The 2022 Nissan Altima has been on the fringes of the midsize segment for the better part of a decade. This latest Altima generation is more appealing thanks to solid fuel economy and useful driver safety aids, but it fails to truly match the segment all-stars.
Part of the sixth Altima generation introduced for 2019
What is the Altima?
The Nissan Altima is a five-passenger midsize family sedan that represents a step up in size from the smaller Sentra and just below the sportier Maxima in Nissan's lineup. The Altima was last redesigned in 2019, which means the 2022 model year likely marks the midway point of this generation. Considering Nissan's recent unveiling of the all-electric Ariya SUV — which will probably dictate the styling of future vehicles — we wouldn't be surprised if the Altima gets a styling refresh along with new and updated features. This is pure speculation for now, but we should have more information as we get closer to the middle of 2021. Check back here for all the latest updates.
Edmunds says
The Altima benefits from a generous list of safety and driver assistance features, strong fuel economy and an easy-to-drive demeanor. Unfortunately, those positives are overshadowed by some drawbacks that include poor outward visibility and an oddly disconnected feel from the steering. As such, the Altima ranks below top midsize sedans such as the Kia K5 and Honda Accord.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $2.99 per gallon for regular unleaded in Florida.
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Nissan Altima from 2008-2022.
$431/yr
vs. $415/yr for Average Midsize Car
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).
0.83x/yr
vs. 0.87x/yr for Average Midsize Car
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).
12.8%
vs. 10.2% for Average Midsize Car
powered by RepairPal Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.
I have the Altima SV, quietest and smoothest drive I’ve experienced with great pickup. The sound quality is excellent. Would recommend apple car play over the more finicky android car play.
With safety features all the rage, the notices can become overwhelming to the point of annoyance. So I was happy to discover that some notices can be turned off, like lane departure. Yes, I am changing lanes, I don't need a lane departure notice for that! Off it goes! The anti-front collision warning is exactly that - a warning. This is good since I've driven rental cars with active … front collision avoidance that activate the brakes and/or disable the accelerator when some idiot pulls into my lane and I try to drive around him. Some notices require that I push a button on the streering wheel to make it go away. That can get annoying. It is odd that for a car with so much to offer in terms of features, it did not come with a display mode that would show me the average and instantaneous Miles Per Gallon. The gas fillup warning turns on at 75 miles from empty. I would have preferred it be at the 50 mile mark with an icon on the dashboard, rather than a warning that needs to be acknowledged, and once acknowledged, reduces to an icon on the dashboard.
I sought out some of the creature comfort features that are on this model: heated seats, heated steering wheel, remote start and keyless entry. All of these are desirable since I live where it snows. The keyless entry / engine immobilizer were items missing from my former car. Cruise control is nice but a bit confusing to use. Moonroof is meh. Since the glass in the moonroof cannot be tilted up from the rear to improve airflow, I don't see the appeal. The back-up camera and the blind spot warnings are nice touches. The controls on this car are a nice balance of manual controls and touch screen controls. Most entertainment related controls are on the 7 in, I think, touchscreen. The A/C, heating, heated seats, heated steering wheel, temperature setting and fan speed are all controlled with knobs or rocker switches. No need to drill down to some sub-menu on the touch screen to adjust the blower speed.
I like the 2.5L engine, but the CVT transmission that it is mated to makes performance sluggish. I manage about 32 mpg around town. Thankfully, this car does not use stop-start technology, which I find tiring after a while. Handling is excellent. This car really hugs the road with minimum swaying during turns. My car came with an emergency spare tire - a donut.
A 90 day trial of SiriusXM was included, but I doubt I will subscribe. The SiriusXM app would display ads and try VERY hard to get me to join contests to the point of controlling the app screen. Some of the recommended channels were just weird. In my opinion, this is unacceptable, so I ended up uninstalling the app after 2 weeks. The satellite radio experience in the car is much better unless you're driving under a bridge or driving next to a tall building, then the audio is interrupted.
Overall, I am pleased with this car.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2022 Nissan Altima, so we've included reviews for other years of the Altima since its last redesign.