6 Reasons a Sixth-Gen Nissan Altima Should Be Your Next Car

Shopping smart means getting a great value on a vehicle that’s a perfect fit for your needs. If you want a spacious interior that’s comfortable for you and your passengers, whether those passengers are your friends, coworkers, kids, or rideshare clients, but you don’t need a cavernous cargo area or a lot of ground clearance, then a midsize sedan might just be perfect for you. Sleeker and more fuel-efficient than an SUV, but with more breathing room than a compact car, this body style has a lot to offer.

Of course, not all midsize sedans are the same. Some lack features that you need to truly enjoy your time behind the wheel. For a well-rounded model that provides a great blend of comfort, performance, and convenient tech, find a used Nissan Altima for sale here with the Rusty Wallace Family of Dealerships. Buying a pre-owned model lets you avoid new-vehicle depreciation and get the most bang for your buck.

We know that buying a used vehicle can be tricky. Automakers make it easy to find all of the details about their new models, but digging for which older model years have the exact setup you want can be more difficult. To make things simple in this case, we recommend sticking to the sixth-generation Altima, which first debuted for the 2019 model year and is still being produced today. So, let’s look at six reasons why you should consider taking home a sixth-generation Altima.

#1 – Its Spacious, Comfortable Interior

You should be able to truly enjoy your time on the road, not just be stuck waiting to arrive at your destination. With the sixth-generation Altima, you’ll have everything you and your passengers need to relax and enjoy the ride. To start with, there’s plenty of room for everyone. Generous legroom in the first and second rows lets everyone stretch out and settle in, even taller adults in the back.

The cabin is also airy and quiet. The recent engine options aren’t as noisy as the fifth-generation powertrains (more on those engines later), and Nissan took steps to isolate other noises and vibrations so you can enjoy your music or conversations without distraction. If you want to take peace and quiet to the next level, keep your eye out for a model with active noise cancellation.

#2 – Its Available All-Wheel Drive

The sixth generation introduced a brand-new feature to the Altima: all-wheel drive. With some drivers switching from sedans to SUVs just to get the extra traction that AWD provides, making it easier to drive on unpaved roads and wet streets with confidence, Nissan decided to add this feature as an available option for the very first time for the 2019 model year.

One drawback of AWD is that it uses more fuel, but the setup used by the Altima is an intelligent all-wheel drive system that automatically distributes torque to the rear wheels only when it’s actually needed. Thus, you get fuel-efficient front-wheel drive under ideal conditions and the extra confidence of all-wheel drive when the going gets rough.

#3 – Its Advanced Safety Tech

Even before the sixth generation, the Altima came standard with features like intelligent forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. But the 2019 Altima has a more advanced version of Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 driver assistance suite available, adding some features and improving others to make them work even better than before.

For 2020 models, Safety Shield 360 was made available across the lineup—standard for all trims except the base S, where it was an optional add-on. By the 2023 model, the suite had become truly standard across the entire lineup. Make sure you get an Altima equipped with Safety Shield 360 if you want all of these features:

• Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection
• Rear Automatic Braking
• Lane Departure Warning
• Radar-Based Blind Spot Warning
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• High Beam Assist

#4 – Its Incredible Engine Options

Nissan replaced both available engine options for the Altima’s sixth generation, improving the powertrains across the board. The base engine remained a 2.5L I-4, but with better stats: 188 hp up from 179 hp, 180 lb-ft of torque up from 177 lb-ft, and 32 MPG combined up from 31 MPG. Perhaps even more significantly for daily driving, the newly-tuned engine was much smoother than the outgoing one, getting rid of harsh vibrations for a more pleasant driving experience.

The more powerful engine option received a more dramatic change: Nissan replaced the 3.5L V6 with a 2.0L VC-Turbo I-4, bringing fuel economy from 26 MPG combined to 29 MPG. This engine, which had been in development for twenty years, used advanced systems to generate performance numbers like a V6 (e.g. 248 hp) with only four cylinders.

Across all trims, the Altima also got revised suspension and steering systems. Together, these elements provide better feedback and control for an easier and more engaging driving experience. On the sporty SR trim, this retuning provides a sportier ride and handling so you can make the most of every mile.

#5 – Its Modern Infotainment System

The 2018 Altima offers a solid infotainment system on upper-level trims, but some features that drivers take for granted these days were merely optional on the base S trim. For the sixth generation, the 2019 Altima gained a much-improved entry-level infotainment system, with an easy-to-operate eight-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, a hands-free texting assistant, and, crucially, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You can easily hook your smartphone up to this intuitive system and get access to all of your music, podcasts, and navigation apps on the road.

If you want even more infotainment tech, the 2023 mid-generation refresh brought some upgrades to the table. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone connectivity, a wireless charging pad, and built-in navigation are standard on higher-end trims. Luckily, these premium trims are much easier to access when you’re shopping for a used car, so you can get all the modern tech you need without the expense of buying a brand-new premium trim.

#6 – Its Bold Exterior & Interior Design

The sixth-generation Altima benefits from a wide range of significant improvements: new engines, upgraded safety features, available all-wheel drive, and more. The cherry on top is the car’s new look. The body itself gets some adjustments in its dimensions: it’s lower, longer, and wider. This makes the sedan look more sophisticated and gives it a sleek shape that reduces drag. Instead of the rounded appearance of the 2018 model, the sixth-gen Altima looks bold and athletic thanks to its sharp lines and expressive V-motion grille.

Step inside and you’ll find a cabin that’s full of premium materials and thoughtful styling choices that come together to create an upscale look and feel. While still an affordable model, this version of the Altima feels almost like a luxury car. On top of looking classy, the cabin also feels quite comfortable, especially in models with Nissan’s NASA-inspired Zero Gravity seats, which can prevent fatigue and soreness on long drives.

There’s a Sixth-Gen Altima for Everyone

Clearly, there are a lot of great options to choose from when shopping for a used sixth-gen Altima. Whether you’re looking for something basic or sporty or downright luxurious, there’s something that will suit your needs. When you work with us here at the Rusty Wallace Family of Dealerships, we’ll do everything we can to help you find a used model that’s not just high-quality but perfect for you as an individual. Every driver is unique, and we want to make sure you drive home in your dream car.