About the Nissan Altima.
The Altima is Nissan's midsize sedan and a high-volume seller — which means there are a lot of them on the used market and a lot of variation in condition. Trim levels run S, SV, SR, SL, and Platinum. The 2.5L naturally aspirated four-cylinder is the volume engine, with a 2.0L variable-compression turbo offered as an option on 2019+ models. Earlier 2013-2018 Altimas had the 2.5L four or a 3.5L V6 on higher trims. Transmission is a CVT across the entire lineup, which is the source of most of the concerns we'll cover below. All-wheel drive became available on 2020+ models. South Mississippi buyers around Collins shop the Altima because pricing tends to be aggressive on the used market — you can often get into a newer Altima for less than a comparable Camry or Accord. The platform is comfortable, the interior is reasonably nice, and the 2.5L engine itself is dependable. The CVT is what you need to pay attention to. Done right, the Altima is a value play. Done wrong, it can be a headache.
Why buy a used Nissan Altima?
Altimas typically sell for less than equivalent Camrys or Accords on the used market — that's the value proposition, and it's real. The 2.5L engine itself is well-proven and not the source of the platform's reputation issues. Interior space is generous, fuel economy is competitive, the ride is comfortable on the highway, and Nissan loaded these with features at lower price points than competitors. The 2019+ redesign brought a more modern interior, available all-wheel drive, and updated driver-assistance tech. For a buyer who wants a midsize sedan at a lower entry price than the Japanese reliability favorites, the Altima can be the right move — as long as you understand the CVT situation and price the car accordingly. The Altima is also one of the easier sedans to find with the features you want — power seats, leather, sunroof, navigation — at a price that wouldn't get you those features on other badges. For a daily driver that doesn't need to be a forever car, the Altima offers real value.
What to watch for on a used Nissan Altima.
The CVT transmission is the single biggest thing to know on a used Altima. 2013-2018 Altimas had a documented CVT failure pattern — symptoms include shuddering, hesitation, RPM flares, and eventual failure. Nissan extended the warranty on many of these to 120,000 miles, but plenty are out of warranty now. Verify CVT service history, drive it through stop-and-go and at highway speed, and listen and feel for any hesitation or shudder. A bad Altima CVT can cost more to replace than the car is worth. 2019+ CVTs are improved but the basic principle still applies — they need fluid changes on schedule and they tolerate abuse poorly. The 3.5L V6 in 2002-2006 Altimas had timing chain stretching issues; that era is mostly off the used market now. The 2.0L variable-compression turbo in 2019+ models is too new to have a long failure history but it's a complex engine — make sure service has been done. Beyond that, normal wear items. We pull a CARFAX on every Altima before it goes on the lot.
Financing & trade-in.
Get pre-qualified in two minutes with a soft credit check — no impact to your score. Top national lenders, rates as low as 4.9% APR for qualified credit. Trading in your current car? Get an instant offer online, valid seven days.