Rental Car Review: 2025 Nissan Altima
It has been a few years since the last time we drove one. A vehicle that is still relevant today. And will still be available for the 2027 model year.
There were spins on the Rental Car Roulette wheel that would land on some unwanted vehicles. Some that have been discontinued. Others had terrible track records on quality reliability, and driving experience.
This time around, the spin landed on a vehicle that was almost discontinued for 2026. There had been a stay of execution for the 2027 model year in the USA – or so we heard.
It has been a few years since the last time we drove one. A vehicle that is still relevant today, as long as people were still buying sedans. That is perhaps the reason for its continuation for 2027.
It all serves as a reminder of our pick of this rented 2025 Nissan Altima SV. The mid-size family sedan is very much alive and well.
What attracts people to the this generation of the Altima is its sleek, lower profile. They employ a floating roof design that gives it a cool vibe. The front end sits lower with the grille sharing space between two narrow headlamp units full of LED lighting. The trunk lid opens to the bumper, while housing half of the horizontal LED taillamps. Our SV rental adds a set of 17-inch alloy wheels.
Another positive aspect of the current generation Altima is the engaging driver environment full of easy-to-read analog and digital instrumentation and controls that are also easy to use and good to the touch. The simplified climate control system bridges the center stack and the console, as it flows to a nice, short shifter. A free-standing tablet-like eight-inch infotainment screen tops the center of the dashboard. Smartphone mirroring can only be done through an USB-A or C cord. Models above this grade add a wireless connection. You also have six speakers of sound throughout the cabin.
Cloth seating is prominent in our SV rental. The front seats themselves are very comfortable and supportive. Not to mention that there is plenty of space of plenty of drivers behind the wheel. Rear seat room is great for adults even with the low roof line.
There is 15.4 cubic feet of trunk space available. It is also expandable with the rear seatbacks folded down. There is a slight step-down off the rear bumper for loading larger items, such as suitcases.
For 2025, only a 188-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine powers the Altima lineup. It is connected to an Xtronic continuously variable transmission driving the front wheels. They dropped the VC-Turbo that model year.
Nissan has been working on their Xtronic CVTs for a while. This one works, even at around 48,000 miles. I say that because I wonder about the durability of these transmissions iver time. The power delivery is smooth and can manage highway maneuvers very well. Around town, it yielded no problems. Fuel economy was astounding, achieving 37.0 MPG in our care.
The lower center of gravity certainly helped to keep this rented Altima planted. The ride was very balanced – not too soft nor firm. It also does a great job handling rougher road conditions. The Altima also corners very well and can manage evasive maneuvers with ease.
We found the steering system on the Altima very good, with a tight turning radius and great response to the road. On-center feel is solid and steering wheel weight is excellent, instilling confidence and control from the driver’s seat. We also like the brakes with its great pedal feel and stopping power. We enjoyed solid stops in normal and panic situations.
When new, the 2025 Nissan Altima SV with front-drive was priced at $29,175. Current 2026 models with similar equipment is also priced at $29,275. There is no information about pricing for the 2027 model at this time.
Nissan is mounting a rebound with an emphasis on improving quality overall. The product renewal program is also underway, with the 2027 Rogue e-Power Hybrid arriving by the end of this year. Retaining the Altima in their lineup is a smart move, considering that sedan sales are on the rise. Even without a hybrid, the Altima is a solid contender in the mid-size class.
It still is.
DISCLAIMER: Vehicle rented by Victory & Reseda – our opinions are of our own.
All photos by Randy Stern