Unless you buy a manual, they are a CVT trans also.
Tell me why not to buy a 2025 Nissan Altima
- Thread starter fdcg27
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Well said.
I don't know if AWD is necessary. Snow tires with FWD worked well for me forever
The Mfg Manager at my last job leased Altimas (36mo.) The CVT trans failed on every one of them during the lease.
We used to compare notes on the 2.5L aluminum engine racket during the warmup drive. The ECU would run the engine at high RPM to warm up the trans fluid when it was sub freezing. Engine did not like this. Tore filters. I even put a larger high flow expensive Honda parts S2000 Filtech and it ripped that too. You have seen the photos.
Beware, Be scare
We used to compare notes on the 2.5L aluminum engine racket during the warmup drive. The ECU would run the engine at high RPM to warm up the trans fluid when it was sub freezing. Engine did not like this. Tore filters. I even put a larger high flow expensive Honda parts S2000 Filtech and it ripped that too. You have seen the photos.
Beware, Be scare
AWD is nice here during the winter, but having recently retired I no longer need to set out into lousy conditions first thing in the morning and if we do get a really major snow event, we do have the Forester.
I myself have never had an AWD commuter (the Forester is wife's) and only occasionally winter tires mounted and have never gotten stuck nor slid into the weeds.
Still, I like Subies and am seeking pricing on a Legacy, along with the Accord hybrid and the Camry.
I like hybrids but the fuel savings matter much less since having cut 12K miles out of my annual driving with the end of my commuting days.
The Altima SV prices out around four or five grand cheaper than anything else, so it would be the value proposition.
My goal in opening the thread was to get everyone's thoughts on the wisdom of going to the low cost side of the midsize market.
Finally, given the long history of both, a Hyundai or Kia is not anything I would consider.
I myself have never had an AWD commuter (the Forester is wife's) and only occasionally winter tires mounted and have never gotten stuck nor slid into the weeds.
Still, I like Subies and am seeking pricing on a Legacy, along with the Accord hybrid and the Camry.
I like hybrids but the fuel savings matter much less since having cut 12K miles out of my annual driving with the end of my commuting days.
The Altima SV prices out around four or five grand cheaper than anything else, so it would be the value proposition.
My goal in opening the thread was to get everyone's thoughts on the wisdom of going to the low cost side of the midsize market.
Finally, given the long history of both, a Hyundai or Kia is not anything I would consider.
Altimas are available with AWD even in base trims. The least expensive one at the local dealer comes with AWD. I'd consider one also before they're gone. Sometimes it's nice to get something different and change things up. What happened to the '12 Accord?
If you're open to a Forester, the premium models were attainable for well under $32K. My sister has been happy with hers.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
I have not been in the latest Altima, but I have always found them to have excellent seating comfort, ergonomics, visibility and to have a more pleasant overall driving experience than that of the Camry or Accord. I've had family members who are die hard Toyota and Honda people comment the same way on them. The CVT is always going to be the main thing that scares people off. I've had good luck with Nissan CVTs in the 2017 Quest and 2019 Pathfinder I owned. Both were ex-rentals in their first life. I bought them with 25-30K miles on them and owned them until just over 100K. Of course this was back in the good'ol days when you could buy a 1yr old ex-rental for just about half off the original MSRP. My in-laws have been leasing/buying Rogues since the Rogue first came out (~2007). They've never had to do more than normal maintenance on them.
If you're into DIY oil changes, the later model Nissans are a bit of a pain with how the underbelly covers are hinged at the front bumper side. Makes driveway oil changes more difficult. What I like about Nissan CVTs is, the fluid drain/fill process is easier than an engine oil change and as far as I know, they're still designed that way today.
Like you say, you'll save ~$6K over buying a comparable Camry or Accord, but if resale value is important to you, you'll get it back at the tail end.
If you're into DIY oil changes, the later model Nissans are a bit of a pain with how the underbelly covers are hinged at the front bumper side. Makes driveway oil changes more difficult. What I like about Nissan CVTs is, the fluid drain/fill process is easier than an engine oil change and as far as I know, they're still designed that way today.
Like you say, you'll save ~$6K over buying a comparable Camry or Accord, but if resale value is important to you, you'll get it back at the tail end.
I don't tell people what to buy, but I will dispel some rumors, because this board always has a lot of Nissan Hate, often from people that don't own one.
Nissan redesigned the Xtronic CVT in 2019 for the 2020 MY. 3rd generation. I have yet to find someone who can point me to a failed one - the new ones after 2020 - here or on the Nissan boards. If someone could point me to one I would actually be grateful, because I would like to buy one actually, but am hesitant like others. I imagine one will fail eventually, but its certainly nothing like the first two generations - which even as bad as they were, they were never as bad as this board claimed.
The 2.5 engine has been around since 2018 and has proven itself.
The question about Nissan's long term future are still quite up in the air, so that is reasonable.
You will lose more if you ever trade - they don't hold their value.
