2022 Nissan Altima Road Test and Review

2020 Nissan Altima ・ Photo by Nissan

In a world in which all non-luxury mid-size cars have an incredible sameness about them, the 2022 Nissan Altima presents itself differently. No one will say the exterior or interior designs are exactly out-of-the-box, but when others are touting hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electrics, the Altima offers an unconventional gasoline powerplant that some might call revolutionary. Nissan was also one of the first to offer all-wheel drive on its mid-size sedan, leading others to join the fold. For the 2022 model year, the Nissan Altima is not filled with changes, but it does offer a new sub-model plus its interesting mix of safety technology, AWD, and the one-of-a-kind engine. The once-simple lineup has expanded into nine separate models if one counts front-drive versions as separate from the AWD versions (Nissan does). With Nissan’s ProPILOT Assist electronic driver-assistance suite, the 2022 Altima gives its drivers broad hints as to what fully autonomous driving will be like. Here are the details on the 2022 Nissan Altima.

Exterior Style

For 2022, the big news on Altima is the creation of a special Midnight Edition package. Like many similar appearance packages that are so popular right now, it has special "black-out" exterior trim. Its distinctions include LED fog lights, a single-panel moonroof, a glossy black sport grille and spoiler, a satin black Midnight Edition badge, glossy black 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, and black heated outside mirrors with LED turn signal indicators. Available on the Altima SR 2.5-liter models only, the package also includes heated front seats and a driver’s seat with two-way driver power lumbar support. The Altima features its rendition of Nissan’s “V-motion” grille, which is accompanied by LED projector headlights with daytime running lights and LED fog lights. The “floating roof” has slim support pillars, another distinctive feature. Compared with the competitive Honda Accord, the Altima is 0.4 inches lower in height, 3.2 inches shorter in length, and 0.4 inches narrower.

Photo by Nissan

Interior Design

The Altima’s interior is a cozy place for up to five. Nissan says the seats are NASA-inspired. Dubbed “Zero Gravity,” they don’t leave you floating in the cosmos, but they are extremely comfortable. They feature dual-density foam and substantial bolstering. Leather seat inserts are standard in the SL and Platinum trims. The rear seat is comfortable for three and offers a fold-down armrest. The contemporary dash is topped by the obligatory infotainment screen. It has a horizontal "gliding wing" theme featuring high-contrast colors and trim. The instrument panel features easy-to-read traditional round speedometer and tachometer contained in a well-hooded nacelle immediately in front of the driver. The infotainment screen is perched on the dash with the heating/ventilation/air conditioning controls lying below it. It is a convenient arrangement that’s immediately understandable.

Photo by Nissan

Infotainment &Technology

The Altima features current-generation Nissan connectivity, which includes over-the-air updates and connectivity between home, work, and the car. Every Altima is equipped with an eight-inch color touchscreen display, Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming, hands-free text messaging assistant, and Siri eyes-free voice recognition. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the Altima line. A NissanConnect Services subscription provides smartphone and smartwatch access to features like remote engine start, remote door lock, and valet alert. Some of the remote features are accessible through Amazon Alexa Skill and Google Assistant Action. The audio system in the Altima S, SV, and SR trims has six-speakers, AM/FM/HD with RDS, and an auxiliary input. On upscale trim levels, a Bose system with nine speakers, including a digital amplifier with eight channels of custom equalization, is offered. Active noise cancellation is available on SR models equipped with the 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine. A 7-inch “Advanced Drive Assist” display is standard on all but the S trim.

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Powertrains

The Nissan Altima offers the choice of two engines, one conventional and the other a technological marvel. The conventional base engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 188 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of peak torque. It has a thermal-insulated intake port, direct injection system, variable tumble control valve, mirror bore cylinder coating and variable displacement oil pump. While all that provides better efficiency, it is not nearly as groundbreaking as the 2.0-liter VC-Turbo. Used in the 2.0 SR, it is the first production engine to use variable compression technology. The engine shifts its compression ratio between 8:1 (high performance) and 14:1 (high efficiency) via a multi-link system that continuously raises or lowers each piston’s travel. The result is 248 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque from a powerplant that is lighter and much more fuel-efficient than the previous 3.5-liter V6. Both engines are equipped with a Xtronic continuously variable transmission. Altimas with the 2.5-liter engine offer an all-wheel-drive system as optional.

