| Pros | Cons | What's New |
|---|---|---|
Smooth drive | Low rear headroom | Fully resigned for 2013 |
Good interior quality | Loud engine at high speed | |
Impressive safety ratings | ||
Awe-inspiring fuel economy |
$21,760
price182 hp @ 6000 rpm
horsepower180 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm
torqueContinuously Variable-Speed Automatic
transmission2.5L 4cyl FWD CVT
engine-
basic warrantyAfter receiving its redesign this year, the Nissan Altima is now lighter, has an even better and quieter cabin, and the exterior language has become sharp plus aerodynamic. In various safety tests conducted by the agencies like NHTSA and IIHS, 2013 Altima has passed with flying colors. CVT is more refined to give better fuel efficiency while new suspensions are stiffer.
The 2.5 SL might be a little heavy on your pockets but it’s the best trim in our perspective. There are plenty of reasons but the main reason behind this recommendation is the safety features which are only given on the topmost trims. Therefore, 2.5SL is better for your normal daily commute rather than a more punchy 3.5SL trim.
Overall the driving capabilities of the Nissan Altima have improved a lot. With a big trim range, two engine options, and a newly designed chassis, all these factors have evolved Altima to the next level. The main competitors of the Nissan Altima which are keeping a close eye on its development are Kia Optima, Toyota Camry, and Honda Accord.
There are a total of seven trims offered on the 2013 Nissan Altima lineup. Four trims come with the 2.5-liter inline-4 engine whereas the rest are equipped with the 3.5-liter V6 engine. The trim range starts at $21,760 which can go up to $30,560 for the top-tier 3.5 SL trim. The standard features are given on the base Altima include 16-inch steel wheels, manual air conditioning, tilt, and telescopic steering column, radio data system, 4-speakers, and halogen headlights.
As the trim level increases the level of comfort and upgrades increases. S trim adds 2 more speakers to the sound system and also has bigger wheels. The 2.5SV trim has a steering wheel wrapped in leather while the 2.5SL trim enjoys features such as HomeLink universal transceiver. The 3.5S, 3.5SV, and 3.5 SL trims, other than bigger engines, just add amenities such as 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, fog lights, and such.
|
Trim |
2.5 |
2.5 S |
2.5 SV |
2.5 SL |
3.5 S |
3.5 SV |
3.5 SL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP |
$21,760 |
$22,280 |
$24,080 |
$27,660 |
$25,760 |
$28,260 |
$30,560 |
|
Key Features |
2.5-liter inline-4 engine |
Adds or replaces in ‘2.5’ |
Adds or replaces in ‘2.5 S’ |
Adds or replaces in ‘2.5 SV’ |
Adds or replaces in ‘2.5 S’ |
Adds or replaces in ‘2.5 SV’ |
Adds or replaces in ‘2.5 SL’ |
|
|
16-inch steel wheels |
17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels |
Leather-wrapped steering wheel |
Fog lights |
3.5-liter V6 engine |
Power sliding glass moonroof |
HID xenon headlights |
|
|
Projector-type halogen headlights |
Smart Auto Headlights |
5-inch color display |
Heated side mirrors |
18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels |
9-speakers sound system |
|
|
|
Cloth seats |
6-speakers sound system |
Speed-sensitive volume control |
Leather seats |
|||
|
|
4-speakers sound system |
In-cabin microfilter |
Rearview camera |
HomeLink universal transceiver |
|||
|
|
Engine immobilizer |
Cruise control |
Dual-Zone Automatic climate control |
Leather-wrapped shift knob |
|||
|
manual air conditioning |
Nissan Intelligent Key |
||||||
|
Advanced drive-assist display |
The 2.5SV trim has a Convenience Package which includes fog lights, one-touch power tilt, and sliding moonroof, Auto-dimming inside rearview mirror, and HomeLink universal transceiver. Technology Package on the 2.5SL and 3.5SL offers a 7-inch touchscreen with a navigation system and voice control.
It also adds safety features such as blind-spot monitoring, a moving object detection system, and lane departure warning. Nearly the same features as the Technology packages are given under the Navigation Package on the 2.5SV and 2.5SL trim except this package does not include the safety features.
We Recommend
The 2.5 SL might be a little heavy on your pockets but it’s the best trim in our perspective. There are plenty of reasons but the main reason behind this recommendation is the safety features which are only given on the topmost trims. Therefore, 2.5SL is better for your normal daily commute rather than a more punchy 3.5SL trim.
Two engines are available on the 2013 Altima. The base 2.5-liter inline-4 engine is mated to a continuous variable transmission and generates 182 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. The power gets transferred to the front wheels as standard in both engine setups. With this arrangement, Altima reaches 60 mph from a standstill in 7.4 seconds.
