How much does the 2020 Nissan Altima cost?

Prices have softened 9.85% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 2,620 listings available, which suggests you have room to compare options before you buy.

If you find a listing below $14,470.19, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2020 Nissan Altima a good car?

Yes — the 2020 Nissan Altima earns a 4.8/5 user rating and a 7.33/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Technology at 9/10.

Owners consistently praise its comfort, fuel efficiency, and easy-to-use technology, and they also like the strong feature content and smooth ride. The review summary also points to value for the price as a recurring positive theme.

On the other hand, the expert notes call out poor value for money and say advanced safety features are not standard across the lineup. That means you get a well-rounded sedan, but you should pay close attention to trim and equipment if safety tech matters to you.

For you, that makes the Altima a practical pick if you want a traditional midsize sedan with broad appeal, easy tech, and a balanced driving feel. It also shows 23.7% good or great deals, so there are still some attractive listings if you shop carefully.

Is the 2020 Nissan Altima reliable?

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

The owner feedback highlights a dependable-feeling ownership experience, with praise for comfort, fuel efficiency, and a trouble-free, easy-to-live-with character. Reviewers also describe it as a car they can count on for everyday use, especially when you value a smooth ride and useful features.

The expert notes reinforce that sense of durability by describing the Altima as agreeable in everyday driving and well suited to routine use. That said, used buyers should still watch for wear on higher-mileage examples and verify maintenance history before committing.

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

At 61.3% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the car has been in a prior collision. Focus on body condition, panel alignment, tire wear, and whether the safety and driver-assistance systems function as expected.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The lineup includes base S, sporty SR, SV, SL, and Platinum trims. The base trim is the one most likely to leave out some of the more desirable safety equipment, so you should compare feature content carefully before assuming two listings are equivalent.
• Powertrain: Most models use a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with up to 188 horsepower and a CVT, and AWD is available with that setup. A turbocharged 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine is also offered, delivering 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel, but it is limited to SR and Platinum and is not available with AWD.
• Safety package: Nissan Safety Shield 360 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. On the S trim, only forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking are standard, while the rest are optional.
• 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 NissanConnect Services.
• Fuel efficiency: The VC-Turbo is rated at 29 mpg in combined driving, and the expert notes say the engine is designed to balance V6-like power with 4-cylinder efficiency.

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 entry point, and it gives you the core Altima experience with the standard 2.5-liter engine, easy-to-use tech, and the basic safety setup. It makes sense if you want the lowest-cost way into the model, but you should check whether the optional safety package is included.
• SR: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds the more complete safety package as standard and is also the gateway to the VC-Turbo engine. It also gets sports suspension tuning, so it suits you if you want a more engaging Altima without jumping all the way to the top trim.
• SV: This is the middle-ground choice if you want a more upscale feel than the S without chasing the sportier SR or the luxury-oriented upper trims. It should appeal if you want a balanced daily driver with broader equipment.
• SL: This trim moves you closer to a more premium Altima experience, making it a good fit if comfort and convenience matter more than keeping the price as low as possible.
• Platinum: This is the most fully equipped version, and the test-drive notes show it with 19-inch wheels and extra appearance and convenience touches. Choose it if you want the richest feature set and are willing to pay for it.

The safety-package setup is important here: the full Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite is standard on SR and higher, while the S trim 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 with some leverage if you compare listings carefully.

• Deal availability: 23.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 2,620 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 9.85% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 61.3% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $14,470.19, 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 $14,476 sits slightly below last year's $16,058.

That price movement suggests the Altima has already absorbed a meaningful amount of depreciation, which can help future sellers if they buy at the right price. If you shop near the lower end of the current range, you reduce the risk of taking an immediate hit on value.

The model’s broad appeal, comfort, and strong owner satisfaction can help support demand when it’s time to sell. Still, resale will depend heavily on trim, mileage, condition, and whether the car has a clean history.

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?

It earns a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS.

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

Nissan Safety Shield 360 is the main safety suite, 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. On the base S trim, only forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking are standard, while the rest are optional.

The expert notes also point to ProPilot Assist, which adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-centering assistance. The caveat is that the system can be irritating and hard to trust in real-world use, so you should treat it as a convenience feature rather than a reason to skip a careful test drive.

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:

• 23.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 61.3% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 9.85% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.8/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• Nissan Safety Shield 360 is more widely available, with the full suite standard on SR and higher.

Consider the 2019 if:

• At $13,818, the 2019 costs less than the current year's $14,476 average.
• It launched the redesign and feels more upscale than the previous Altima.

Consider the 2021 if:

• At $16,544, the 2021 costs more than the current year's $14,476 average.
• It adds available all-wheel drive and wireless smartphone integration.

The bottom line: If you want the best balance of price and modern equipment, the 2020 is the smart default. If you’re especially price-sensitive, the 2019 can save you money, while the 2021 makes sense if you want the newer feature set and are willing to pay more.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 28, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.