The 2017 Nissan Altima is one of the most affordable cars on the market, known to be efficient, safe, and roomy. If you can get past the underwhelming steering and basic interior, it’s a reliable ride that won’t break the bank.
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2017 Nissan Altima: Brief Overview
- The 2017 Nissan Altima is surprisingly roomy, with 56 inches of shoulder room front and back, and more leg and headroom than some midsize SUVs.
- Near-perfect ratings with the IIHS earned the car a Top Safety Pick+.
- There are lots of advanced safety features like Blind Spot Warning and front and back sensors, but most of these are hidden behind higher trim levels or the $1,000 technology package.
- The Altima isn’t the sportiest midsize available, but the 3.5L V6 models have a bit of kick to them at 270 horsepower and 251 lb.-ft. of torque.
- It is one of the most efficient, non-hybrid, midsize cars available today, with even the V6 models going the distance, at 22/32 miles to the gallon city/highway.
Seven Budget-friendly Trims Offer Many Options with 2.5L and 3.5L Engines
The 2017 Nissan Altima is offered in five trim levels with the 2.5L engine, and two with the 3.5L, for seven trim levels total, all of them budget-friendly.
2.5
The basic trim level here is very basic but adequate. Along with a 2.5-liter 16-valve four-cylinder engine, the 2.5 trim level includes carpeted flooring, power windows, remote keyless entry, Bluetooth, and radio/CD audio system with four speakers.
2.5 S
The big upgrades in the 2.5 S are steering wheel controls for cruise control and Siri Eyes Free voice recognition. It’s easy to find a 2.5 S for the same price as a 2.5; you might as well go for it.
2.5 SR
At around $1,000 above the base model, this is where you start getting some nice bonuses like a power seat for the driver, a lip spoiler, and sport-tuned suspension. It is not a total overhaul of the base model, but you’ll know exactly where the extra grand went.
2.5 SV
For a few hundred bucks over the 2.5 SR, the 2.5 SV delivers a handful of basic, quality of life upgrades, like dual zone A/C and remote engine start. If you hate sitting around in hot cars, that’s all you need.
2.5 SL
The 2.5 SL is a touch of luxury for a pretty modest price bump, with heated seats up front, leather all around, and a Bose radio system. It’s no competition for midrange luxury cars, but you’ll be getting a lot of, “Wow, this is an Altima?” comments from your passengers.
3.5 SR
This is the same as a 2.5 SR, but with a 3.5L engine, plus the option of forward emergency braking for extra safety.
3.5 SL
The same as a 2.5 SL, but with a 3.5L engine and a few other little differences, like a steel spare instead of aluminum. With either of the 3.5 options, the only big difference from the 2.5 trim is the engine.
Midnight Edition
The Midnight Edition is a 2.5 SR with 18″ black aluminum wheels, low-profile, all-season tires, a black rear spoiler, LED headlights, and remote engine start, plus some sleek Midnight Edition floor mats. This is basically a $1,000 cosmetic package for the 2.5 SR, adding some welcome flair to a car with an otherwise simple, understated visual design.
Used 2017 Nissan Altima Prices Range from $15,000 to $20,000
No matter your trim level and your options, you’re not going to be spending too much on a 2017 Nissan Altima, comparatively speaking. At the low end is the $15,000 range to buy a used 2.5 from the previous owner. At the very peak, a certified pre-owned (CPO) 3.5 SL will go for around $20,000, plus maybe a few hundred bucks extra if it comes with the Interior Lighting package, which adds a little extra illumination throughout the car.