If a 3.5-liter V6 gas engine is selected the engine output will rise by 88 hp and 78 lb-ft of torque as compared to the base engine. The time taken by the Atima to cross the 0-60 mph limit will be reduced by 1.3 seconds. Revised CVT is more refined and fuel-efficient but because of over-sensitivity engine speed increases which can result in a noisy atmosphere in the cabin.
|
Model |
2013 Nissan Altima Base |
2013 Kia Optima LX |
2013 Honda Accord LX |
2013 Toyota Camry SE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP |
$21,760 |
$21,350 |
$22,480 |
$23,400 |
|
Engine |
2.5-liter inline-4 |
2.4-liter inline-4 |
2.4-liter inline-4 |
2.5-liter inline-4 |
|
Drivetrain |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
|
Transmission |
CVT |
6-speed automatic |
CVT |
6-speed automatic |
|
Power |
182 hp @ 6000 rpm |
200 hp @ 6300 rpm |
185 hp @ 6400 rpm |
178 hp @ 6000 rpm |
|
Torque |
180 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm |
186 lb-ft @ 4250 rpm |
181 lb-ft @ 3900 rpm |
170 lb-ft @ 4100 rpm |
|
0-60 MPH (seconds) |
7.4 |
7.2 |
6.6 |
8.4 |
|
Quarter mile (mph) |
15.7 |
15.6 |
15.1 |
15.9 |
|
Top speed (mph) |
130 |
152 |
130 |
129 |
The Nissan Altima loses the fastest sedan title to Honda Accord by 0.8 seconds. On the other hand, despite having the highest engine output, the Kia Optima finishes the 0-60 mph 0.2 seconds faster than the Nissan Altima. Lastly, with the most sluggish acceleration and the least hp cum lb-ft of torque, Toyota Camry does the 0-60 mph in 8.4 seconds.
The 2.0-liter inline-4 engine, as per EPA evaluation, has a fuel economy of 27 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 31 mpg combined. However, with the 3.5-liter V6 engine Altima will return 2,8,6 mpg in the city, highway, and combined respectively. It has the second-biggest fuel tank which results in a range of 486 and 684 miles in the city and on the highway respectively.
|
Model |
2013 Nissan Altima |
2013 Kia Optima LX |
2013 Honda Accord LX |
2013 Toyota Camry SE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MPG (city) |
27 |
24 |
27 |
25 |
|
MPG (Highway) |
38 |
35 |
36 |
35 |
|
MPG (Combined) |
31 |
28 |
30 |
28 |
|
Fuel Capacity |
18.0 |
18.5 |
17.2 |
17.0 |
|
Range (City/highway) |
486 / 684 |
444 / 648 |
464 / 619 |
425 / 595 |
On one hand, the Nissan Altima is celebrating the feast as the most fuel-efficient sedan in the competition, meanwhile, Kia Optima is trying to prove its worth with the biggest fuel tank after becoming the most thirsty sedan in the segment. Moreover, the Honda Accord is slightly behind the Nissan Altima. Lastly, Toyota Camry has the same fuel economy figures as the Kia Optima except for the fact that it offers just one mpg more in the city.
Nissan has upscaled the cabin in the 2013 Altima. The material is of better quality and the overall interior design is not as bland as it was in the previous generations. Piano black is present throughout the cabin in every trim but the Wood-tone trim is only present in the SL trim while you also get Metallic-tone trim in the same trim level. By default, seats have cloth upholstery but you can upgrade it to leather upholstery as you jump upwards in the Altima lineup.
Driver seat has a 6-way manual adjustment which can be upgraded to 6 or 10-way power adjustment. Heated front seats and steering wheel are the standard amenities that are strictly reserved for the topmost trim. The list of comfort features is huge but manual air conditioning, push-button start, keyless entry, manual tilt, and telescopic steering wheel, dual 12V power outlets, and speed-sensitive windscreen wiper are some of the standard features given on the Altima.
