The Nissan Altima does 26.6 mpg combined (23.6 city, 31.3 highway), which works out to about $1,444 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid does 33.8 mpg while 3.5L 6-cyl does 23.2 — a difference of $519 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Nissan Altima engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Nissan Altima ranges from 33.8 down to 23.2 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $519 a year across 4 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid | 34.6 / 33 | 2007–2011 | $1,136 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 24.8 / 34.5 | 2002–2026 | $1,352 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 20.9 / 27.9 | 1993–2001 | $1,613 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 20.1 / 27.8 | 2002–2018 | $1,655 |
What that actually costs
The Nissan Altima burns a gallon every 26.6 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 451 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.120 |
| Fuel per year | $1,444 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,220 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$50 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,435 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Nissan Altima gives up 7.7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 31.3 out there against 23.6 in town, a 33% drop worth $400 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 23.6 mpg | $1,627 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 31.3 mpg | $1,227 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7.7 mpg (33%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Altima changed over the years
The Altima peaked in 2022 at 32 mpg (28 city, 39 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2004 at 22 — 10 mpg apart, or $545 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 30. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 26 / 36 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2025 | 27 / 38 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2024 | 27 / 38 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2023 | 27 / 38 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2022 | 28 / 39 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2021 | 28 / 39 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2020 | 28 / 39 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2019 | 28 / 39 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2018 | 24.5 / 35 | 2 | $1,347 | |
| 2017 | 24.5 / 35.5 | 2 | $1,347 | |
| 2016 | 24.5 / 35 | 2 | $1,347 | |
| 2015 | 24.5 / 34 | 2 | $1,347 | |
| 2014 | 24.5 / 34 | 2 | $1,371 | |
| 2013 | 24.5 / 34 | 2 | $1,371 | |
| 2012 | 21.5 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,567 | |
| 2011 | 25.3 / 30.7 | 3 | $1,407 | |
| 2010 | 26 / 30.7 | 3 | $1,371 | |
| 2009 | 25.7 / 30 | 3 | $1,407 | |
| 2008 | 25.7 / 30 | 3 | $1,407 | |
| 2007 | 26 / 30 | 3 | $1,407 | |
| 2006 | 19.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2005 | 19.5 / 28.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2004 | 19 / 25.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2003 | 19.5 / 25.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2002 | 19.5 / 25.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2001 | 20 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2000 | 21 / 28 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1999 | 21 / 28 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1998 | 21 / 28 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 1997 | 21 / 28 | 1 | $1,600 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 56 EPA ratings of the Nissan Altima — 4 engines across 1993–2026. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $2,435. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Nissan Altima get?
26.6 mpg combined on average — 23.6 in the city and 31.3 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1993–2026.
How much does a Nissan Altima cost in fuel per year?
About $1,444 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,220 over five years, or 0.120 dollars a mile.
Which Altima engine is the most economical?
The 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid at 33.8 mpg, against 23.2 for the 3.5L 6-cyl — a difference of about $519 a year.
Is the Altima good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Altima figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Nissan Altima is $2,435 against the $1,444 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 34 and 21 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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