- 2.5: $15,354 – $17,473
- 2.5 S: $15,681 – $17,826
- 2.5 SR: $16,747 – $18,916
- 2.5 SV: $17,254 – $19,371
- 2.5 SL: $17,135 – $19,376
- 3.5 SR: $17,128 – $19,375
- 3.5 SL: $17,773 – $20,040
These numbers come from the Kelley Blue Book, and they assume average everything: mileage, condition, etc. A “mechanic’s special” 2.5 should cost considerably less than $15,000, and $20,000 might be a bit low if you’re buying a mint-condition 3.5 SL. Location matters, too. You can expect used cars to be a bit cheaper in rural areas, and a bit pricier in urban areas. The vast majority of 2017 Altimas should fall within these prices.
Consider a Certified Pre-Owned 2017 Nissan Altima
Nissan’s Certified Pre-Owned power train warranty covers the car for seven years or 100,000 miles, but that extends from the original in-service date. So, if you’re buying a 2017 in 2021, you’ve only got about three years left on the warranty. While the warranty is active, you get roadside assistance. However, if the odometer has already hit 100,000 miles, the warranty is no longer valid.
Buying CPO means you’re getting a 167-point inspection and a three-year buyback guarantee offered through CarFax. The extra money you spend on a CPO Altima isn’t bad when you consider that this is already a budget-priced car.
You can find used Nissans in your area directly through their CPO website, and you can search by year, price, mileage, and then narrow it down by zip code to make sure you’re getting the best deal in driving distance.
Two Engine Choices Offer Up to 270 Horsepower
The 2017 Altima’s engine lineup is pretty basic, with just two options: The 2.5L is a four-cylinder DOHC that cranks out 179 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque. The 3.5L is a V6 that produces 270 horsepower and 251 lb.-ft. of torque.
Altimas have never really been focused on high performance, but with 91 extra horses under the hood, you’ll definitely feel the difference between the 2.5 and the 3.5. At the upper end, the 2017 Altima’s numbers put it roughly on par with that year’s V6 Honda Accords, and at a considerably lower price point.
Whichever engine you choose, you’re getting front-wheel drive, and an Xtronic one-speed CVT. Nissan CVT delivers excellent fuel efficiency, but many drivers dislike the numb feel. Unfortunately, this is a take-it-or-leave-it situation, as the 2017 Altima is not offered with a conventional automatic or a manual option.
Fuel Efficient 2017 Nissan Altima’s 18-gallon Tank Gets Up to 39 mpg on the Highway
The 2017 Nissan Altima is a budget-friendly car in more ways than one. The savings start with the sticker price and continue at the pump. The EPA reports that in a 2.5, you can expect an average of 27 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg on the highway. In a V6 3.5, expect 22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway. Whichever engine you choose, you’re getting an 18-gallon tank, which will get across any state but Texas in a single fill-up.
2017 Altima Offers ‘Impressively Smooth’ Driving Performance, Say Critics
Most people would describe the Nissan Altima driving experiences as a bit boring. Sometimes, that’s what you want. The 2017 Altima is a daily driver, a grocery-getter, and it delivers with flying colors on that level. The 3.5 trim levels may have a little more kick than you expect, but even with 270 horsepower under the hood, the overall experience is going to be strictly functional.
Reporting for Kelley Blue Book, Zach Vlasuk‘s chief complaint is with the steering. “It’s heavy at low speeds, and over-boosted at higher ones…[so] when you’re on the highway and you make a small steering correction, the response is significantly more aggressive than your intended input.” But, “the cabin is quiet at speed, and the ride is impressively smooth and compliant.”
The 3.5s can hit 0-60 in about six seconds, but the car’s fidgety steering and one-speed CVT compromise its sportier leanings. The car is efficient and capable, with some impressive engine specs for the price, but you may find that it lacks the sporty feel you want in a V6.
That said, if the chance to test-drive a 2017 Altima should arise, don’t hesitate to get behind the wheel. You may find that you actually like the front-heavy steering and one-speed transmission. Understand that the car is built from the ground up to be a practical, efficient daily-driver. The car’s sportier features are a welcome addition, but the focus is on efficiency.
