For better or worse, the Nissan Altima is a fixture on American roads. Even if you aren’t a car person, you probably know about the Altima and the aura around it. No need to say more. However, it sure seems that the Altima won’t be here forever. Recent comments from high-ranking Nissan brass suggest it will be riding into the sunset, but despite recent reports, the Nissan Altima isn’t dead yet.
In an interview with Wards Auto, Nissan’s head of North American product Ponz Pandikuthira stated that “The entry-level Versa and premium Maxima sedan are gone, and the midsize Altima will soon depart, since the new, more ‘grown-up’ Sentra is intended to satisfy Nissan’s remaining sedan demand.” Naturally, this resulted in speculation over when Nissan would discontinue the Altima. The answer, it seems, isn’t now.
In fact, Nissan is gearing up the Altima for the 2027 model year, the ninth for the current-generation car. Details are scarce, but given how the two-liter turbocharged engine option has already bowed out, expect it to soldier on with a 188-horsepower 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-four. Still, if the Altima were to end production after the 2027 model year, it would be putting an end to a long and complex 34-year legacy.
When the Altima first launched, it wasn’t even officially just called “Altima”, instead going by “Stanza Altima” because “Stanza” was the name of its predecessor, and the Datsun-by-Nissan thing roughly a decade earlier smoothed out that transition nicely. With the soap-bar look of the ’90s and power from Nissan’s venerable KA24DE 2.4-liter inline-four, the original Altima was perfectly fine family transportation. The second-generation model was more of the same, but the Altima really made a splash for 2002.
If you want a flashpoint for the midsize sedan wars of the 2000s, the third-generation Altima was it. Larger in every dimension than its predecessor, its bold styling hinted at what might lie under the hood. The 2002 model year Altima received its first-ever V6 engine, and it was a big deal. We’re talking about the VQ35DE. At 3.5 liters of displacement, it tipped the scales a half-liter bigger than the overhead cam V6 engines in the Camry, Accord, and Taurus. What’s more, it made serious output: 240 horsepower and 246 lb.-ft. of torque. That might not sound like much now, but not only did the 2002 Camry V6 only make 192 horsepower, the 2002 Mustang GT was only 20 ponies ahead at 260 horsepower. With a standard manual gearbox, the V6 Altima was the rocketship of the family sedan class, an instant sensation that seemed to set Nissan up for success. Then some strange things happened.
Firstly, Nissan started targeting subprime customers who either couldn’t get financing from many other automakers’ captive finance arms or would face much higher rates. This had the effect of selling Altimas to buyers who couldn’t necessarily afford all of the upkeep of a car on top of new-car payments – maintenance, full insurance coverage, that sort of stuff. Secondly, the fourth-generation Altima swapped out a range of traditional automatics for continuously variable transmissions. This didn’t go particularly well, as earlier examples became known for poor longevity. That sort of Achilles’ heel can sour a car to the Consumer Reports set of customers who would typically gravitate towards Japanese midsize sedans.
As a result, the Altima gained a reputation for being a bit of a rogue missile on the roads, spinning across highways on bald tires that some owners can’t afford to replace and often being spotted with body damage that some owners can’t afford to fix. It’s seen high fleet volumes and depressed resale values that made used Altimas an appealing choice for buy-here-pay-here dealers who finance customers who wouldn’t normally qualify, and you’ve probably heard all the resulting Altima jokes by now.
This all means that when the Altima bows out, it won’t be exiting on the most glamorous of terms. However, this all raises a bigger question: What’s going to replace the Altima on American roads? The Rogue? The Kia K5? Possibly the Sentra that’s set to effectively replace it in showrooms? Only time will tell. For now, we’ll just have to wait for the Altima’s demise to finally arrive.
Top graphic image: Nissan
I really liked the 3rd Gen Maxima. The whole 4DSC thing felt pretty legit.
A rental experience in a optioned up from base ’25 Sentra wasn’t bad.
I rented an Altima once, in rural Iowa and South Dakota. It’s lane-keeping assist felt pretty weird and not particularly reassuring.
I’d really like to see them come up with something amazing, but I am not holding my breath. Oh, Nissan. How you have lost your way.
That 3rd gen Maxima is easily one of my favorite underappareciated 90s cars (though it came out in the late 80s I know)…perhaps the most crisp styling, and ah the days of manual sedans that weren’t European. I still remember the little decals on the c-pillar windows.
Altima gained a reputation for being a bit of a rogue missile on the roads…often being spotted with body damage that some owners can’t afford to fix.
I’ve seen enough half-wrecked Kia “Kill Fours” being driven erratically thru traffic to know that model’s set to take the Altima’s crown and run with it.
Listen, and understand!
That Altima is out there! It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop… ever!
I’ve managed to avoid Altima-as-rental for 20 years. Then this year in Hawaii I had to choose between V8 Durango and Altima. Considering the 3-hour drive we’d be doing several times over, I took the 1-yo Altima. And I’ll be damned if it wasn’t a comfortable, fast, quiet, mile-burner. great gas mileage. I didn’t even notice the CVT except when watching the tach. And then a weird gremlin turned into a full-blown electrical catastrophe. Barely made it to Enterprise, who was very polite and handed me the keys to….. another Altima, this one AWD and brand-new. Which was a very comfortable, fast, quiet mile-burner with great gas mileage. OH and a huge trunk. Man, just think if Nissan hadn’t chased those sub-prime sales.
I got an Altima as a full size (snicker) rental this past May and drove it 1500 miles. Of course my expectations were low so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. It was the lowest trim level. It drove fine, had a good ride, got crazy good mileage, and had very comfortable seats. A nicer trim in a real color would make a fine “car.” I mean that as a compliment. Our rental was silver (bleh) with a black (bleh) interior. Here’s the best part, it had a dent in a rear fender and a Florida license plate. I swear! That’s better than a “Protected by Smith & Wessen” bumper sticker.
The Altima stereotype has always been more of a general Nissan stereotype anyway, Altima buyers will just migrate to the Sentra, Rouge, or Pathfinder
You mean the Smalltima, the Talltima, and the Take-the-Kids-to-the-Malltima?
LOL