Best family car overall 2009 Honda Accord *Est. $20905
Best budget family car 2009 Hyundai Sonata *Est. $18700
"Fun to drive" family sedan 2009 Mazda6 *Est. $18550
Large family car 2009 Toyota Avalon *Est. $27845

See All Family Cars

2009 Nissan Altima

*Est. $19,900 to $29,380

Reviewed April 2009

Agile and responsive handling
Good acceleration with either engine
Comfortable ride quality
High resale value
Good fuel economy

Not quite as reliable as some rivals
Love-it-or-hate-it transmission
V-6 takes pricey premium gas
Electronic stability control isn't standard
Smaller back seat than other top sedans
Loaded versions are expensive

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Our Analysis

Some very credible sources rate the Nissan Altima among the very best family cars, while others -- just as credible -- place it way down the list. The reason? Critics have vastly different opinions about the Altima's fuel-miser transmission and its price tag. The Altima is one of three cars, along with the Honda Accord (*est. $20,905 to $28,955) and Mazda6 (*est. $18,550 to $28,465), that reviewers usually recommend if you're looking for something a little sportier than the average midsize family sedan.

The Nissan Altima starts in the same general price range as both the Mazda and Honda. But Motor Trend notes that the Altima's price skyrockets as you add options, which Nissan usually bundles into costly packages. "In many cases, to get one item you want, you have to buy a package with many things you don't," Motor Trend says. For example, electronic stability control, which studies show is important in preventing accidents, doesn't come standard on automatic-transmission Altimas (unlike most highly-rated family sedans). If you want it on your Altima 3.5 SE (*est. $25,180), you'll have to add a $1,490 "sport package" that also includes xenon headlights, fog lights and a spoiler. If you want it on the top-level Altima 3.5 SL (*est. $29,380), it will cost you an extra $2,600 by the time you add all of the necessary packages.

Motor Trend awards the Nissan Altima seventh place in a head-to-head test of 10 family sedans. "Steepest sticker, yet not the best ride, performance or value," editors say. "Fully loaded, it still seems lacking." MotherProof.com's Courtney Messenbaugh can't quite put her finger on what's wrong with the Altima, either. "Nice, but no sparks, and I'm not dying to see it again," she concludes. William C. Montgomery at TheTruthAboutCars.com blames the Altima's continuously variable transmission. It does its job of maximizing the Altima's fuel economy, but Montgomery says the CVT also drains the Altima of its power and fun. "Many drivers will flock to (the Altima) peacefully unaware that power reaches the wheels by way of a soul-sapping rubber band," he writes in his review of the Mazda6, which he finds much more fun to drive than the Altima.

Other reviewers love the Nissan Altima's CVT, finding it smooth and responsive, although Cars.com finds it bogs the engine at low speeds. Some of the best experts find the Altima beats its main competitors -- the Accord and Mazda6 -- in actual driving performance. However, even some of those say the Accord is more well-rounded and a better family car overall. The Nissan Altima's reliability record is just average, compared with the very reliable Honda Accord. The Altima's safety ratings are mostly good, but some cheaper sedans such as the Ford Fusion (*est. $19,270 to $27,675) perform better in crash tests. While some testers find the Altima roomy enough for five, others note that its 60/40 split folding rear bench is a bit tighter than other midsize sedans'.

The Altima offers two gasoline engine choices (a hybrid is also available, covered in our separate report on hybrid cars). The entry-level Nissan Altima 2.5 (*est. $19,900) comes with a 175-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and the CVT. The Altima 2.5 S (*est. $21,040) adds more standard features (such as push-button ignition and keyless entry) and makes the CVT optional; a six-speed manual transmission is standard. Either choice delivers a class-leading 26 mpg in mixed driving (23 mpg city/32 mpg highway with the manual, 23 mpg city/31 mpg highway with the CVT), according to federal estimates. That's two mpg better than the four-cylinder, automatic-transmission versions of the Accord and Mazda6, although real-world tests don't find that much difference between the three cars' fuel economy.

Upper-level Nissan Altimas come with a more powerful, 270-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine. The Altima 3.5 SE (*est. $25,180) offers the manual transmission or the optional CVT, plus extra standard features including traction control, heated mirrors and automatic headlights. The Nissan Altima 3.5 SL (*est. $29,380), which includes leather seats and a moonroof, is offered only with the CVT. Basic warranty protection on all Altima models is three-years/36,000-miles.