|
Model |
2013 Nissan Altima S |
2013 Kia Optima LX |
2013 Honda Accord LX |
2013 Toyota Camry SE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Seating Capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
40.0/56.4/45.0 |
40.0/57.3/37.6 |
39.1/58.6/42.5 |
38.8/58.0/41.6 |
|
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
37.1/56.1/36.1 |
37.6/55.7/34.7 |
37.5/56.5/38.5 |
38.1/56.6/38.9 |
|
Cargo Capacity (cu-ft) |
15.4 |
15.4 |
15.8 |
15.4 |
Not only is the Honda Accord the most generous in terms of shoulder room but also it has the most spacious cabin overall. Next is the Toyota Camry which has the best rear legroom. Furthermore, the Kia Optima secured the third-place whereas, with just 101.9 cu-ft of passenger volume, Nissan Altima is standing in the last position. That said, other than the Accord which is leading the race, every other sedan mentioned in this article has the same cargo capacity. Major interior features include:
There is no touchscreen given on the base Altima but it does have the 4-speaker sound system, CD player, radio data system, aux jack, and Bluetooth in the infotainment unit. As you go up in the trim range, SiriusXM, upgraded sound system, speed-sensitive, Pandora radio capability volume control, and USB port are also given. With various optional packages 7-inch touchscreen, navigation system, NavTraffic, NavWeather, and POIs powered by Google can be obtained on the higher trims. Major infotainment features include:
Even though there are no major changes in the exterior dimensions, Nissan has made the new Altima more aerodynamic, sharp, and sporty looking. At the front section, Projector-type halogen headlights with the optional fog lights are given. The front grille has a chrome surround to spice up the exterior design. A power panoramic moonroof is only given on the top trim but as an option. Dual body-color power side mirrors are standard on every trim while the SV and SL trims add LED turn signal indicators and a heading function to the side mirrors.
From S and beyond, all trims have two exhaust outlets whose tips are finished in chrome. A UV-reducing solar glass is given on the Altima for the protection of the occupants from harmful ways. The 2013 Nissan Altima has 16-inch steel wheels as standard but 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels can be equipped on the remaining 2.5 trims while 3.5 trims prefer to go with 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.
|
Model |
2013 Nissan Altima |
2013 Kia Optima LX |
2013 Honda Accord LX |
2013 Toyota Camry SE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
3,114 |
3,223 |
3,254 |
3,240 |
|
Length (in.) |
191.5 |
190.7 |
191.4 |
189.2 |
|
Width (in.) |
72.0 |
72.1 |
72.8 |
71.7 |
|
Height (in.) |
57.9 |
57.3 |
57.7 |
57.9 |
|
Ground Clearance (in.) |
5.4 |
5.3 |
5.8 |
6.1 |
|
Wheelbase (in.) |
109.3 |
110.0 |
109.3 |
109.3 |
Even though Honda Accord is the heaviest sedan in the competition, its performance has not been affected to a great extent. If we consider the width and height of the Altima and rivals there is not a marginal difference to point out but if we consider the length Nissan Altima is 2.3 inches longer than the Toyota Camry. As for the ground clearance, the Kia Optima is a stingy one. Lastly, the wheelbase of all the sedans is in a similar ballpark. Major exterior features are:
More than half steel in the new chassis of the Nissan Altima is high-strength steel. Additionally, the overall weight of the car has been reduced by 80 lbs. Coming to the safety ratings, NHTSA has awarded 2013 Altima with an overall 5-star safety rating. Meanwhile, IIHS has given majorly ‘Good’ ratings to the 2013 Altima and also crowned it with the ‘top safety pick+’ award.
That said, cruise control, occupant sensors, security system, engine immobilizer, and tire pressure monitoring system with easy-fill tire alert with individual tire pressure display are some standard safety features given on the Altima. The base trim does not get a tire pressure display. Lastly, the advanced safety features are only given on the SL trims under the optional package. Major safety features are:
The Nissan Altima checks all the boxes which are required for a family sedan. However, when rear row space and acceleration, rivals such as Accord and Camry have the upper hand. Despite these cons, a fresh Altima is a great pick for you. With a comfortable cabin, gaze stealing exterior design, and great driving experience, you won’t be disappointed if you pick it home.
