2014 Nissan Altima trims range from basic to luxury-lite, from daily-driver to sporty. With a spread of less than $3,000 between base and fully loaded, opting for a model with a few more amenities shouldn’t be too taxing on your budget.
Key Points
- Four-cylinder-equipped 2014 Nissan Altima models include the 2.5, 2.5 S, 2.5 SV, and 2.5 SL. Trims sporting the V6 engine are rightly named the 3.5 S, 3.5 SV, and 3.5 SL.
- The 2.5 is an efficient, adequate daily driver, but with the 2.5 S adding cruise control and power seats for just a few hundred dollars extra, you might as well go with the S.
- 3.5 variants add a V6 engine, boosting the horsepower from 182 to 270 for a surprisingly sporty feel. Both 2.5 and 3.5 variants feature the same one-speed CVT and front-wheel-drive configuration.
- In both the 2.5 and 3.5 models, the mid-range SV trims offer decent upgrades for the price but are outclassed by the top-tier SL trims, which, in either case, can be had for less than a thousand bucks over their respective SV trims.
- The overall best-value buys in the lineup are the 2.5 S for the daily-driver market and the 3.5 L for those that want a top-of-the-line compact at a fair price.
2014 Nissan Altima 2.5 Trim is a Solid Entry-level Option, but the 2.5 S Model is a Hard Deal to Resist
Each Nissan Altima trim level is named for the engine found under the hood, so in the “2.5” trim, you’ll find a 2.5L four-cylinder producing 182 horsepower and 180 lb.-ft. of torque. Simple, right?
The 2.5 is your basic entry-level Altima. A one-speed CVT with manual-adjust bucket seats up front, remote keyless entry, one LCD monitor up front, and power windows. All the features you expect to find in a 2014 compact. The base 2.5 is totally adequate for a 2014 model with a Kelley Blue Book value starting at $12,000. It has Bluetooth connectivity, push-button ignition, and you won’t be hand-cranking the windows. Simple, but not bare-bones. The strongest criticism that can be made of the 2.5 is only that the other trim levels add so much extra value for so little extra money. So you might want to start with the 2.5 S, beginning at around $12,300.
The S adds a couple of extra speakers, for six total, plus you get automatic headlights, cruise control, and power adjust for the driver’s seat. It’s not a huge upgrade, but it’s not a huge price bump, either, running just a few hundred dollars over the base 2.5.
2014 Altima 2.5 SV Trim is a Solid Upgrade, and the 2.5 SL’s Wood and Metal Inserts, Fog Lamps are Even Better
Starting at just over $13,100, the 2.5 SV is where the big upgrades start coming into play.
To list a few of the extras you’re getting in the SV: automatic temperature control with dual-zone air conditioning, remote engine start, backup camera, NissanConnect, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and for the entertainment system you get a five-inch color display and a USB port. Plus, there are a bunch of extra pockets, interior lights, and chrome accents throughout the cabin.
The upgrades you’re getting for the price are fair, but, as with the 2.5, the next trim level up adds so much extra value for such a modest price bump that you might as well skip this one.
With the 2.5 SL, you get all of that, plus leather seating, Bose audio, wood and metal tone trim, a heated steering wheel, and eight-way power adjust for the driver in the cabin. In the exterior, you’re getting fog lights and heated mirrors with LED turn signals. The Blue Book puts the starting price at around $13,800, just seven hundred bucks over the SV, so it’s kind of a no-brainer. If the 2.5 S isn’t doing it for you, you might as well go all the way up to the SL.
2014 Nissan Altima 3.5 S Trim is One of the Most Cost-efficient V6 Compacts on the Used Market Today
The 3.5 trims start at the S level, which is basically the same trim as the 2.5 S plus a few bonuses, like a rearview camera, a USB port, and a five-inch color display. They didn’t go overboard with the extras here because the real draw is, of course, the V6 engine under the hood, delivering 270 horsepower and 251 lb.-ft. of torque.
The rest of the mechanical specs are basically the same. One-speed Xtronic CVT, front-wheel drive, etc. The key difference between the 2.5 S and the 3.5 S is simply that you’ve got some extra muscle under the hood.
The standard 2.5 engine is an adequate grocery-getter with a little more get-up-and-go than you might expect of a 2014 compact, so the V6 variant isn’t exactly necessary, but if you want something that feels sporty without breaking the bank, the 3.5 S starts at around $13,300, just a grand over the 2.5 S.
That comes out to five hundred bucks per extra cylinder, making this one of the most cost-efficient performance upgrades you’ll find in a 2014 compact.
You Might Want to Skip the 2014 Altima’s 3.5 SV Trim for the Heated Leather and Bose Audio of the 3.5 SL Model
The 3.5 SV adds to the 3.5 S some of the same features you’ll find in the 2.5 SV, but you’re also getting a power sliding moonroof and one-touch up/down windows.
At $13,500, you’re getting a solid deal for upgrades over the 3.5 S. But, just like with the 2.5 SV, the SL is so much better, for so little extra money, that you may as well skip this trim level entirely.
Starting around $14,400, the 3.5 SL adds heated leather seats, Bose premium audio, xenon headlights, eight-way power adjust driver’s seat, and high-end wood and metallic trim throughout. It’s not exactly a Lexus, but it’s a whole lot of luxury for just nine hundred bucks over the SV.
2014 Altima 2.5 S Trim is a Good Car for the Price, but the 3.5 SL Goes Above and Beyond
If you’re after a cheap daily driver, the 2.5 S may be all you need. Affordable, fuel-efficient, and simple, but not lacking in basic amenities, it’s just a darn good everyday compact.
The best value overall, though, has to go to the 3.5 SL. It’s a lot more luxury and a lot more power than you expect to find in a 2014 compact sedan starting for under fifteen grand.
Photos: Nissan
