The sixth-generation Nissan Altima was introduced in 2019 and received its mid-cycle refresh in 2023. As a midsize sedan, it competes with the Toyota Camry, the Honda Accord, the Hyundai Sonata, and the Kia K5. The 2026 Nissan Altima has two trims, SV and SR, and two special package options, the SV Special Edition and the SR Midnight Edition.
2026 Nissan Altima Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Nissan Altima
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Nissan Altima
As the Nissan Altima enters what is likely its last model year, the 2026 model carries over with minor changes. The base S and top-tier SL trims have been dropped, and the entire lineup centers around the SV and SR trims. The other two notable changes for this model year are that the 12.3-inch touchscreen is now standard on the SR and an SR Midnight Edition has been added to the lineup.
Design
The Altima has a handsome but bland exterior, with a distinctive Nissan nose and attractive 17-inch wheels. They're standard on both SV trims, with 19-inch wheels available, while the SR upgrades to 19-inch alloys. While there are no appearance packages per se, the special packages on the SV and SR trims add some visual differences. The SV Special Edition includes gloss black wheels, a rear spoiler, and a carbon-fiber appearance on the center console. The SR Midnight Edition adds black exterior accents, black wheels, and a black roof.
Powertrain
The 2026 Altima is equipped with a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that delivers 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard, and all-wheel drive (AWD) is available on all trims. FWD models get 26 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, and AWD models get 25 mpg and 33 mpg respectively.
Interior
As a midsize sedan, the 2026 Altima seats five and has a 15.4-cubic-foot trunk. Standard seating surfaces are cloth, but leather is available. Nissan’s super comfy Zero Gravity seats are standard in the front, and features such as heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are available. A moonroof is optional on the SV and SR trims, but comes standard on the SV Special Edition and SR Midnight Edition.
Technology
The base SV Altima comes with an 8-inch screen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. A 12.3-inch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is available with the SV and standard from the SV Special Edition. The 2026 Altima has two standard USB ports and four additional ports are available. Other available tech features include a wireless phone charger, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a Bose premium audio, NissanConnect Services, app access, and remote engine-start.
Safety
One of the great things about the 2026 Nissan Altima is the level of standard safety tech on the base SV trim. It includes the likes of front and rear automatic braking, front pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high-beam headlights, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and rear parking sensors. Available safety features include adaptive cruise control and 360-degree camera views. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the 2026 Nissan Altima an overall five out of five stars safety rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) hadn’t crash-tested the 2026 Altima at the time of writing, but the 2025 model was a mixed bag of good, marginal, and poor crash test scores.
Pricing and Release Date
The 2026 Nissan Altima went on sale at the end of 2025. At the time of writing, Nissan listed the base price for the SV at $28,825, and the Special Edition Package will add $1,300. The SR trim starts at $30,575, and the Midnight Edition Package adds $2,000. Prices include a $1,245 destination charge and AWD adds $1,500 to the bottom line. Nissan offers Altima buyers extra-cost premium paint colors and a two-tone paint option for the SR. Outside of that, there are some wheel options on the SR trim and available SV and SR Premium packages that add more tech and comfort features.
