The True Cost of Owning a Nissan Altima

Figures checked October 26, 2026

Start with the price you will actually pay

For a representative example, use a 2026 Nissan Altima SV, front-wheel drive, at $27,580 starting MSRP before destination. That is the base trim for 2026: Nissan cut the old S and SL trims, leaving just the SV and the SR, each offered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The SV runs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 188 horsepower and a CVT automatic, seats five, and carries 15.4 cubic feet in the trunk. Destination is $1,275, and it is left out of the worked price and out of depreciation, so the price in the math below is the $27,580 before-destination figure. All-wheel drive is a $1,400 option on the SV, taking it to $28,980, and the SR starts at $29,080 with front-wheel drive, so either of those costs more than this example from the first line. Replace this starting point with a written quote for the exact trim you are considering.

Sedans sell fewer than they used to, and the Altima still moved 93,268 in 2025, which is why it closes out the sedan set here: the Camry, Civic and Corolla doors are already live, and this is the midsize, gas-only, all-wheel-drive-on-the-table member of that set, at its own price and with its own figures. Here is the bottom line first: over five years, this Altima costs about $46,451, or about $774 a month. The loan payment alone is $561 a month. With 10% down ($2,758), 8% APR (the yearly interest rate on the loan) and 60 months, this example finances $27,653 and the loan costs about $5,989 in interest over five years. The payment is about 72% of the average month's true cost, and during the loan years the cash actually going out is the payment plus insurance, fuel and upkeep.

Fuel: 30 mpg combined, everyday gas

The Altima SV with front-wheel drive is rated 30 mpg combined (26 city, 36 highway) on regular gasoline. At 12,000 miles a year that is 400 gallons annually. At the AAA national average regular price of $4.29 a gallon on October 26, 2026, that is about $1,716 a year, $8,580 over five years. Gas prices move, so re-run this line at your local price. The method is in the EV vs. gas guide: miles divided by mpg, times price, times years. All-wheel drive models are rated 28 mpg combined, so an all-wheel drive Altima spends more on fuel than this example.

Depreciation: the biggest bucket, and three published answers

Depreciation is the value a car loses over time, the gap between what you pay and what it is worth later. iSeeCars puts the Altima's five-year value loss at 44.8 percent, so it keeps roughly 55.2 percent of its price. On a $27,580 purchase, plan on a resale value near $15,224 after five years, about $12,356 of depreciation, roughly $206 a month, the largest single cost on this page. That resale figure is a model-level projection, not an observed 2026 resale value, so treat it as a planning assumption, not a forecast. Depreciation here is computed on the $27,580 before-destination figure.

The other published figures are higher. iSeeCars comparison pages put the five-year loss at 47.8 percent instead, which would mean $13,183 of depreciation and a $14,397 resale value, bringing the five-year total to about $47,278. The CarEdge depreciation curve shows a 50.8 percent residual after five years, or 49.2 percent lost, on its own typically equipped base price; applied as a percentage to this SV example that would mean $13,569 of depreciation and a $14,011 resale value, for a five-year total near $47,664. Run a second scenario with resale lower so the decision does not depend on an optimistic used market.

Insurance: a wide range, anchored near $240 a month

Published averages for the Altima spread widely, and this example uses the upper part of that range. Insurify's Nissan model table lists the Altima at $238 a month, and this example uses $238 a month, or $14,280 over five years. Insurify's Altima page itself lists full coverage at $235 a month, close to the table figure. Compare.com averages $180 a month, and CarEdge lists $2,702 a year, or about $225 a month, for a 40-year-old driver with a clean record. These averages cover all model years, not the 2026 alone, and the Insurify model table does not state a coverage level, so a brand-new 2026 may run differently than the $238 used here. Premiums depend heavily on the driver, ZIP code, coverage and insurer, so get a quote on the exact trim with matching deductibles (the amount you pay out of pocket before insurance pays) and limits before treating any average as yours.

Altima maintenance costs: cheaper than the midsize average

RepairPal puts the Altima's annual repair and maintenance cost near $483 a year, and rates the model 4.0 out of 5 for reliability, 11th of 24 midsize cars in its ranking. This example allows $483 a year, or $2,415 all-in, enough for routine service, a set of tires inside five years at 60,000 miles, and a cushion for the wear items that show up as the miles add up. That figure is a model-level average, not a 2026-specific figure. CarEdge puts the first five years lower, at $384 a year, or $1,919 total. Edmunds runs much higher on the 2026 SV, with $4,999 of maintenance plus $744 of repairs over five years; that dealer-schedule figure is not used here, and the gap is stated plainly so the $483 line is not read as settled. The basic warranty is 3 years or 36,000 miles, with a 5-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The full five-year example

Every figure below comes from the site's own calculator math. The stated inputs are: 2026 Nissan Altima SV, front-wheel drive, $27,580 starting MSRP before destination, 10% down ($2,758), 8% APR, 60 months, 7% sales tax, $900 in title and dealer fees, 12,000 miles per year, 30 mpg, $4.29 per gallon regular, $238 per month insurance, $483 per year maintenance, $15,224 resale value after five years.