Car Name | 0-60 MPH | Quarter Mile | Top Speed | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 Nissan Altima Ranked #11 | 8.4 sec | 16.0 sec | 112 mph | |||
2013 Hyundai Genesis Ranked #1 | 5.5 sec | - | - | |||
2013 Buick LaCrosse Ranked #2 | 6.3 sec | 14.8 sec | - | |||
2013 Nissan Maxima Ranked #3 | 6.4 sec | 14.8 sec | - | |||
2013 Hyundai Azera Ranked #4 | 7.2 sec | - | - | |||
2013 Honda Accord Ranked #5 | 7.4 sec | 15.8 sec | 130 mph |
Car Name | MPG City | MPG Highway | MPG Combined | Fuel Tank Capacity | Range (C/H) | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 Nissan Altima Ranked #1 | 27 mpg | 38 mpg | 31 mpg | 18 gal. | 486/684 mi. | |||
2013 Honda Civic Ranked #1 | 28 mpg | 36 mpg | 31 mpg | 13.2 gal. | 369.6/475.2 mi. | |||
2013 Toyota Corolla Ranked #2 | 27 mpg | 34 mpg | 30 mpg | 13.2 gal. | 356.4/448.8 mi. | |||
2013 Chevrolet Cruze Ranked #3 | 25 mpg | 36 mpg | 29 mpg | 15.6 gal. | 390/561.6 mi. | |||
2013 Toyota Camry Ranked #4 | 25 mpg | 35 mpg | 28 mpg | 17 gal. | 425/595 mi. | |||
2013 Hyundai Sonata Ranked #4 | 24 mpg | 35 mpg | 28 mpg | 18.5 gal. | 444/647.5 mi. |
Car Name | Length | Width | Height | Ground Clearance | Wheelbase | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 Nissan Altima Ranked #7 | 191.5 in. | 72 in. | 57.9 in. | 5 in. | 109.3 in. | |||
2013 Buick LaCrosse Ranked #1 | 196.9 in. | 73.1 in. | 59.2 in. | 7 in. | 111.7 in. | |||
2013 Hyundai Genesis Ranked #2 | 196.3 in. | 74.4 in. | 58.1 in. | 5.2 in. | 115.6 in. | |||
2013 Mazda 6 Ranked #3 | 193.7 in. | 72.4 in. | 57.9 in. | 5.1 in. | 109.8 in. | |||
2013 Hyundai Azera Ranked #4 | 193.3 in. | 73.2 in. | 57.9 in. | 5.4 in. | 112 in. | |||
2013 Dodge Avenger Ranked #5 | 192.6 in. | 72.8 in. | 58.4 in. | 5.2 in. | 108.9 in. |
Car Name | Trunk Capacity | Passenger Volume | Max Trunk Volume | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 Nissan Altima Ranked #15 | 15.4 cu.ft. | 101.9 cu.ft. | 9.5 cu.ft. | |||
2013 Hyundai Sonata Ranked #1 | 16.4 cu.ft. | 103.8 cu.ft. | 165.6 cu.ft. | |||
2013 Honda Civic Ranked #2 | 12.5 cu.ft. | 94.6 cu.ft. | 147.4 cu.ft. | |||
2013 Buick Regal Ranked #3 | 65.7 cu.ft. | 98 cu.ft. | 120.1 cu.ft. | |||
2013 Nissan Maxima Ranked #4 | 14.2 cu.ft. | 95.8 cu.ft. | 100.2 cu.ft. | |||
2013 Buick LaCrosse Ranked #5 | 13.3 cu.ft. | 100 cu.ft. | 83.7 cu.ft. |
Car Name | Cargo Volume | Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area | Max Cargo Volume | Bed Length | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 Nissan Altima Ranked #1 | 9.5 cu.ft. | 15.4 cu.ft. | 9.5 cu.ft. | - | |||
2013 Chevrolet Cruze Ranked #2 | 50.3 cu.ft. | 15 cu.ft. | 50.3 cu.ft. | 6 ft. | |||
2013 Ford Fusion Ranked #3 | 83.1 cu.ft. | 16 cu.ft. | 57.4 cu.ft. | - | |||
2013 Suzuki Kizashi Ranked #4 | 71 cu.ft. | 13.3 cu.ft. | 71 cu.ft. | - | |||
2013 Nissan Maxima Ranked #5 | 100.2 cu.ft. | 14.2 cu.ft. | 100.2 cu.ft. | - | |||
2013 Mazda 6 Ranked #6 | 73 cu.ft. | 16.6 cu.ft. | 73 cu.ft. | - |
Car Name | Towing Capacity | Payload Capacity | Weight | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 Nissan Altima Ranked #3 | - | 1116 lbs. | 3108 lbs. | |||
2013 Toyota Corolla Ranked #1 | 1500 lbs. | - | 2734 lbs. | |||
2013 Buick LaCrosse Ranked #2 | 1000 lbs. | - | 4051 lbs. | |||
2013 Dodge Avenger Ranked #2 | 1000 lbs. | 1200 lbs. | 3400 lbs. | |||
2013 Chrysler 200 Ranked #2 | 1000 lbs. | 1211 lbs. | 3402 lbs. | |||
2013 Hyundai Azera Ranked #3 | - | 1180 lbs. | 3825 lbs. |
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POPULAR TAGS
User Overall Rating
Posted On: June 30, 2024
I can drive from Bardstown Kentucky to Dayton Ohio and start out with a full tank and get there and still have a half a tank left so I get great gas mileage with it I love that. I love how roomy it is inside the features on the dash they're great I love it
User Overall Rating
Posted On: May 10, 2024
The 2012 nissian altima is a great car it looks sporty and is a reliable source of transportation it gets great gas mileage and handles mountain roads and curves very well the interior is very comfortable and also looks great and is worth the price it's a very dependable form of transportation