2017 Nissan Altima is an Easy Fit in Most Garages Thanks to its Accommodating Dimensions
The 2017 Altima is 191 inches long by 57 inches tall and 72 inches wide, which is about average for a midsize these days and an easy fit for any garage. But the exterior dimensions are misleading, as the interior provides a bit more space than you’d expect from this car at a glance.
Inside, you’ve got 40 inches of headroom up front, that is, the space from your seat to the ceiling. The interior width goes from 54 inches at the hip to 56 at the shoulder, and you’ve got 45 inches of legroom. These numbers are comparable to small and midsize SUVs.
Advertised to seat five adults, and with 52 inches of rear hip room and 56 for the shoulders, you should have no problem carrying the squad around. Your mileage may vary if you hang out with bodybuilders and basketballers, but average-sized adults should have no problem.
Both IIHS and NHTSA Give Impressive Safety Nods to 2017 Nissan Altima
The 2017 Nissan Altima holds a near-perfect score with the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), including a Top Safety Pick+ award, their highest honor, and a crash test report card of ratings that were mostly all “Good.” (For reference, IIHS ratings in ascending order are: Poor, Marginal, Acceptable, and Good.)
There were only three exceptions to the almost-perfect score. First, LATCH ease of use, which earned ratings of “Marginal” and “Acceptable,” as the child seat anchors were “too deep in seat,” requiring a bit of effort to reach. Headlights ranged from “Poor” to “Acceptable,” with cars built after October 2016 earning an “Acceptable,” and cars built before that date earning a “Poor” rating.
Safety features in the 2.5 are pretty basic. You have all the standards like electronic stability control and driveline traction control, but no backup camera. Rearview cameras are an option in the 2.5 S and up. The 2.5 SV adds Blind Spot Warning, and the SL models have front and rear parking sensors. Everything here is basic, but adequate.
The 2017 Altima’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ratings are solid, but a little less impressive than the IIHS ratings. The car earned an overall five-star rating for front crash, and a four-star rating for front passenger impact. For side crash, another five-star rating overall, but a three-star rating for the front seats, and four stars for side barrier (simulating a stationary vehicle against an oncoming side impact). The car earned four stars for rollover, with a 10.30% rollover risk.
Basically, there’s nothing to worry about here. The 2017 Nissan Altima’s safety ratings are comparable to those of a typical SUV in most areas, and top of the class in others. You might want to invest in some aftermarket headlights, though.
Onboard Tech and Gadgets are Satisfactory but not Thrilling, with Top Trims Offering Bose Speakers and Heated Seats
In a standard 2017 Nissan Altima, the SL trim level’s nine Bose speakers and heated seats are about as exciting as the technology gets. If you can find a used Altima with the technology package equipped, it’s going to offer a few upgrades, like intelligent cruise control, but most of the upgrades here are for the safety features, like blind spot warning and front/rear sensors. You’ll also get access to Nissan Connect, the automaker’s concierge/infotainment/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth-connectivity platform.
Some cars are designed to not only be a means of transportation, but sort of a hangout station, as well. The 2017 Altima is just designed to be a means of transportation. Even in a fully-loaded SL, you should expect the onboard tech to be satisfactory, but not exactly thrilling.
Eight Exterior and Three Interior Color Options are Limited and Basic but Sufficient
Like everything else about the 2017 Altima, the eight exterior color options are pretty basic: Brilliant Silver, Cayenne Red, Deep Blue Pearl, Glacier White, Gun Metallic, Java Metallic, Pearl White, and Storm Blue. The only interior options you get are beige or charcoal, except for the SR trims, which come standard with “Sport Interior,” a tasteful monochromatic color package.
Is a 2017 Nissan Altima Easy to Maintain?
The 2017 Nissan Altima is cheap to buy, cheap to refuel, and cheap to fix, with Repair Pal estimating the average annual cost of maintenance at around $360. They awarded the car an overall rating of four out of five stars, placing it in the eleventh spot out of 24 midsize cars, and reported that the severity of a typical Altima repair is “average,” but the frequency is low.