Depreciation: $12,356 ($27,580 minus $15,224 resale)
Insurance: $14,280 ($238 x 60 months)
Fuel: $8,580 (12,000 / 30 x $4.29 x 5 years)
Maintenance: $2,415 ($483 x 5 years)
Tax, fees and interest: $8,820 ($1,931 sales tax, $900 fees, $5,989 loan interest)
That totals $46,451, or about $774 a month. Notice what that says about the $561 payment: on this vehicle the payment is not the whole story, it is about 72% of the average month's true cost, and during the loan years the cash actually going out is the payment plus insurance, fuel and upkeep.

Formula

The five-year total is the sum of five buckets: depreciation, insurance, fuel, maintenance, and tax, fees and interest. Depreciation is the $27,580 price minus the $15,224 resale value after five years, which is $12,356. Insurance is $238 a month times 60 months, which is $14,280. Fuel is 12,000 miles a year divided by 30 miles per gallon, times $4.29 a gallon, times 5 years, which is about $8,580. Maintenance is $483 a year times 5 years, which is $2,415. Tax, fees and interest is 7% sales tax on $27,580, which is $1,931, plus $900 in title and dealer fees, plus about $5,989 of loan interest, which is $8,820.

Added together, $12,356 plus $14,280 plus $8,580 plus $2,415 plus $8,820 equals $46,451, or about $774 a month. The amount financed is the $27,580 price plus $1,931 sales tax plus $900 in fees, minus the $2,758 down payment, which is $27,653. At 8% APR over 60 months, the payment on $27,653 is $561 a month, and the loan costs about $5,989 in interest over five years.

Thinking past year five

Sedans are often keepers, and that is where the economics can improve: the loan ends at year five, and the depreciation curve (how fast the value drops) flattens. The costs that arrive in years six through ten are the wear-and-repair years: a second tire set, suspension work, and the out-of-warranty items a repair cushion exists for. The keep it 10 years guide shows how to extend this same math honestly.

Shopping the Altima against other sedans? The Car Showdown runs any two vehicles through the same five buckets side by side. Cross-shopping a Camry too? See what a Toyota Camry really costs over 5 years. Cross-shopping a Civic too? See what a Honda Civic really costs over 5 years. Cross-shopping a Corolla too? See what a Toyota Corolla really costs over 5 years. Cross-shopping an Accord too? See what a Honda Accord really costs over 5 years. Cross-shopping a Sentra too? See what a Nissan Sentra really costs over 5 years. And if the value it loses is your biggest worry, the why cars lose value guide explains what drives it.

Calculation transparency

Jurisdiction. United States. Sales tax, titling, registration and insurance rules are set by your state, so your exact numbers depend on where you buy and register the car. The 7% sales tax and $900 in fees in this example are planning figures, not any one state's actual rates.

Rules and time period. Five years, 12,000 miles a year, gas at $4.29 a gallon (AAA national average, October 26, 2026), 8% APR, 60 months, 10% down. The resale value is a planning assumption, not a forecast.

Scope and limitations. Educational estimate only. Insurance and maintenance are planning figures, not quotes. Get a real quote for the same trim, coverage and loan before you decide.

Sources disagree on the Altima's five-year value loss: iSeeCars puts it at 44.8 percent while its comparison pages put it at 47.8 percent, which would mean $13,183 of depreciation and a $14,397 resale value, and the CarEdge curve implies 49.2 percent lost, which would mean $13,569 of depreciation, so the 44.8 percent figure used here is kept as a planning assumption, not as a current reading. Kelley Blue Book lists the same SV at $28,825 including destination, using a $1,245 destination figure, against $28,855 all-in at the $1,275 destination used here, and the example price is kept as printed.

Source links checked November 6, 2026. Figures: Nissan 2026 Altima SV price, $27,580 before destination; EPA combined fuel economy, 30 mpg; Insurify Altima full-coverage average, $235 a month; Compare.com Altima full-coverage average, $236 a month; RepairPal Altima average annual repair cost, $483, reliability 4.0 out of 5; AAA national average regular gas, $4.29 a gallon (October 26, 2026).

