Full Review: 2025 Nissan Altima Specs, Problems, & Price
Full Review: 2025 Nissan Altima Specs, Problems, & Price
The 2025 Nissan Altima is stepping into a competitive midsize sedan market with a compelling mix of style, performance, and technology. As one of Nissan’s flagship vehicles, the Altima continues to offer a refined driving experience, updated features, and improved fuel efficiency. Whether you're a daily commuter, a tech enthusiast, or someone seeking a reliable family sedan, the 2025 model aims to deliver on all fronts. In this comprehensive review, we'll dive deep into the 2025 Nissan Altima specs, known problems, pricing, and everything else potential buyers need to know.
Exterior Design and Styling
The 2025 Nissan Altima continues with its bold, athletic design language that sets it apart from more conservative competitors like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Its V-Motion grille remains prominent, now slightly refined to give the front fascia a more aggressive stance. LED headlights and DRLs (Daytime Running Lights) are standard across trims, enhancing both visibility and modern aesthetics.
Side profile highlights include sculpted door panels, a fastback-inspired roofline, and available 19-inch alloy wheels on higher trims. The rear features LED taillights with a boomerang design, a subtle decklid spoiler, and dual exhaust tips on the SR and SL trims, adding a sporty flair. The overall design strikes a balance between aerodynamic efficiency and visual appeal, with a drag coefficient of just 0.27, contributing to better fuel economy.
Available exterior colors include Glacier White, Super Black, Brilliant Silver Metallic, Magnetic Black, and the popular Scarlet Ember Tintcoat, which gives the Altima a luxurious finish under sunlight. While the design hasn’t undergone a complete overhaul, Nissan has made incremental improvements to keep the Altima fresh and relevant.
Interior Comfort and Features
Step inside the 2025 Nissan Altima, and you’re greeted with a driver-focused cabin that blends comfort, technology, and premium materials. The interior upgrade over previous models is noticeable, especially in higher trims like the Platinum, which features semi-aniline leather-appointed seats, a heated steering wheel, and genuine wood trim accents.
Front seats are available with heating and ventilation, and the driver’s seat offers 8-way power adjustment with lumbar support. Rear seat passengers benefit from generous legroom (38.9 inches) and a flat floor design, making long trips more comfortable. The Altima’s interior noise insulation has also improved, with enhanced sound-deadening materials reducing road and engine noise.
The center console features a floating 12.3-inch touchscreen (upgraded from the previous 8-inch unit) that runs Nissan’s latest infotainment system. It supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and over-the-air updates. Physical climate control knobs remain, which is a welcome feature for drivers who prefer tactile feedback over touch controls.
Additional interior highlights include:
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Available 16-speaker Bose premium audio system
- Wireless charging pad
- Power moonroof
- Multiple USB-C ports (front and rear)
2025 Nissan Altima Trim Levels and Pricing
The 2025 Nissan Altima is available in five trim levels: S, SV, SR, SL, and Platinum. Each trim adds more features, allowing buyers to tailor the car to their budget and preferences. Here's a breakdown of each trim and its starting MSRP:
- Altima S: Starting at $25,450 – The base model includes essentials like LED lighting, 7-inch digital instrument cluster, cloth seats, and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen.
- Altima SV: Starting at $27,850 – Adds keyless entry, remote start, adaptive cruise control, and a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen.
- Altima SR: Starting at $29,950 – Focuses on sportiness with 19-inch wheels, paddle shifters, sport-tuned suspension, and a 7-inch driver display.
- Altima SL: Starting at $32,100 – Luxury-focused trim with leather-appointed seats, heated front seats, power driver’s seat, and a blind-spot monitoring system.
- Altima Platinum: Starting at $35,950 – The top-tier model offering semi-aniline leather, heated rear seats, a 360-degree camera, and ProPILOT Assist 2.0.
All prices include the $1,195 destination fee. Front-wheel drive is standard; no all-wheel-drive option is available for the 2025 model, which may be a limitation for some buyers in snowy climates.
Engine and Performance Specs
The 2025 Nissan Altima continues with its familiar yet reliable powertrain options. All trims come standard with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 188 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. This engine pairs with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and achieves an EPA-estimated 28 mpg city and 39 mpg highway.
For those seeking more performance, the optional 2.0-liter VC-Turbo inline-4 engine is available on the SR, SL, and Platinum trims. This advanced engine delivers 248 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, making the Altima one of the quickest in its class. With this engine, acceleration from 0 to 60 mph drops to around 5.9 seconds, a notable improvement over standard midsize sedans.
The VC-Turbo engine features variable compression technology, allowing it to switch between high-efficiency and high-performance modes depending on driving conditions. Despite the power increase, fuel economy remains respectable at 25 mpg city and 34 mpg highway.
Handling is sharp thanks to Nissan’s DampTronic suspension system, which adjusts damping force in real time based on road conditions. The SR trim includes sport-tuned suspension for a more responsive feel, while higher trims offer a more refined, comfort-oriented ride.
