The 2023 Nissan Altima is a mid-size sedan whose selling points include stylish design, available all-wheel drive, and very good fuel economy.
There are four trim levels in the 2023 Altima lineup: S, SV, SR, and SL. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive are standard, but all-wheel drive is available on SV, SR and SL. An outlier model, the SR VC-Turbo, gets a 2.0-liter variable-compression turbocharged four-cylinder engine and comes only with front-wheel drive.
A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is used across the board.
Horsepower ratings for the standard engine are 188 hp with front-wheel drive and 182 hp with all-wheel drive. The turbo engine generates 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, when provided with 93-octane fuel.
On the fuel economy front, the Altima S trim delivers the best numbers: 28 mpg city, 39 mpg highway, and 32 mpg combined. The SV, SR, and SL with front-wheel drive are in second place with 27/37/31 mpg. With all-wheel drive, they dip by one mile. Except for the SR. It takes a two-mile dip.
The SR VC-Turbo brings up the rear with its 25/34/29 mpg rating. Still, those are good numbers considering the extra horsepower.
I’ve seen reports of the 2023 Altima achieving even better gas mileage than its EPA ratings.
Altima prices range from $26,385 to $36,085 including a $1,095 destination charge.
A new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen highlights the 2023 Nissan Altima interior. (Nissan)
Nissan updates the Altima for 2023 with new front-end styling and wheel designs, badging with the brand’s new logo, and the expansion of its standard safety features and available technology. There are two new exterior colors, Gray Sky Pearl and Garnett Pearl Metallic.
A new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen replaces the previous 8.0-inch display and is standard on SL and SR models, optional on the SV. Other goodies are navigation, Android Auto and wireless Apply CarPlay compatibility, wireless phone charging and Wi-Fi hotspot, all of them standard on SL and SR VC-Turbo grades and available on SV.
The new infotainment system is in keeping with Altima’s straightforward interior. Controls throughout are well-marked, easy to find, and simple to use. However, the much-appreciated volume control knob could use better illumination because it can be difficult to see while driving at night. Not a problem if you already know where it is, but someone behind the wheel of the Altima for the first time, at night, might be addled. (Disclosure: I’m a master of imagining worst-case scenarios that never happen.)
My test car, an SR V-C Turbo, displayed peppy enough performance for a car not aspiring to be a sports sedan. Given Altima’s general-purpose demeanor, I’d opt for a trim with the standard engine and all-wheel drive.
The desirable new safety systems incorporated into Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 suite of driver-assistance technology for the 2023 Altima include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and high-beam assist.
The 2023 Nissan Altima has a roomy interior with seating for five and a large cargo area. (Nissan)
2023 NISSAN ALTIMA SR V-C TURBO
Base price, including destination charge: $36,085
Price as driven: $36,835
Mary Lowry is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. She lives in Snohomish County. Vehicles are provided by automotive manufacturers as a one-week loan for evaluation purposes only. Manufacturers do not control content of the reviews.
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