2026 Nissan Altima Review: Growing and Streamlining the Midsize Sedan

For 2026, the Nissan Altima enters the midsize sedan game with mature character, tighter design, and a single-minded focus on enhanced comfort, safety, and performance. While crossovers dominate shopping lists, the 2026 Nissan Altima sedan demonstrates why well-crafted sedans still deserve a spot on American driveways. Nissan hasn't entirely reinvented the Altima, yet what it has done is hone the details that matter - improved ride, incremental design refinements, and a tech package that keeps pace with modern driving expectations.

The 2026 Altima is not a reinvention but a recalibration-and that is exactly where its power lies.

The 2026 Altima continues its evolution with a design marries visual aggression with reserve. Nissan's V-Motion grille has been restyled to be less bulbous, with thinner LED headlamps that render the sedan's face cleaner and mature. Body character lines are taut and defined without being overwrought. It's a reserved design, one intended to endure the passage of time rather than be fashionable.

All trims come with newly redone 17-19-inch wheels that grant the Nissan Altima 2026 exterior a wider road presence. The sporty SR trim is treated to blacked-out trim and a diffuser in the back that conveys performance without compromising on its daily usability. It's a cohesive design overhaul that pays homage to the Altima's segment position without updating its presence too subtly.

The 2026 Nissan Altima engine options remain well-done and familiar. The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivers 188 horsepower and still features Nissan's continuously variable transmission (CVT). It's not a powerplant that revs the engine, but it delivers consistently smooth power and efficiency, with fuel economy ratings of around 32 mpg combined - on par with the class in a midsize car.

More noteworthy is the return of the 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine, which is good for 248 horsepower. Shared on the SR VC-Turbo trim, this variable-compression engine remains one of the more technologically interesting options in the class. While on-road performance isn't quite on the level of sports sedans, the engine delivers solid mid-range torque and a more communicative throttle feel. The CVT still blunts some of that potential, but it's a better pairing here than on the standard powertrain.

For customers who need better traction on a year-round basis, the 2026 Nissan Altima all-wheel drive comes on the 2.5-liter engine on nearly all trims, a major differentiator in a segment where front-wheel drive remains the rule.

What stands out most in the 2026 is its improved chassis tuning. Suspension tuning is subtle yet effective, delivering better isolation on uneven roads without compromising steering feel. Nissan's engineers have improved damper tuning, delivering a smoother ride on the interstate and better vertical response on bumpier roads.

The SR trim, with sport suspension, still offers the group's quickest handling, but "sporty" is still a bit of a stretch. Instead, the Altima is all about poise and composure. Road noise is greatly reduced with additional sound-deadening and improved door seals, putting the 2026 Nissan Altima driving experience on par with segment leaders the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

Step inside the 2026 Altima and the attention to detail is even greater. Nissan has upgraded the significant touchpoints on all trim. The dashboard is wrapped in soft-touch trim with improved stitch detail, and the center console has been redone slightly to deliver better storage ergonomics.

Upper trims include the SL and SR VC-Turbo, which come with upgraded interior trim in the form of contrasting accent trim that is tasteful without being forced. Seating remains a highlight, with Nissan's Zero Gravity front seats offering long-distance comfort not often found in the class. Legroom in the back seats is plentiful, and trunk space is always 15.4 cubic feet - on par with class expectations.

At the heart of the 2026 Nissan Altima interior features is the new infotainment system. It's substituted the previous 8-inch setup on higher trims with a fresh 12.3-inch touchscreen with crisper graphics and a cleaner design. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all trims, and the system is now natively integrated with Google-based apps to deliver additional utility.

The digital instrument cluster, also 12.3 inches on upper trims, provides customizable displays with improved visibility. It is less dynamically styled than some competitors, but it displays information plainly without distraction.

One of the 2026 Altima's strengths is its compliance with standard safety features. Nissan's Safety Shield 360 suite remains standard across all trims, with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and high-beam assist.

New in 2026 is an improved version of ProPILOT Assist, Nissan's half-automated driver aid. It now centers itself within the lanes on a greater range of roads and reacts more naturally to curves and merging lanes. This makes the 2026 Nissan Altima driver assistance features some of the strongest in its class, particularly at this price point.

Optional features include a 360-degree camera system, traffic sign recognition, and a heads-up display on higher trims, further enhancing the Altima's appeal to safety-conscious buyers.

The Altima is still available in S, SV, SR, SL, and SR VC-Turbo trim levels. Nissan has differentiated features between trims so that customers can upgrade meaningfully without overlap. The SV trim remains the best-balanced in terms of value, now with dual-zone climate control and adaptive cruise control as standard.

The SR chases after young buyers with a sporty aesthetic, and the SL targets a higher level of ambiance with Bose audio, leather seats, and a moonroof. The 2026 Nissan Altima SR VC-Turbo is still the flagship car, combining performance and luxury nuances in a package that provides customers with an alternative to entry-level luxury sedans - without the associated expense.

When compared to rivals like the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, and Kia K5, the 2026 Altima holds its own not by being the strongest in any single area, but by presenting a well-balanced, quietly competent package. It is strongest in the areas of consistency, polish, and practical usability. With intelligent updates and segment-suitable enhancements, the 2026 Nissan Altima midsize sedan restates its position as a rational - yet progressively sophisticated - alternative in a utility-vehicle-dominated marketplace.

By avoiding extreme change, Nissan reinforces the Altima's nature: reliable, low-key, and progressively finer. It doesn't yell to be heard, yet it doesn't need to. In a practical-minded class, the 2026 Altima speaks precisely where it needs to - on the road.