Transmission and Driving Dynamics
The CVT transmission in the 2025 Nissan Altima has been revised to reduce the rubber-band effect commonly associated with CVTs. Nissan’s implementation includes simulated gear shifts when using paddle shifters, giving drivers a more engaging experience—especially in the SR and VC-Turbo models.
Steering is light but accurate, making city driving and parking effortless. On highways, the Altima remains stable and composed, with minimal body roll during cornering. The ride quality balances comfort and control, absorbing bumps without sacrificing responsiveness.
While the Altima isn’t marketed as a sport sedan, it offers one of the most engaging driving experiences in the midsize category. The VC-Turbo engine’s responsiveness and the well-tuned suspension make it a pleasure to drive on twisty roads, without compromising daily usability.
Fuel Efficiency and Environmental Impact
Fuel economy is a strong suit for the 2025 Nissan Altima. The standard 2.5L engine achieves an excellent 39 mpg on the highway, making it one of the most efficient non-hybrid midsize sedans available. The VC-Turbo engine’s slightly lower numbers are still competitive, especially considering the performance boost.
Nissan has also improved the Altima’s emissions profile, meeting the latest EPA Tier 3 and CARB LEV III standards. While there is no hybrid or electric version currently available, Nissan has hinted at electrified Altima variants in the near future as part of its global EV strategy.
For eco-conscious buyers, the Altima’s low fuel consumption and reduced emissions make it a sensible choice. With a 14.5-gallon fuel tank, the standard model can travel up to 565 miles on a single tank under ideal conditions.
Safety Ratings and Driver Assistance Features
Safety is a key focus for the 2025 Nissan Altima. It earns a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and is a 2025 Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, thanks to its strong crash test performance and advanced safety tech.
Standard safety features across all trims include:
- Automatic emergency braking
- Forward collision warning
- Lane departure warning
- Rearview camera
- Blind-spot warning
The available ProPILOT Assist 2.0 is one of the most advanced driver assistance systems in its class. It enables hands-free driving on compatible highways, provided the driver remains attentive. The system includes adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and automatic lane changes when the blinker is activated—features typically found in luxury vehicles.
Additional safety tech on higher trims includes:
- 360-degree camera system
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- High-beam assist
- Traffic sign recognition
- Parking sensors (front and rear)
Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 suite comes standard on all 2025 Altima models, ensuring that even entry-level buyers get comprehensive protection.
Technology and Infotainment
The 2025 Nissan Altima’s tech upgrades are among its most compelling features. The centerpiece is the 12.3-inch touchscreen with a crisp, high-resolution display and intuitive menu layout. The system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, eliminating the need for cables.
Users can access navigation, music, and vehicle settings via the touchscreen or optional voice commands. The system’s processing speed is fast, with minimal lag when switching between apps. Over-the-air updates ensure the infotainment system stays current with the latest features and security patches.
The digital gauge cluster is also upgraded. The base S trim features a 7-inch display, while higher trims get a full 12.3-inch digital instrument panel with customizable views, including navigation mapping and driver assistance alerts.
Other tech highlights include:
- Wi-Fi hotspot capability
- Remote start via NissanConnect app
- Cloud-based voice recognition
- Available head-up display (on Platinum trim)
The integration between NissanConnect and smart devices is seamless, allowing drivers to lock/unlock the car, check fuel levels, and locate the vehicle from their smartphone.
Comfort and Cargo Space
The 2025 Nissan Altima offers a spacious interior with ample headroom and legroom for both front and rear passengers. The front seats are supportive and well-bolstered, reducing fatigue on long drives. Rear seats are best suited for adults up to 6 feet tall, with sufficient knee and head clearance.
Cargo space measures 15.4 cubic feet, which is competitive in the midsize sedan segment. While not the largest in its class (the Honda Accord offers 16.7 cu ft), it’s more than enough for groceries, suitcases, or golf bags. The trunk opening is wide, and the low liftover height makes loading easier.
There is no hands-free power trunk, but remote trunk release is available via the key fob or NissanConnect app. Fold-down rear seats are not offered, which limits flexibility for carrying longer items—a drawback compared to some rivals.
Known Problems and Reliability
The Nissan Altima has historically been a reliable sedan, and the 2025 model continues that trend. However, based on early owner feedback and known issues from previous model years, there are a few potential concerns to be aware of:
- CVT Transmission Issues: While improved, some drivers report slight hesitation or whining noises under hard acceleration. This is more common in older Altimas, but Nissan has addressed many of these concerns with software updates and revised components.
- Infotainment Glitches: A small number of users have reported occasional system freezes or slow response times. These are typically resolved with a reboot or software update.
- Wind Noise at High Speeds: Some owners note increased wind noise around the side mirrors at highway speeds, particularly on models with larger wheels.
- ProPILOT Assist Limitations: While advanced, the system requires driver supervision and may disengage frequently on non-interstate roads or in poor weather.
On the reliability front, the 2025 Altima benefits from Nissan’s extended 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty on VC-Turbo models, signaling confidence in the engine’s durability. J.D. Power has given the Altima a predicted reliability score of 82/100 for 20