The 2022 Nissan Altima is a wholly competent mid-size sedan that fills the void between the less and more desirable alternatives in the segment. The Nissan isn’t as holistically excellent as the Honda Accord nor is it as ho-hum as the VW Passat. Instead, the Altima is notable for its attractive styling, comfortable cabin, and surprising athleticism.
Its available all-wheel-drive system is a popular option, even though its added capability is far from necessary. All-wheel-drive, however, is only compatible with the Altima’s unremarkable standard four-cylinder powertrain—so those buyers also tempted by the more powerful VC-Turbo engine option are out of luck.
ENGINE AND IMPLEMENTATION
The 2022 Nissan Altima has a standard 188-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that pairs with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The optional turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder makes up to 248 horsepower with premium fuel and also uses the CVT. While Nissan touts the innovative variable-compression technology, only the 2.5-liter engine can be had with all-wheel drive.
The standard four-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive had predictable, albeit unremarkable, acceleration. The engine grew noisier the harder we pressed the gas pedal, but the four-cylinder Camry we tested was equally loud at times.
The VC-Turbo engine makes the Altima significantly quicker. Despite the unconventional turbocharged engine and uncommon all-wheel drive, the Nissan is not as fun to drive as the Accord.
The 2022 Nissan Altima SR receives a sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch wheels that make it more entertaining on twisty sections of the road. However, these upgrades also reduce the ride quality found on regular Altima models.
Surprisingly, the top-of-the-line Platinum model we drove had more cornering grip than the 2019 BMW 330i xDrive we tested. The Nissan also had a comfortable ride that prevented any shudders over the undulating pavement.
Its steering system was precise by family-sedan standards and doesn’t add effort to emulate steering feel. The Altima’s brake pedal had linear feedback and prompt responses to our input.
ENERGY AND REAL-WORLD MPG
The 2022 Nissan Altima doesn’t offer a fuel-saving hybrid or eco-friendly plug-in-hybrid model as do many of its rivals, but its two gasoline engines have lofty fuel-economy ratings and even better real-world results. The base four-cylinder engine has estimated up to 28 mpg city and 39 highway
. However, more expensive models are rated as low as 25 mpg city and 35 highway. With all-wheel drive, models can earn up to 26 mpg city and 36 highway. The VC-Turbo engine is rated at 25 mpg city and 34 on the highway.
On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route—part of our extensive testing regimen—the all-wheel-drive Altima achieved an impressive 41 mpg; the VC-Turbo version recorded a notable 37 mpg. The most fuel-efficient (nonhybrid) Accord and Camry earned 38 mpg and 45 mpg, respectively. For more information about the 2022 Nissan Altima’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
INTERIOR, CONVENIENCE, AND BOOTH
Inside, the 2022 Nissan Altima‘s cabin provides a straightforward dashboard with user-friendly switchgear. Interior materials vary among trim levels, but everything is a significant improvement compared with the previous-generation Altima. Our SV test vehicle had attractive appointments and hard plastics that drew little attention.
The flat-bottomed steering wheel and faux carbon fiber were a bit much here, especially since there are no paddle shifters or selectable drive modes on the SV. Still, the soft armrests made cruising and sitting in traffic more tolerable.
The front seats can accommodate a wide variety of body types, but we felt that the lumbar support was too aggressive. The large back seats were very comfortable with ample legroom. We fit six carry-on bags in the Altima’s trunk and 17 bags total with the rear seats folded.
These numbers matched those of the Camry we tested, but both fell short of the Accord’s 19 bags. Unfortunately, the Nissan’s rear seats don’t fold completely flat and they must be released using handles in the trunk, which is inconvenient. The Altima has decent storage in the front seat, with narrow albeit deep door pockets and a useful tray at the front of the center console.
IN-VEHICLE INFOTAINMENT AND INTERCONNECTIONS
Every 2022 Nissan Altima—except the base model—has a standard 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. The infotainment interface has a customizable main menu but otherwise few personalization options.
While the sound system has useful knobs for volume and tuning, the touchscreen we tested responded slowly to inputs. Along with optional built-in navigation, the Altima’s infotainment system can be upgraded with a Wi-Fi hotspot, as well as a nine-speaker Bose stereo.
PROTECTION AND DRIVER-ASSISTANCE ASPECTS
While every 2022 Nissan Altima has a forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking, SV versions and up have standard blind-spot monitoring, high-beam assists rear cross-traffic alert, and more. Nissan also offers a semi-autonomous drive mode called ProPilot Assist.
For more information about the Altima’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites
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