MSRPs for 2015 Nissan Altima Start at $22,300

Pricing will rise throughout most of the lineup for the 2015 Nissan Altima, starting with a $130 bump for the starter model, which opens at $22,300 for the new selling season. That's a relatively minor change, but it's worth noting that the 2014 Altima already had the third-highest MSRP among the current crop of mainstream mid-size sedans, and the adjustment for 2015 puts it within $40 of the Chevy Malibu and just $125 below the entry point to the Toyota Camry roster. Now, this is a bit of an apples vs. oranges situation, since Chevy and Toyota have not priced their 2015 models, but the 2015 Hyundai Sonata was just announced with a $300 price cut and will begin the new model year with a significant $1,150 advantage against the Nissan.

On the other hand, the 2015 Nissan Altima will continue to offer the highest standard fuel-economy ratings in the segment, with a line of 27 mpg city/38 mpg highway/31 mpg combined that, for example, tops the Sonata's performance by 3 mpg in all phases of EPA testing.

Also, while that entry model continues unchanged, there have been some content increases for the more premium 2015 Nissan Altima trims:

• The 2.5-liter, four-cylinder Altima SV gains an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat and two-way lumbar support, along with standard foglights.
• Fuel-economy ratings for the 2015 Nissan Altima with its 3.5-liter V6 increase 1 mpg in highway and combined driving to reach 22 mpg city/32 mpg combined/26 mpg combined.
• Six-cylinder Altima SV and SL models also welcome NissanConnect with navigation and mobile apps, as well as blind-spot warning, moving object detection and lane-departure warning systems.
• Owners who opt for the Beige interior will find it now complemented by black carpeting and lower-seat side trim.
• Nissan's Intelligent Climate Control is packaged with remote start for the Altima SV and SL.

Prices will rise accordingly, with the rest of the 2015 Nissan Altima menu featuring:

• Altima 2.5 S—$22,560 (down $130)
• Altima 2.5 SV—$24,720 (up $380)
• Altima 2.5 SL—$28,150 (up $230)
• Altima 3.5 S—$26,450 (up $130)
• Altima 3.5 SV—$29,830 (up $1,310)
• Altima 3.5 SL—$31,950 (up $1,130)

The 2015 Nissan Altima is at dealerships now.