Used 2020 Nissan Altima for Sale nearDurham, NC

How much does the 2020 Nissan Altima cost?

Prices have softened 11.14% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 2,581 listings available, which suggests solid inventory for comparison shopping.

Is the 2020 Nissan Altima a good car?

Yes — the 2020 Nissan Altima earns a 4.8/5 user rating, and our experts give it 7.33/10 overall. The standout strength is Technology at 9/10.

Owners consistently praise its comfort, fuel efficiency, and the impressive amount of equipment it offers, especially in the base model. They also like the smooth ride and the value it delivers for the price. On the downside, the expert drive notes that the car’s value proposition is weak relative to rivals, and advanced safety features are not standard across the lineup.

For you, that means the Altima makes the most sense if you want a well-rounded midsize sedan with easy-to-use tech and broad everyday appeal rather than a standout bargain or a class leader in every category. 31.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals, so there are still some attractive opportunities in the market.

Is the 2020 Nissan Altima reliable?

Owners rate it 4.8/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner feedback points to a car that feels dependable in daily use, with praise centered on comfort, fuel efficiency, and a trouble-free ownership experience. The expert drive also emphasizes that the Altima is agreeable in almost every way, which supports the sense that it should be easy to live with over time.

Nissan does not include free scheduled maintenance or a long warranty here, so your long-term ownership risk depends more on how well the specific used car was maintained than on built-in ownership perks.

What should I look for when buying a used 2020 Nissan Altima?

At 60% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle-history report and confirm whether any prior damage was repaired properly. After that, prioritize a pre-purchase inspection so you can check for signs of uneven wear, poor repairs, or lingering issues that may not show up in photos. Focus especially on overall condition, because the market includes a meaningful number of cars with accident history.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The lineup includes base S and sporty SR variants, plus SV, SL, and Platinum. The base S is the one to watch closely because some safety equipment is optional there rather than standard.
• Powertrain: Most models use a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with up to 188 horsepower and a CVT, and AWD is available with that engine. SR and Platinum can also get the VC-Turbo 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, which makes 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet on premium fuel, but it is FWD only.
• Safety package: Nissan Safety Shield 360 is standard on SR and higher, while the base S gets forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking standard and can add the rest of the suite as an option. The package includes pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane departure warning, rear automatic braking, and automatic high-beam assistance.
• Infotainment: The system uses an 8-inch display and includes Bluetooth, a text-messaging assistant, Siri Eyes Free, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Available upgrades include satellite radio, navigation, a 9-speaker Bose audio system, and Nissan Connect Services.
• Fuel efficiency: The VC-Turbo is rated at 29 mpg in combined driving, and the expert drive notes that it averaged 26.2 mpg in testing.

Which 2020 Nissan Altima trim should I buy?

The 2020 Nissan Altima is offered in 5 trim levels: S, SR, SV, SL, Platinum.

Here's the short version:

• S: This is the trim to consider if you want the lowest entry point, but you should pay close attention to its safety-equipment gap because the full Safety Shield 360 package is not standard here.
• SR: This is the best-value choice for many shoppers because it adds the broader safety package as standard and is the gateway to the VC-Turbo engine.
• SV: This trim sits in the middle of the lineup and is a sensible step up if you want a more balanced equipment mix without jumping to the top end.
• SL: This is the more upscale comfort-oriented choice for shoppers who want a richer feature set without going all the way to Platinum.
• Platinum: This is the most fully equipped version, and it is the one to choose if you want the most premium presentation and the available turbo engine together.

Safety-package note: the full Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite is standard on SR and higher, while the base S gets only part of it unless you add the optional package.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2020 Nissan Altima?

This is a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop patiently but still move quickly on the right car.

• Deal availability: 31.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 2,581 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 11.14% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 60.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $14,242, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2020 Nissan Altima's resale value?

The current average of $14,242 sits slightly below last year's $16,028.

That price movement suggests the Altima has already absorbed a meaningful amount of depreciation, which can help future buyers but makes resale less favorable for current owners. If you buy at the right price now and keep the car in strong condition, you may be able to limit further value loss. The model’s broad appeal and owner satisfaction should help support demand, but it is not positioned as a resale standout.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.8/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2020 Nissan Altima safe?

The 2020 Nissan Altima earns a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA.

It earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

Nissan Safety Shield 360 is the key safety suite here, and it includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane departure warning, rear automatic braking, and automatic high-beam assistance. The base S trim gets only part of that package standard, while SR and higher get the full suite.

One caveat is that the expert drive found ProPilot Assist hard to trust, with alerts that could be irritating and lane-centering behavior that required frequent second-guessing.

Should I buy a 2020 Nissan Altima or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2020 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2020 if:

• 31.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 60% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 11.14% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.8/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• Nissan Safety Shield 360 is more widely available this year, making the safety story stronger than before.

Consider the 2019 if:

• At $13,580, the 2019 costs less than the current year's $14,242 average.
• It was all-new and marked a major step forward for the Altima.

Consider the 2021 if:

• At $16,209, the 2021 costs more than the current year's $14,242 average.
• It adds wireless smartphone connectivity and broader modern appeal.

The bottom line: If you want the best balance of price, features, and safety availability, the 2020 is the smart default. If your budget is tighter, the 2019 can save you money, while the 2021 makes sense if you want to pay more for newer tech and can stretch your budget.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 13, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.