2023 Nissan Altima

A few automakers are still betting on the mid-size sedan format, despite SUVs now being the top-selling vehicles on the US market. There is a new Honda Accord, while a new Toyota Camry is due soon; they're both competitors for the new 2023 Nissan Altima we review here, which is, of course, not a new car anymore because this sixth-gen car has been around since 2019. Nissan is now doing a revamp and cosmetic redesign for 2023, upping the feature and driver-assist count. It's still powered by the same 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine - with a 2.0-liter turbocharged variable-compression motor available - just as before, with outputs of 188 and 248 horsepower, respectively. Even in a dwindling market segment with fewer rivals, last year's Altima wasn't among the frontrunners in the class, so have the changes done enough to boost its prominence against such popular nameplates as the Camry and Accord, or is it destined to get a participation award again?

Starting at $25,490, the base price for the 2023 Nissan Altima S trim in its sole FWD guise makes the cheapest of the trim levels sound value against its more expensive Japanese rivals. Next up is the SV trim at $26,290, while the SR will cost you $27,690, and the luxurious SL, $32,190. The most expensive SR VC-Turbo costs $35,190. The SV, SL, and SR trims are each available with optional AWD for an additional $1,500, while the base S and top SR VC-Turbo are offered with FWD only. These prices are MSRP for the Nissan Altima and don't include the destination fee of $1,095.

The Altima does a convincing imitation of a sporty drive, even if that is not the first priority for a family sedan. The standard suspension setup is comfortable enough to isolate passengers from undulations, yet maintain excellent cornering grip. These characteristics are complemented by a progressive brake-pedal response and precise power steering that has not been made artificially heavy in an effort to provide more feel - a ploy that often doesn't work anyway.

The SR trims step things up with sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch wheels which do improve handling but take things a step too far and impart a harsh ride on broken tar. It's a shame then that the more powerful 248-horsepower VC-Turbo engine can only be had in SR, because it is punchy and gives the Altima lively performance. Our sole reservation is that the CVT's tuning doesn't make the most of the engine. Oh, that CVT. Also present in the other trims with the base 2.5-liter engine, the incessant droning that has been all but tuned out by automakers such as Honda is present and accounted for here, and it's a letdown, given the decent handling potential of the car.

The changes to the 2023 Nissan Altima are not meaningful enough to push it up the pecking order, and despite value pricing, it's not truly a contender for the throne. It's starting to feel its age now, and a truly satisfying driver's car remains absent from the range because the turbocharged engine's availability is restricted to the harsh-riding SR VC-Turbo. The base engine combined with the comfortable suspension in the other trims produces a lot of droning and limp acceleration. You just can't have the best of both worlds here. Despite the good fuel economy, rivals such as the Accord offer even more frugal hybrids, something the Altima doesn't have an answer for. With the Maxima now on its last legs, the Altima will soon be the last mid-sized Nissan sedan left. Neither the Accord nor Camry will be losing any sleep over it.

We'd have loved to opt for the punchy 2.0L turbo in the SR VC-Turbo, but that trim's harsh ride is irritating on a daily basis and it's not much use in the Snow Belt due to its FWD-only setup. The SV seems to make a lot of sense, because it gets a better infotainment system than the S, with smartphone integration and a bigger screen, while its access to plenty of extras makes it a blank canvas you can spec as you like. Equipped with the $2,390 Premium package, it has everything sensible you could want in an Altima, including most of the top trims' driver assists and the big infotainment screen. The only notable things you really miss out on are the leather seats and surround-view camera.