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Driving Impression

With the VC-Turbo engine, the Nissan Altima is one of the most fun-to-drive vehicles in its segment. The added horsepower and nearly instant torque result in a lot of driving enjoyment. And you never sense all the technical gymnastics the engine is going through internally every second. That said, the Altimas equipped with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder have their own virtues, and they are undoubtedly the better choice for the typical mid-size sedan buyer. For one thing, the 2.5 liter offers better fuel economy than the VC-Turbo, though the difference is only 2 mpg in combined driving. While car reviewers typically prefer traditionally geared automatic transmissions to CVTs, the CVT in the Altima functions just fine in virtually all instances. The Altima’s ride is a nice compromise between pillow-like ride quality and sharp handling ability. For those desiring a bit more sharp handling, the SR versions have stiffer springs and shocks. Still, its ride quality is more than acceptable.

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Safety & Driver Aids

Driver-assistance tech is an area where the Nissan Altima really shines. The sedan’s safety features include standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and driver alertness monitor. Rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, and rear automatic braking are standard on all Altimas but S trim models. The available ProPILOT Assist helps drivers stay centered in the lane, navigate stop-and-go traffic, maintain a set vehicle speed, and maintain a set distance to the vehicle ahead. It is standard on the SL and Platinum trims and optional on the SV. Traffic sign recognition is standard on the SL and Platinum, too. The Altima’s back seat has three child safety seat tether anchors, and the LATCH system is standard as well.

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Interior Accommodations & Cargo Space

The Altima sedan’s low cowl and open dash contribute to a feeling of roominess. It offers an ample amount of passenger space for five adults with an interior volume of 100.8 cubic feet. That’s virtually the same as the 2022 Toyota Camry, while the 2022 Honda Accord and 2022 Hyundai Sonata offer about five more cubic feet of passenger volume. The Altima’s sizable and easily accessible trunk has 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly larger than the Camry and about a cubic foot or so smaller than the Accord and Sonata. Numbers aside, the Altima interior is very comfortable and well-suited to everyday commuting and lengthy cross-country drives. It will also hold its head up on twisty mountain roads.

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Fuel Economy

The Altima’s fuel economy compares well to the other key players in the segment. Fuel economy for the front-drive 2.5-liter four-cylinder-powered Altima S is 28 mpg in the city, 39 mpg on the highway, and 32 mpg combined. In the SV, 2.5 SR, and SL, the EPA ratings are 27 mpg city/37 mpg highway/31 mpg combined. With all-wheel drive, those numbers drop by about 1 mpg across the three driving types. The 2.5 Platinum is all-wheel-drive only, and its fuel economy is 25 mpg city/35 mpg highway/29 mpg combined. The 2.0-liter VC-Turbo in Altima 2.0 SR, offers fuel economy of 25 mpg city/34 mpg highway/29 mpg combined. In comparison, the base Honda Accord is rated at 30 mpg city/38 mpg highway/33 mpg combined. The Camry offers 28 mpg city/39 mpg highway/32 mpg combined, the same as the Altima.

Photo by Nissan

Trim Levels

Nissan says it offers the Altima in nine trim levels, but that counts both front-drive and all-wheel-drive versions of some trims as two separate models. It might be clearer to view the lineup as five different trim levels: S, SR, SV, SL and Platinum. All five are equipped with the 2.5-liter engine. The S is front-drive only while the SR, SV, and Sl trim offer all-wheel-drive as optional. The Platinum is only available with all-wheel-drive. The outlier in the lineup is the performance-oriented VC-T SR with the 248-horsepower 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine. As you would expect with all the choices of trim and drive wheels, the differences between the trims are nuanced and stair-stepped. An S trim version provides excellent basic transport, but the higher you climb on the ladder, the plusher things get. For the high-thrill quotient, the SR is the ticket. The Platinum is the ultimate Altima trim for most buyers with all-wheeldrive and comfort and convenience features galore.

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Pricing & Value

In a sea of mid-size sedans that are in many ways pretty much the same, Nissan is reaching out with the technical wizardry of the VC-Turbo. If performance is your thing, the VC-Turbo SR starts at $31,000 plus a $1,025 destination fee. The Platinum with all-wheel drive and lots of content has a base price of $34,350 plus the destination charge. The base Altima 2.5 S has an MSRP of $24,650 plus the destination charge. Most Altima buyers will be in the middle. A well-equipped front-drive SV trim has a base price of $25,650. A better-equipped front-drive SL starts at $30,090 plus the destination fee. While the market has turned increasingly to crossovers, the Nissan Altima still gives sedan buyers an attractive choice.

Photo by Nissan