The Nissan Altima is a midsize car built from 1993 to 2026 over 6 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 100% of those on record. Between 1993 and 2026 it grew 31 cm longer and gained 262 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid, V6. Worth buying? It scores near the top of what we track — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Altima is
The Nissan Altima is a midsize car that Nissan built from 1993 to 2026 — 34 model years. Our measurements put it at 6 generations, the current one starting in 2019. It has been offered with 4-cyl, Hybrid, V6 power. Its closest siblings in the Nissan range: Kicks, Leaf, Maxima.
Where the Altima is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 13,359 Altimas on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1N4, 1NA, 5N1 | 1993-2025 |
Check your own: the first three characters of its VIN decide which line above it belongs to. What every character in a Altima VIN means →
Altima generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-1997 | 459 cm | 262 cm | 1283 kg | - | - |
| 1998-2001 | 466 cm | 262 cm | 1304 kg | +7 cm | +21 kg |
| 2002-2011 | 486 cm | 280 cm | 1408 kg | +20 cm | +104 kg |
| 2012 | 472 cm | 273 cm | 1467 kg | -14 cm | +59 kg |
| 2013-2018 | 487 cm | 278 cm | 1424 kg | +15 cm | -43 kg |
| 2019-2026 | 490 cm | 283 cm | 1545 kg | +3 cm | +121 kg |
Between 1993 and 2026 the Altima gained 31 cm in length (+6.8%) and 262 kg in weight (+20.4%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced. Full dimensions by year →
Nissan Altima tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Nissan Altima have? Power & range
The Nissan Altima is offered with 3 powertrains — 3.5L 6-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.5L · 6-cyl | CVT | FWD | Regular |
| 4-cyl | 2.5L · 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | Regular |
| Hybrid | 2.5L · 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Altima by the numbers
What the federal and market records say. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Altima | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 145 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 15,580 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $2,042/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 3,604 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Nissan Altima?
The Altima is a midsize car, built from 1993 to 2026 across 6 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid, V6.
Where is the Nissan Altima made?
Across 13,359 cars in our records the split is: the United States (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Altima have?
6 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2019. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Altima grew 31 cm longer and gained 262 kg.
What is the Nissan Altima warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Altima reliable?
It scores 4.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Altima?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.