2026 Nissan Altima: mileage, fuel cost, safety and recalls
The 2026 Nissan Altima gets 28 to 30 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2026 Altima at 30 mpg.
How the Altima ranks in its class
In the Midsize Cars class for 2026, the Altima ranks 11th of 26 for combined mileage (30 mpg), 10th of 24 for yearly fuel cost ($2,100 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 14th of 26 for tailpipe CO2 (297 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 28 mpg, costs $2,400 a year and puts out 282.5 grams per mile.
Across all 235 2026 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 24 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 234 other models, 50 get more miles per gallon than the 2026 Altima's best version, 9 other models get the same and 175 get less. The 2026 Altima's cheapest version costs $2,100 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 225 other models with a cost figure, 41 cost less, 6 the same and 178 more.
Nearest models in the class (places 8 to 13 of 26)
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2026. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 2026 Kia K4 | 2026 K4 4DR w/ DMS | 33 | $1,900 | 267 |
| 8 | 2026 Nissan Sentra | 2026 Sentra (2-mode) | 33 | $1,900 | 268 |
| 10 | 2026 BMW 5 Series | 2026 530i Sedan | 31 | $2,500 | 133 |
| 11 | 2026 Nissan AltimaThis car | 2026 Altima | 30 | $2,100 | 297 |
| 12 | 2026 Mazda 3 | 2026 3 5-Door 2WD (Automatic (S6)) | 29 | $2,150 | 302 |
| 13 | 2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 2026 E350 | 28 | $2,750 | 115 |
| 13 | 2026 Volvo S90 | 2026 S90 B5 | 28 | $2,750 | 318 |
Your fuel cost
Pick a 2026 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2026 Altima, 4-cyl 2.5 L: 26 mpg city, 36 highway, 30 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 Altima version is $2,100 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
Compare with a rival
The 3 nearest rivals in the Midsize Cars class for 2026, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The Altima costs $424 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the Altima costs $2,120 less to fuel than the 5 Series (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
- 2026 BMW 5 Series
- 2026 Mazda 3
- 2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The Altima against its nearest rivals
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2026 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Altima (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Altima | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 BMW 5 Series | 2026 530i Sedan | 31 mpg | $2,500 | 1 higher | $400 more a year | - |
| 2026 Mazda 3 | 2026 3 5-Door 2WD (Automatic (S6)) | 29 mpg | $2,150 | 1 lower | $50 more a year | - |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 2026 E350 | 28 mpg | $2,750 | 2 lower | $650 more a year | - |
Every version of the 2026 Nissan Altima
EPA test figures for 2026; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Altima | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-wheel | 26 | 36 | 30 | $2,100 | 297 | cheapest |
| 2026 Altima AWD | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | All-wheel | 25 | 33 | 28 | $2,200 | 316 | +$100 |
Does a cheaper-to-fuel 2026 version pay back?
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2026 Altima; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Emissions
Tailpipe CO2: the 2026 Altima puts out 297 grams per mile; across the 2 tested versions the figure runs from 297 to 316.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 Altima: fuel economy score 6 (5 to 6 across versions), greenhouse gas score 6 (5 to 6 across versions).
Mileage by model year
Best combined figure of the Altima gas version each model year since 2016, set against the 2026 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Versions tested | Against 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 31 mpg | 3 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2017 | 31 mpg | 3 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2018 | 31 mpg | 3 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2019 | 32 mpg | 5 | 2 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2020 | 32 mpg | 5 | 2 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2021 | 32 mpg | 6 | 2 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2022 | 32 mpg | 6 | 2 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2023 | 31 mpg | 4 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2024 | 31 mpg | 4 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2025 | 31 mpg | 3 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2026This page | 30 mpg | 2 | this page |
Compared with the 2025 model: 3 versions were tested then and 2 now; the best figure went from 31 to 30 mpg (down 1).
| Version in 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Altima, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 30 mpg | 31 mpg | -1 mpg |
| 2026 Altima AWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 28 mpg | 28 mpg | no change |
1 2025 version has no match in 2026.
Safety record
Crash-test ratings, 2026
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 NISSAN ALTIMA 4 DR N/A AWD | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
| 2026 NISSAN ALTIMA 4 DR N/A FWD | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 1 complaint, 0 recalls, 0 investigations.
Owner complaints, 2026
1 complaint for the 2026 Nissan Altima are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 | |
| Lane Departure | 1 |
0 of the 1 report says the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 0 mention an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Safety recalls
The U.S. safety agency's model list has the 2026 Nissan Altima (as ALTIMA). The U.S. safety agency's database returned no recalls for the 2026 Nissan Altima on 2026-11-14. Recalls can be added later; check your own car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
More Midsize Cars for 2026
Other 2026 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Altima itself is at 30 mpg.
Other Nissan models of 2026
More Nissan models that have a 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
Common questions
Which 2026 Nissan Altima gets the best mileage?
The 2026 Altima with 30 mpg combined (26 city, 36 highway).
How much does a 2026 Nissan Altima cost to fuel for a year?
The 2026 Nissan Altima costs between $2,100 and $2,200 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2026 Altima at $2,100; the dearest is the 2026 Altima AWD at $2,200. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
What mileage does the all-wheel-drive Altima get?
2026 Altima AWD: 28 mpg combined (25 city, 33 highway).
How does the 2026 Nissan Altima rank among 2026 Midsize Cars models?
The 2026 Nissan Altima is 11th of 26 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Toyota Prius at 57 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 28 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2026 BMW 5 Series at 31 mpg and the next one behind is the 2026 Mazda 3 at 29 mpg.
Did the Altima change from 2025 to 2026?
The 2025 model had 3 tested versions and the 2026 model has 2. The best figure went from 31 to 30 mpg (down 1).
How did the 2026 Nissan Altima do in crash tests?
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2026 NISSAN ALTIMA 4 DR N/A AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 5; 2026 NISSAN ALTIMA 4 DR N/A FWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 5. The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
Do owners complain about the 2026 Nissan Altima?
1 complaint for the 2026 Nissan Altima are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Electrical System (1 report). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
Does the 2026 Nissan Altima have recalls?
The agency's database returned no recalls for the 2026 Nissan Altima on 2026-11-14 (its model list has this car). Check your own car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How fresh these numbers are
For the 2026 Nissan Altima: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2026 Nissan Altima: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Nissan Altima: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Nissan Altima: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 Nissan Altima: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.