It’s an election year, so we’ll dispense with the logorrhea of the day and jump straight to the gist: The 2023 Nissan Altima is a very good car on many levels. Especially for the price.

Yes, yes it is. It’s not the best choice in the midsize sedan segment for every buyer, but it’s a great choice for most buyers. Based mostly on its price point, which is usually better (when fairly compared) to most of the best-sellers in this market.

We like most things about this car in both its standard and turbocharged formats. There are some cheap-feeling things in the Altima’s interior, but that’s true of several of the more budget-oriented sedans right now.

Most buyers will love the drive quality and simple achievement of advertised MPG numbers the Altima returns. Nothing fancy, just getting the job done. This is one of the few cars that’s best in its lower-level tiers as well, which is part of why we consider it a top choice for buyers on a budget.

Price-wise, the Sonata is competitive and it has most of the options of the Altima. It’s more premium in interior appeal, however, and has a better warranty. It loses some of its luster upon consumer test drives, however, thanks to its less capable-feeling powertrain.

Probably the strongest real competition to the Altima comes from the car nobody’s really heard of. Kia’s (relatively) new K5 is a blockbuster in the segment and is criminally ignored despite that. The better warranty and cleaner interior are big pluses.

The strongest competition in the midsize segment comes from the Camry, which has been a best-selling vehicle globally for a very long time. The Camry continues to wow with both AWD and hybrid options that the Nissan just can’t compete with. But it’s more expensive to get into the Camry, giving the Altima a chance.

Base price for the Nissan Altima is $26,725 plus delivery. Most buyers will be in the $28,000 range after options or trim level upgrades are added.

The table below shows the most common trim levels and how much they will run you.

The Nissan Altima was refreshed for 2023, getting new front and rear styling elements and a few upgrades to its interior in some trim levels. The previous top-most Platinum trim level was dropped, due to its slow sales and competition with Nissan’s premium Infiniti brand.

The Altima’s new looks are subtly different, with a less busy grille and more emphasis on the LED lighting. The rear gets a less bossy spoiler bump and slight modifications to shrink the size of the tail lamps.

A new 12.3-inch touchscreen was added to the Premium package upgrade and to most trim levels and is standard on the (now top-most) SL and SR VC-Turbo models.

There are two engines and two drivetrain options for the 2023 Altima. Most of the five trim levels for the Altima have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). That engine outputs 188 horsepower unless all-wheel drive is optioned, which will drop HP to 182. The other option is in the SR VC-Turbo trim, the highest-cost Altima option. That is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine turbocharged to 236 horsepower. That model is front-wheel drive only.

Our test of the Altima was in the SR VC-Turbo trim level, but we’ve driven previous model years in this generation of the Altima as non-turbo, AWD options. So our assessment here covers both.

The standard engine and CVT combination is not inspiring, but not lackluster either. It’s just about enough to make the Altima a good daily driver. In terms of drive quality, it’s average in just about every way. For most buyers, that’s all that’s required and it can stop there. The AWD option is certainly a bonus as well, for both handling improvements and all-weather traction.

The turbocharged model moves the Altima into “fun” territory. It’s not a sports car and should not be mistaken as such, but it’s definitely a lot more engaging when compared to the non-turbo. In short, it won’t win checkered flags, but it will make the race a lot more fun.

The Nissan Altima comes with a long list of advanced safety features plus some well-received crash test results from both testing bodies. It’s considered one of the safest cars on the road.

The Altima is one of the few Nissan models that receives an above average rating from most reliability experts. It’s scored a 4/5 on Repair Pal and good marks from Consumer Reports as well. J.D. Power calls it a “250,000-mile car.”

Of the five trim levels for the 2023 Altima, the second choice, SV, is probably the most cost-efficient. It adds better-looking (and less rusty) alloy wheels, keyless entry, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and more USB charging ports throughout the car.

The Altima SV also gives access to the Premium package upgrades should the buyer want even more conveniences. We recommend that, if the price tag isn’t too much, just for the excellent ProPilot Assist system and its added driver’s aids and safety measures. Think of the wireless smartphone charging pad and larger 12.3-inch touchscreen as bonuses if you do that.

The Altima’s warranty is about average for the segment. The Roadside Assistance inclusion is a bit unusual, but not rare.

• Basic: 3 years / 36k miles
• PowerTrain: 5 years / 60k miles
• Roadside Assistance: 3 years / 36k miles
• If buying used look at our best extended warranties

The Altima is an excellent used option. Most buyers will see a much better price on a certified used or gently used Nissan Altima compared to its new price. Not enough has changed since this generation was introduced to warrant buying the newest model.

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