The Altima has survived as Nissan’s midsize Sedan for decades, outliving models like the Maxima with its stellar ability to adapt to the needs of an ever changing market over the years. The Altima is set for another suite of upgrades in the new year, and in this 2026 Nissan Altima review, we’ll be going under the hood for what’s set to be another exciting year for changes to the venerable sedan.
Key Takeaways
- Nissan packs on some much appreciated changes with a timely redesign that revises the interior and exterior of the beloved Sedan.
- The CVT returns in 2026, making for a heightened level of efficiency all throughout the Altima’s powerband.
- The 2026 Nissan Altima is anticipated to be released in late Q1 to early Q2 2026, with pre-orders possibly starting in December 2025.
How much horsepower does the 2026 Nissan Altima have?
2026 Nissan Altimas are expected to have the same engine as the 2025 Model. All 2025 Altimas come with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque (182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet in AWD models). The power is funneled through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The CVT robs the fun of using the paddle shifters on equipped trims, and the four-cylinder can make some unruly engine noises when pressed to the limit.
But this isn’t the kind of car one should be pushing that hard, anyway. The Altima scores “fine” on almost all its dynamic tests. Steering is precise for the segment; braking is prompt and linear. A comfy ride on the 16- or 17-inch wheels maintains its composure over road imperfections and wobbly pavement.
What technology does Nissan use?
How’s the tech? The Altima still has a big 12.3-inch touchscreen. It comes with wireless connectivity for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and an onboard navigation system. Though the screen's size and responsiveness make it seem modern, it's let down by software that looks and feels outdated.
The navigation system's functionality is solid; it responded well to voice commands in our tests and easily found destinations (thanks to searches powered by Google). But the map's graphics look old and dated. Plug in your phone and use either Google Maps or Apple Maps and those maps look super sharp, so it's not a problem with the screen itself. The backup and surround-view camera displays are also low-resolution and hard to see, especially when you're trying to use them at night.
The Altima's ProPilot Assist system, which includes lane centering and low-speed adaptive cruise control, is quite the bonus. The adaptive cruise control works very well, needing little correction in traffic.
Summary
The new Altima is set to shake things up in an ever changing market. For starters, its excellent CVT makes a much welcome return to the segment as an efficient add-on that saves buyers big over the years when properly maintained. The Altima also brings forward thinking assists to the table, including cruise control and support for Google/Apple Maps. The Altima is a forward thinking Sedan that’s dressed to impress in the new model year and is expected to be a favorite of the market when it hits dealerships in later 2025. Make sure to find yours at Alan Jay Nissan.