Body Styles

The Nissan Altima is a four-door midsize sedan with a long, fastback-style profile and low, wide stance. Its proportions are deliberately sleek, with a sweeping roofline that tapers gently into a short rear deck, giving it a coupe-like silhouette without sacrificing trunk volume. The front fascia features a prominent V-Motion grille flanked by boomerang-shaped LED headlights, enhancing visual width and brand identity. At over 4.8 meters in length and sitting just 1.45 meters tall, the Altima maintains a low center of gravity and an elongated cabin with a stretched wheelbase that maximizes rear legroom. Sculpted body sides, a floating roof motif, and high shoulder lines add to its premium, almost European aesthetic. The rear end is defined by wide-set taillights and a subtle integrated spoiler, emphasizing horizontal breadth and stability. While it retains a traditional three-box sedan layout, the Altima’s proportions clearly lean toward grand touring intent.

Model Name Meaning (Manufacturer)

Nissan has not officially declared the etymology of the name “Altima,” but it continues a naming lineage begun in the Japanese-market Nissan Bluebird and Stanza series. The name was chosen for its global neutrality and modern sound, aligning with the car’s positioning as a refined, forward-looking midsize sedan.

Model Name Meaning (Languages)

Though not derived from a specific language, “Altima” evokes the word “ultimate,” lending the model an aspirational undertone. Its phonetic construction is smooth and internationally legible, giving it a premium feel without sounding technical or cold. This branding allows the Altima to sit comfortably across global markets, evoking comfort, capability, and ambition without direct linguistic associations.

Body & Interior Colors and Rims

The Altima offers a refined spectrum of exterior colors designed to enhance its flowing body lines and upscale demeanor. Shades like Scarlet Ember, Gun Metallic, and Deep Blue Pearl bring a vibrant depth under sunlight, while Glacier White and Super Black create elegant monochrome profiles. Premium paints such as Sunset Drift ChromaFlair and Pearl White TriCoat use multi-layer applications to create rich, color-shifting effects. Several trims offer darkened exterior accents, including black mirrors, grille surrounds, and rear diffusers for a sportier visual punch.

Inside, the cabin features a clean horizontal design language anchored by a “gliding wing” dashboard. Upholstery options range from woven charcoal fabric to perforated leather in Light Gray or Tan, with contrast stitching on SR and SL trims. Woodgrain or metallic-effect trims line the center console and doors depending on trim, while higher grades feature zero-gravity front seats with heating and power memory. Ambient interior lighting and piano black accents complete the soft-touch, tech-forward ambience.

Wheel designs range from 16-inch alloy wheels with simple twin-spoke forms to aggressive 19-inch gloss-black split-spoke designs for SR trims. Machine-cut faces, dark metallic inserts, and five-lug geometric patterns create an upscale impression while maintaining lightness and aerodynamic efficiency. Each design aligns with trim-specific styling cues, from elegance to athleticism, without disrupting the sedan’s cohesive profile.

Top Expensive Options

• 2.0L VC-Turbo Engine Package: $2,400
• ProPILOT Assist with Adaptive Cruise: $1,200
• 19-Inch Gloss-Black Alloy Wheels: $950
• Intelligent All-Wheel Drive System: $1,500
• Premium Leather-Appointed Seats with Memory: $1,300
• NissanConnect Navigation with 9-Inch Display: $800
• Bose Premium 9-Speaker Audio: $1,100
• Power Moonroof with Tilt & Slide: $950
• Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto: $500
• Rear Automatic Emergency Braking with Sensors: $600

vs Competitors

The Altima faces off against stalwarts like the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Hyundai Sonata — each bringing their own powertrain sophistication and tech packages. Unlike its rivals, however, the Altima remains the only midsize sedan to offer all-wheel drive with both naturally aspirated and turbocharged variants, giving it a traction advantage in northern markets. The variable-compression turbo engine stands out as a technological statement, offering V6-like performance with four-cylinder economy. Compared to the Camry’s traditional V6 or the Accord’s hybrid emphasis, the Altima provides a middle ground: engaging yet frugal. Interior build quality is competitive but leans practical rather than luxurious. Where the Altima truly differentiates itself is in its quiet technical confidence — a sedan engineered with clarity, not flash, offering a familiar format refined through thoughtful innovation.

Fun Fact

The Altima's VC-Turbo engine changes its compression ratio in real-time between 8:1 and 14:1 using a multi-link system inside the engine block — a world-first in mass production. This engineering innovation allows it to seamlessly shift between high-power and high-efficiency modes, essentially making the Altima two engines in one — a pioneering feat in a category that rarely sees mechanical revolutions.