Nissan Altima

Reliable daily transport, reasonable running costs, and enough features to keep the family comfortable on a long drive from Riyadh to Qassim.

• The 2.5-liter direct-injection engine puts out 188 hp and 244 Nm of torque. The numbers look familiar, but the engine feels better in real use than the spec sheet suggests. It is refined and quiet during city driving.
• The Xtronic CVT transmission is smooth in traffic, and the Altima earns its trust as a comfortable highway car. The Zero Gravity seats allow you to arrive without feeling like you have been sitting for hours.
• Fuel efficiency is officially rated at 16.6 to 17.6 km per liter combined. However, in real Saudi conditions, with air conditioning running hard in summer, expect closer to 14 to 15 km per liter.

Some Realities

• The CVT transmission, while smooth, removes any feeling of connection between driver and car. Acceleration is adequate but not exciting. Clearly, this is a sedan built for comfort, not performance.
• There is only front-wheel drive available in Saudi Arabia. 
• No all-wheel-drive option exists locally, though it is offered in other markets. For most Saudi buyers, this is not a problem at all, but it is worth knowing.

• The ProPILOT system on SV and SL trims is practical and well implemented. On the highway, it maintains a set distance from the car ahead and keeps the Altima centered in its lane. On long intercity drives, this reduces fatigue meaningfully. It is not autonomous driving, but it is a genuine quality-of-life feature.
• Being a sedan, the ground clearance is around 140 mm, which is fine for city driving but means some caution is needed on sharper speed breakers in residential areas.
• The suspension setup is well suited to our roads and handles rougher surfaces reasonably well.
• The steering is light and easy, and for most situations, effortless in parking lots and tight streets in older city centers.

Things That Matter More

• Road noise is acceptable on standard trims but more noticeable on the SR with its larger 19-inch wheels.
• The Bose audio system with active noise cancellation on the SL helps mask this, which is partly why buyers who can afford the SL often say it feels like a different car.
• Visibility from the driver’s seat is good to the front and sides. The A-pillars are not excessively thick, which matters when turning through roundabouts. The 360-degree camera on the SL makes parking straightforward.

• At the base level, you get an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, manual climate control, fabric seats, and keyless entry with push-button start. Cruise control, six airbags, and forward emergency braking come standard even here, which makes the entry price feel genuinely reasonable.
• On the higher trims, it gains 19-inch wheels with a sportier exterior look, paddle shifters, and a sport-tuned suspension. You also get the 12.3-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with ProPILOT driver assist. Leather seats, the 9-speaker Bose audio system with active noise cancellation, the Intelligent Around View Monitor with a 360-degree camera, memory seats, and a moonroof are included.
• The Zero Gravity seats deserve a mention. Nissan offers these with the goal of reducing driver fatigue, and on long intercity drives, you truly feel the difference. This is worth paying attention to during your test drive.
• The boot offers 517 liters, which handles most family needs. The rear seat is comfortable for two adults, though three across becomes snug on longer trips.

What is Missing

• Rear passengers do not get air vents on lower trims.
• The climate controls on most trims sit inside the touchscreen, which means changing the temperature requires looking away from the road. Physical knobs would be better, and some rivals still offer them.
• Rear legroom is decent but not the best in class.
• Some interior plastic surfaces on the lower portions of the dashboard and door cards feel cheap for a car priced in this range. The top parts feel premium; the lower sections tell a different story.

• All Altima trims sold in Saudi Arabia come with six airbags, ABS, electronic stability control, traction control, hill start assist, and tire pressure monitoring. Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane departure warning are all standard across the range. That is a strong safety package even on the entry S trim.
• The SV and SL add ProPILOT, which combines adaptive cruise control with lane centring assist on the highway. The SL adds the Intelligent Around View Monitor with moving object detection, which is very practical for tight city parking.

Things to Consider

• Nissan does not publish Euro NCAP or ANCAP crash test results for Middle East specifications. Independently verified crash data would help buyers compare more confidently.
• The warranty in Saudi Arabia covers three years, with unlimited mileage for the first two years, then up to 100,000 km in the third year. Service support through Petromin and authorized dealers covers Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Makkah, Madinah, and smaller cities across the Kingdom.
• Resale value for the Altima is solid relative to newer or less proven brands. It may not match the Toyota Camry, but it is still strong overall, given Nissan’s reputation. If you finance through Murabaha or Ijara and plan to sell after three to four years, the Altima will not disappoint you the way some newer entrants might.