Primary sources: Nissan, 2026 Altima; fueleconomy.gov, EPA fuel economy ratings; Insurify, Nissan Altima car insurance; Compare.com, Nissan Altima car insurance; RepairPal, Nissan Altima reliability. How the numbers are calculated is written down on the methodology page, and every source is listed on the sources page.

Definitions

Depreciation. The value a car loses over time, the gap between what you pay and what it is worth later. On this page, the $27,580 price minus the $15,224 resale value after five years, which is $12,356.

Resale value. What the Altima is worth after five years in this example, $15,224. A model-level projection, not an observed 2026 resale value, so treat it as a planning assumption, not a forecast.

APR. Annual percentage rate, the yearly interest rate on the loan. This example uses 8%.

Down payment. The cash paid up front. Here it is 10%, or $2,758.

Destination charge. The fee to ship the car to the dealer. It is $1,275 on the Altima, and it is left out of the worked price and out of depreciation, so the price in the math is the $27,580 before-destination figure.

Combined mpg. The EPA city and highway ratings blended into one figure. It is 30 for the SV with front-wheel drive, 26 in the city and 36 on the highway. All-wheel drive models are rated 28 mpg combined.

Deductible. The amount you pay out of pocket before insurance pays.

SV. The base trim for 2026: Nissan cut the old S and SL trims, leaving just the SV and the SR, each offered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The SV runs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 188 horsepower and a CVT automatic, seats five, and carries 15.4 cubic feet in the trunk.

Questions people actually ask

How much does a Nissan Altima depreciate in 5 years?

About $12,356 on a $27,580 purchase, using iSeeCars 44.8% five-year value loss, leaving a resale value near $15,224. A second published figure, from iSeeCars comparison pages, puts five-year depreciation at 47.8% instead, which would mean $13,183 of depreciation.

What gas mileage does a Nissan Altima get?

The 2026 Altima SV with front-wheel drive is rated 30 mpg combined (26 city, 36 highway). At 12,000 miles a year and the October 26, 2026 AAA national regular average of $4.29 a gallon, fuel runs about $1,716 a year.

How much is insurance for a Nissan Altima?

Published averages put it near $238 a month from Insurify and $180 a month from Compare.com, and this example uses $238 a month, or $14,280 over five years. Your quote will depend on the driver, ZIP code, coverage and insurer.

Is a Nissan Altima expensive to maintain?

No, by midsize sedan standards. RepairPal puts it near $483 a year for repairs and maintenance, rating it 4.0 out of 5 for reliability; this example allows $483 a year, or $2,415 over five years.

Does the Nissan Altima come with all-wheel drive?

Yes. All-wheel drive is a $1,400 option on the SV, taking it to $28,980, and it is also offered on the SR. The example on this page is the front-wheel drive SV at $27,580, so an all-wheel drive Altima costs more than this example from the first line.

Related: See the Hyundai Elantra, the sedan most Altima shoppers also price

Related: See every model with a true cost page

Buying in Texas? Texas adds its own layer to these numbers, a 6.25% sales tax, its own fees, and some of the highest insurance in the country. See the true cost of a car in Texas.

Honest gaps and conflicts on this page: the $27,580 example price is the 2026 SV front-wheel drive starting MSRP before destination, from Nissan's December 15, 2025 pricing, with destination at $1,275, which would make $28,855 all-in; KBB lists the same SV at $28,825 including destination, using a $1,245 destination figure, $30 less all-in, so destination is stated both ways and left out of the worked price and out of depreciation. The 7% sales tax is the site's standard example assumption, not any state's actual rate. Depreciation sources disagree (iSeeCars main page 44.8% loss, iSeeCars comparison pages 47.8% loss, CarEdge curve 49.2% loss on a $32,420 typically equipped base); the worked example uses the iSeeCars main-page figure and the range is shown above, and only the percentages, not the other sources' dollar figures, are comparable to this SV example. Insurance averages cover all model years, no 2026-specific breakout was verified, and Insurify gives two close answers ($238 a month in its Nissan model table versus $235 a month full coverage on its Altima page), while Compare.com averages $180 a month and CarEdge lists $2,702 a year for a 40-year-old with a clean record. RepairPal's $483 a year is a model-level average, not a 2026-specific figure, CarEdge puts the first five years at $384 a year, and Edmunds runs much higher on the 2026 SV at $4,999 of maintenance plus $744 of repairs over five years, which is not used here. Fuel uses 26 city and 36 highway for 30 combined on front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive is 28 combined and is not used here. The $4.29 regular price is an October 26, 2026 national snapshot and moves with the market. This example covers only the front-wheel drive SV with the 2.5-liter engine; all-wheel drive, the SR trim and the packages cost different amounts to buy, insure and fuel. Sedan demand is declining, and the 93,268 figure is 2025 sales, not a forecast for 2026.