The Nissan dealers do tend to suck.
I wouldn't buy a Honda either - not in the last 10 years - they have had lots of problems also, which seem to get judged much less harshly around here. They do seem to stand behind them at least so thats good. Unless your like @Zee09 and you trade it in every 8 weeks anyway.
Nissan redesigned the Xtronic CVT in 2019 for the 2020 MY. 3rd generation. I have yet to find someone who can point me to a failed one - the new ones after 2020 - here or on the Nissan boards. If someone could point me to one I would actually be grateful, because I would like to buy one actually, but am hesitant like others. I imagine one will fail eventually, but its certainly nothing like the first two generations - which even as bad as they were, they were never as bad as this board claimed.
The 2.5 engine has been around since 2018 and has proven itself.
The question about Nissan's long term future are still quite up in the air, so that is reasonable.
You will lose more if you ever trade - they don't hold their value.
The Nissan dealers do tend to suck.
I wouldn't buy a Honda either - not in the last 10 years - they have had lots of problems also, which seem to get judged much less harshly around here. They do seem to stand behind them at least so thats good. Unless your like @Zee09 and you trade it in every 8 weeks anyway.
This is a a big fat warning: resell being lower by similar amount as the new car discount. That really means the buyers don't like it as much and unload them more often, forcing the new car to be discounted just as much.
I know in theory 2.5 shouldn't stress the CVT as much as a 3.5 so in theory it SHOULD last, but I also know Nissan is distressed currently and my past experience is distressed companies will cut corner either in the products or services later, and I would not consider that a bonus vs a non distressed company.
Then you have the opinion of others about Nissan reliability being very difference from the 90s (about the same as Honda and Toyota) vs today (about the same as Mitsubishi, Hyundai, and Kia).
I personally would spend slightly more for a Toyota or buy an older more reputable reliable car from other brands of your liking. Resell value is earned, and that usually reflects the durability of the cars.
Zee09
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I don't trade but sell.... just a note
I hear the same crap about Mitsubishi by internet researchers with zero ownership experience.
Not interested in uneducated speculation...... I buy what I want and sweat the details myself.
I stand corrected.I don't trade but sell.... just a note
I may need to get in line for one of your future lightly used sales.
Zee09
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You made a good statement
I have had many Hondas and Acuras since 1986
91 Acura Legend 5 spd.....
Up a hill the gear shifter would jump out of gear....the uptight dealership called me a liar....eventually the truth came out... no other mechanical issues on the others
My last Honda before last week was a 2013 New Accord....bad paint, peeling wheels etc... I kept it 3 years and went elsewhere.
So i missed the problem decade
Luck me I guess
So I guess I could say all of the woes never happened....because I didn't have issues. But I won't as much of it is documented.
Nothing is perfect......
CVT always gets a no from me.
I’m gonna go with an unconventional (for BITOG), and far more interesting, suggestion:
Have you considered the Sonata (2024+) or Kia K5?
The Kia would be the sportier of these mechanical twins, with the Sonata being more lux.
They have an 8-speed torque converter automatic, and the more powerful turbocharged N-Line variant has an 8-speed wet dual-clutch auto.
I know Hyundai has gotten a bad rap here but they’ve come a long way since the days of the Thetas that were a ticking time bomb.
I have an Elantra N for almost a year and 19,000 miles now with no issues.
I’m gonna go with an unconventional (for BITOG), and far more interesting, suggestion:
Have you considered the Sonata (2024+) or Kia K5?
The Kia would be the sportier of these mechanical twins, with the Sonata being more lux.
They have an 8-speed torque converter automatic, and the more powerful turbocharged N-Line variant has an 8-speed wet dual-clutch auto.
I know Hyundai has gotten a bad rap here but they’ve come a long way since the days of the Thetas that were a ticking time bomb.
I have an Elantra N for almost a year and 19,000 miles now with no issues.
I came back to show you my all-time favourite 
car, and to say my colleague just bought a brand new Rogue on my recommendation, after driving Hondas; he's very happy with it so far.
car, and to say my colleague just bought a brand new Rogue on my recommendation, after driving Hondas; he's very happy with it so far.
You like your Honda - so, help the kid buy something he likes - you were going to subsidize it so that it didn’t feel like a gift, but you are going to be giving him money either way. It’s OK to be transferring wealth to the kids before you pass away, so, just bring it above board and help the kid out.
Keep your Honda.
Help him buy something else.
Keep your Honda.
Help him buy something else.
They are total absolute garbage
Interesting what you learn when you ask.
He told me that they had been talking about a minivan.
That kinda changes the situation.
I will keep the HAH and look for a decent used minivan for him to share the cost of with me.
I've always liked the Mazda 5, so I'm asking him whether a micro-minivan would be attractive for them.
Our daughter had one with a manual transmission. Got good service out of it too. Replaced it with an EV.
I borrowed it a couple of times to haul big things. It was a nice enough vehicle.
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