We looked at a wide array of expert reviews to find out the consensus opinion on the Nissan Altima. As usual, Consumer Reports' unbiased tests are the gold standard, but smaller head-to-head comparisons at Motor Trend and TheTruthAboutCars.com are nearly as thorough. We found crash-test data for the Altima at two different agencies, and we found three environmental agencies with slightly different perspectives on the Altima's fuel economy. Other reviews of the Altima are less extensive or authoritative, but they provide the variety of opinions necessary to get a clear picture of the Nissan Altima.

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Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

Consumer Reports tests almost every family sedan on the market, including the Nissan Altima. Experts rate the cars on everything from performance to safety. Charts allow readers to find the best cars easily.

Review: Nissan Altima, Editors of ConsumerReports.org

2. Motor Trend Details/Subscribe

The Nissan Altima ranks seventh in this head-to-head test of 10 base-model family sedans. Editors say that even with its relatively expensive price, the Altima is no better than some cheaper sedans.

Review: The Familial and Frugal: Four-Cylinder Midsize Sedan Comparison Test, Editors of Motor Trend, June 2008

3. The Truth About Cars

The Nissan Altima finishes just barely behind the first-place Mazda6 in this comparison test. The Altima loses ground because of its continuously variable transmission, which William Montgomery says saps power.

Review: Comparison Test/Review: Second Place: 2009 Nissan Altima 2.5 S, William C. Montgomery, Oct. 29, 2008

4. SaferCars.gov

The Nissan Altima earns perfect scores in front and rear government crash tests. It earns four stars out of five for rollover potential.

Review: 5-Star Safety Ratings, Editors of SaferCar.gov

5. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

The Nissan Altima is not among the safest cars in its class, according to crash tests conducted by the nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Altima's rear crash protection, though "acceptable," isn't as good as that of the Honda Accord or other Top Safety Picks. IIHS also notes that electronic stability control (which studies show is important for avoiding crashes) is only optional on the Altima.

Review: Midsize Moderately Priced Cars, Editors of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

6. FuelEconomy.gov

This chart shows fuel-economy estimates for dozens of midsize cars, including all versions of the Nissan Altima. Unlike other sources, the Environmental Protection Agency doesn't include the Nissan Altima's gasoline version on its list of the most fuel-efficient midsize cars, which is dominated by hybrids.

Review: 2009 Midsize Cars, Editors of FuelEconomy.gov

7. GreenerCars.com

The nonhybrid Nissan Altima earns a spot on GreenerCars.org's Best Vehicles list, which is dominated by hybrids and compact sedans. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy takes both pollution and fuel economy into account in its rankings.

Review: The Best Vehicles by Class: 2009 -- Midsize Cars, Editors of GreenerCars.org

8. NWautos

The Nissan Altima is the only nonhybrid midsize sedan to make NWautos' list of Most Fuel-Efficient Sedans. Picks are based on EPA fuel-economy estimates.

Review: 2009's Most Fuel-Efficient Sedans, Editors of NWautos, Nov. 11, 2008

9. ConsumerGuide.com

The Nissan Altima isn't one of ConsumerGuide.com's Recommended midsize cars. Like other reviewers, experts here find the Altima costs more than the competition, but it's not any better. Testers rate the Altima against a "class average" in 11 categories such as fuel economy and value.

Review: 2009 Nissan Altima: Road Test, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com

10. MotherProof.com

Like the reviewers at Motor Trend, "mom tester" Courtney Messenbaugh finds the Nissan Altima nice, but nothing special. She tests the 2008 Altima (largely unchanged for 2009) with her newborn and two-year-old and reports on how well it accommodates kids, along with the usual evaluations of comfort, drivability, etc.

Review: Midsize Sedan Has a Nice Personality, Courtney Messenbaugh, Nov. 2007

11. Kelley Blue Book

The Nissan Altima is one of Kelley Blue Book's top recommended sedans for 2009. This brief review packs a lot of information about the Altima's drive feel, features and more.

Review: 2009 Nissan Altima Review, Editors of Kelley Blue Book

12. Globe and Mail

The Nissan Altima wins this comparison of six top family sedans. Reviewer Jeremy Cato says the Altima combines "style, handling, fuel economy, price (including incentives) and resale value."

Review: Comparing Mid-Size Sedans, Jeremy Cato, Jan. 22, 2009

13. Cars.com

Cars.com names the Nissan Altima a Best Bet for 2009, but no full review is provided -- just a short list of pros and cons.

Review: 2009 Nissan Altima, Editors of Cars.com

14. J.D. Power and Associates

The Nissan Altima's reliability is average overall, although its powertrain reliability is below average, according to this owner survey. Scores are based on 2009 surveys of owners who bought their cars in 2006. You can click on the Ratings tab to find out how each of the 17 models in this chart scores in other categories.

Review: 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study -- Midsize Car, Editors of J.D. Power and Associates