Before the Nissan Altima was a standalone model, the Altima name was used to designate the highest trim level of car it was attached to. Over the years, Nissan felt like it was time for the Altima to spread its wings, and in 1992, the Altima was a standalone model. Together we'll go over the generations to see what to look for when buying a used Nissan Altima.
Key Takeaways
- If you're looking for something rare, the XE is the way to go. It was a barebones trim making it undesirable for its time, but now can be a collectors, or modifiers dream car.
- The fourth generation was an experimental time for the Altima, coming with a coupe, as well as a hybrid that would both ultimately be discontinued.
- Manual transmissions were dropped in 2011, making it only automatic for the years after.
- The sixth generation of the Altima is one of the safest cars on the North American roads.
First Generation (1993-1997)
When it first hit the roads in North America, it came in 4 trims to pick from. The trims are the XE, GXE, SE and GLE. While the GLE feels like the obvious pick being that it sits at the top of the lineup, the XE may be a surprising pick, and should be the go to if you're a car enthusiast who wants something rare.
The reason the XE is so rare is because it came with barebones features. Unlike the XE, the rest of the lineup came with pretty decent features, especially for its time.
Being that the SE was supposed to be the “sporty” trim, you can find a stiffer suspension, as well as fog lights, 3 leg mount rear spoiler, and sports seats.
The GLE is still a solid pick for those who want a piece of greatness. This trim came with a heads-up display, showing you your MPH, turn signals, and other warning lights.
Second Generation (1998-2001)
Unlike the last generation, this generation was unique to the American market. This gen brought a revised interior that gave it new looks, but also gave the interior a more spacious feel despite remaining the same size from the last generation. Not every change was well received, as many drivers were unhappy with the plainer looking interior and cheapened looks.
Third Generation (2002-2006)
Being that the last generation was so short, this one brought some more changes to help even things out. Being the first Altima that had no equivalent to a model in Japan, this one felt like it was made specifically for the North American market over the first two.
The Altima grew a few inches this year, and with it came even more interior room. The interior now had 118.8 cubic feet of room (up from 108 cubic feet.) This generation's Altima had the biggest in class fuel tank. This tank was 20-gallon, making it a reliable family vehicle that required less stops than other vehicles in this time. Being that this generation was made for America, it came with an optional V6 engine.
In 2005, the Altima saw a facelift, and with it came some new engine ratings. The V6 now had a rating of 250 horsepower, and had 6.2-second 0-60 time. If you wanted more power, you can look for the SE-R trim that came with a 260 horsepower version of the V6. Thanks to the stiffer suspension and manual transmission, this model could go 0-60 in 6.1-seconds.
Fourth Generation (2007-2012)
While the last generation focused on physical features, this generation focused on new tech. This generation saw Smart Key as a standard feature. If you're able to find an Altima from this generation, you may be able to find the optional bluetooth functionality, as well as the parking camera.
When the 2010 models hit the road, it saw the Electronic Stability Control as a standard feature across the lineup. The CVT was now standard across all trims as well, with the manual transmission being dropped in 2011. The SR trim could still be outfitted with a manual but that was through customer orders, making it a rare find.
2008 saw the release of the coupe version of the Altima. It was shorter, and lower than the sedan version of the Altima. Through the generation, the coupe received most of the same features as the sedan, but due to lack of sales, it was discontinued after 2013.
2007 saw a hybrid version hit the road in 10 states, including New Jersey. This model was able to get up to 42 mpg, making it a very good daily driver. While the MPG was great, the market wasn't ready for a hybrid, and thanks to lack of sales, it was discontinued in 2011.
Fifth Generation (2013-2018)
The fifth gen came with the same engine options from the year before. The engines being a 3.5-Liter V6, and a 2.5-Liter. The 2.5-liter being the more fuel efficient one, sitting at 27 city miles, and 38 highway miles, making it a great daily driver.
While this model is larger, it weighs less than the ones before it. The Altima is the lightest midsize sedan in its class, thanks to the efficient use of high-strength steel around the vehicle.
In 2016, the performance oriented SR came back to the American market. Other changes to the lineup was more silencing materials being used on the vehicles, as well as a new sound-reducing windshield.
In 2018, the SR came with two special editions. These were the 2.5 SR Special Edition, and the Midnight Edition. These helped give the trim an even more unique look.
2018 also saw the addition of some upgrades in the form of Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
Sixth Generation (2019-Present)
Helping give the vehicle a safer ride, Nissan had equipped the sixth gen with some more standard safety features. These were Pro-Pilot Assist, Nissan Intelligent Around View Monitor, Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection System and Intelligent Lane Intervention.
Coming in 5 trim levels this generation, which were the S, SR, SV, SL, and Platinum. If you manage to find a “Edition One” special edition, you found something unique as it was a pre-order.
In 2023, the car saw some change, with the Platinum trim being removed from the lineup. If you find an SL, or an SR, you'll have a 12.3-inch touchscreen as the standard screen, while the SV had it as an optional upgrade.
Some more safety tech joined this year. The features being automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, lane departure warning, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and high-beam assist. Thanks to these new features, the 2023 Nissan Altima received Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.
Final Thoughts
With the Nissan Altima being one of the best on the market, there's tons of opportunity to find one used. Come see us at Car2Sell to check out our inventory!