The Nissan Altima brings optional all-wheel-drive and some of the most comfortable seats anywhere to the affordable midsize sedan brawl. But that’s a fight full of well-designed cars, so it currently sits in last place on our list of the Best Midsize Cars.
Nissan won’t have that. The Altima has undergone an extensive refresh (though not a complete redesign) to make it more competitive for the 2023 model year.
Nissan hasn’t announced pricing yet. The 2022 model starts at $24,900, plus $1,025 shipping and handling. Most cars are seeing a price increase for 2023 thanks to supply chain concerns and the increased cost of shipping parts, so we expect to see that price go up.
Makeover Up Front
Visual changes are limited to the front of the car, but they’re dramatic, anyway. The grille has been enlarged. It’s wider, taller, and stretches to the lower lip, essentially eliminating the front bumper (visually – the car can still bump into curbs at low speed without damaging critical components).
What used to be a U-shaped chrome grille surround is now just strakes beside the big maw. It’s a look more common to the luxury classes and does a lot to dress up the Altima. On sporty SR models, those chrome surrounds are darkened.
Angular new LED headlights are standard. Every trim gets distinct new wheel designs.
New Infotainment Tech
In the cabin, the big change is a new infotainment screen. The base S model gets the same 8-inch model as before. But optional on the SV and standard on SR, SL, and SR VC-Turbo editions is a new 12.3-inch display that’s among the biggest in its class.
Wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and a Wi-Fi hotspot come with the big screen.
Upgraded Safety Systems
Standard safety equipment includes front and rear automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot warning, rear-cross traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. Nissan’s ProPilot Assist system is standard on the Altima SL and SR VC-Turbo, and optional on SV. It adds intelligent cruise control and lane-centering.
The 2023 Nissan Altima is set to go on sale this fall.
