar.com 2026 Altima pages (live lookup, 2026). Altima absent from the 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick list: aggregated from IIHS 2026 award coverage search results cross-referenced against iihs.org (live lookup, 2026). iSeeCars 5-year depreciation (44.2%): iseecars.com Altima resale-value page (live lookup, 2026). Nissan CVT class-action settlement history naming the 2017-2018 Altima specifically, and 84-month/84,000-mile warranty extension: carcomplaints.com, bbbprograms.org, and thelemonfirm.com Nissan CVT coverage (live lookup, 2026).