Used 2021 Nissan Altima for Sale near California

How much does the 2021 Nissan Altima cost?

Prices have softened 8.48% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 2,823 listings available, which gives you a solid amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2021 Nissan Altima a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Nissan Altima earns a 4.88/5 user rating and a 7.17/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Safety at 9/10.

Owners consistently praise its quality, comfort, stylish features, excellent gas mileage, smooth ride, and advanced safety features. In practical terms, that lines up well with an Altima that aims to give you broad appeal, modern features, and a comfortable everyday driving experience.

The main trade-offs are that all-wheel drive is not available with the turbo engine and the stereo is lacking. If you want a sedan that balances practicality with useful tech and a loyal owner base, the Altima fits that brief well.

Good and great deals account for 29.1% of listings, so you still have room to shop selectively.

Is the 2021 Nissan Altima reliable?

Owners rate it 4.88/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner feedback also points to a dependable, trouble-free ownership experience, with praise for quality, comfort, and the kind of steady performance that helps you count on the car day to day. The expert evaluation reinforces that impression by highlighting the Altima’s practical powertrain choices and its generally composed, easygoing character.

If you’re buying used, the main long-term risk is less about the model’s basic appeal and more about finding one that has been maintained well and not worn down by prior use.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Nissan Altima?

At 67.6% 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 any prior collision. Focus on condition, maintenance records, and whether the equipment you want is actually present on the specific trim you’re considering.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base S feels a little stripped-down, while higher trims improve interior materials, add stitching to the dash and seats, and bring better hand feel all around. Standard LED lighting and wheels ranging from 16-inch steel to 19-inch alloy help define the look across the lineup.
• Powertrain: Most versions use a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, while the SR VC-Turbo uses a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with 248 hp and 273 lb-ft. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available on most of the lineup except the base S and the turbo model.
• Safety package: Nissan Safety Shield 360 is standard on every Altima SV and above, and it includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, and high-beam assist. ProPilot Assist is available on upper trims, and the base S misses out on some of the broader safety and tech content.
• Infotainment: The base model gets a 7-inch touchscreen, while other trims use an 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all but S models, and OTA capability is not stated.
• Fuel efficiency: The 2.5-liter engine is rated at 28 mpg city/39 mpg highway/32 mpg combined with FWD and 25 mpg city/35 mpg highway/29 mpg combined with AWD. The VC-Turbo is rated at 25 mpg city/34 mpg highway/29 mpg combined.

Which 2021 Nissan Altima trim should I buy?

The 2021 Nissan Altima is offered in 6 trim levels: S, SV, SR, SR VC-Turbo, SL, Platinum.

Here's the short version:

• S: This is the entry point, but it feels the most stripped-down and misses out on some of the nicer tech and safety content found higher up. It makes sense only if your priority is the lowest starting price.
• SV: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds Nissan Safety Shield 360 and a more complete everyday feature set without pushing too far up the price ladder.
• SR: This is the sweet spot if you want a more appealing mix of equipment and value, with 19-inch alloys and a stronger feature set than the lower trims.
• SR VC-Turbo: Choose this only if you want the more powerful 2.0-liter turbo engine and are willing to give up AWD. It’s the most engaging Altima to drive.
• SL: This is the comfort-and-tech upgrade, adding ProPilot Assist, Bose Premium Audio, and NissanConnect Services. It’s the right pick if you want a more premium daily driver.
• Platinum: This is the most fully equipped version, with 19-inch alloy wheels, around-view monitor, ProPilot Assist, leather seating appointments, and more.

Safety Shield 360 is standard on every Altima SV and above, so that’s the key trim-level safety note to keep in mind.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Nissan Altima?

The market looks moderate and selective, so you can shop carefully without feeling rushed.

• Deal availability: 29.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 2,823 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.48% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 67.6% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $16,260, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Nissan Altima's resale value?

The current average of $16,392 sits slightly below last year's $17,911.

That decline suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you buy at a more favorable point today. For a future seller, it also means you should expect resale value to depend heavily on condition, mileage, and trim choice rather than on broad market momentum alone.

Because the Altima still has strong owner satisfaction and a broad shopper base, well-kept examples should remain easier to move than neglected ones. Higher-trim cars with the right equipment may also hold buyer interest better than bare-bones versions.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.88/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Nissan Altima safe?

The 2021 Nissan Altima earns a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS.

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

Nissan Safety Shield 360 is the named driver-assistance suite, and it includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, and high-beam assist. ProPilot Assist is available on upper trims and adds intelligent forward collision warning, intelligent lane intervention, traffic sign recognition, intelligent driver alertness, and adaptive cruise control.

The main safety caveat is that the broader safety package is not standard across the entire lineup, so you’ll want to confirm the exact trim before you buy.

Should I buy a 2021 Nissan Altima or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 29.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 67.6% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.48% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.88/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It combines available AWD, multiple powertrains, and wireless smartphone integration.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $14,383, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $16,392 average.
• It broadened availability of Safety Shield 360 and improved the safety story.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $17,743, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $16,392 average.
• It expands Midnight Edition availability on the SR with the base engine.

The bottom line: If you want the best balance of price, features, and shopper demand, the 2021 is the primary year to target. If your budget is tighter, the 2020 can save you money while still delivering much of the Altima formula.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 11, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.