On the list of common repairs, you’ll find heater core replacements ($667 to $1,052) and basic diagnostics like emission system testing ($44 to $56), but nothing about the CVT. This suggests that, with regular fluid changes, Nissan have produced a one-speed transmission that you can actually count on.
Common Issues and Recalls for the 2017 Altima Included Doors and Hoods that may Fly Open
The 2017 Nissan Altima has only had three recalls to date, but they’ve been concerning nonetheless because of their sheer scope, with the first two affecting over 341,000 units across several model years, and the latest affecting 1,831,818. They are particularly concerning because they have to do with doors and hoods flying open.
In January 2017 and December 2018, Nissan had to address the rear door popping open when passengers tried to lower the window, and in May 2020, they recalled nearly two million Altimas because the hoods were reportedly popping open in traffic.
In the complaints department, 69 reports point to the power train, and 21 to the engine. The clearest pattern here has to do with delayed acceleration, with a number of drivers reporting that their car will stall out at 20 mph or thereabouts before picking up momentum several seconds later. These issues aren’t typically being reported at under 100,000 miles. Therefore, if you go with a fully-inspected CPO Altima and you change the transmission fluid regularly, you might not have to deal with any transmission issues.
2017 Nissan Altima vs. the Competition
The Nissan Altima is not competing to be the best midsize car on the market, but to be the best midsize car for its price. It’s not really fair to compare it to a Toyota Avalon or an Acura TLX, cars that tend to go for $10,000 more than the Altima. Rather, you want to compare the Altima to similarly-priced midsize cars like the Camry, Accord, and Mazda6.
2017 Nissan Altima vs. 2017 Honda Accord
The Altima and the 2017 Honda Accord are roughly evenly matched at the lower trim levels. The Altima edges the Accord out on price, but where it really wins is in the bang-for-buck you’re getting on performance. In order to get behind the wheel of a V6 Accord, you’re going to be spending at least $30,000 on an EX-L V6. That car is going to deliver essentially the same performance as a 3.5L Altima, which tops out at around $20,000 at the most.
To see a more detailed side-by-side comparison between these vehicles, check out this Vehicle History coverage.
2017 Nissan Altima vs. 2017 Toyota Camry
A base level 2017 Toyota Camry LE will run about $1,000 more than an Altima, on average, but the transmission is a conventional six-speed automatic, not a CVT. That alone will be the tiebreaker for many drivers. If you could go either way, the base Camry also features eight-way power seats, steering-wheel controls for cruising, and a bigger touchscreen. Plus, there’s hybrid trim levels starting at just over $19,000.
To see a more detailed side-by-side comparison between these vehicles, check out this Vehicle History coverage.
2017 Nissan Altima vs. 2017 Mazda6
The 2017 Mazda6 is priced about the same as a 2017 Altima, it was awarded the same Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, the base Skyactiv four-cylinder engine delivers comparable mpg and performance to the 2017 Altima’s 2.5L, and the physical dimensions are roughly the same between the two cars. But the Mazda6 Sport comes with a conventional six-speed automatic, and a more luxurious interior with leather and metal-look throughout. However, it lacks a performance model to compete with the Altima’s 3.5 V6 trim levels.
To see a more detailed side-by-side comparison between these vehicles, check out this Vehicle History coverage.
So, Is the 2017 Nissan Altima a Good Used Car Purchase?
The best overall value on this list, is the 2017 Altima 3.5 SL. It’s getting harder to find a 2017 V6 in this price range, so if you can get past the one-speed transmission, you may be surprised at how sporty it feels for a $20,000 midsize car. It’s still just a grocery-getter, but it will get up and go.
The Nissan Altima has always been a pretty basic car, and the 2017 is no exception. Still. it’s low-maintenance, fuel efficient, roomy, and it’s affordable. It won’t turn heads, but there’s very little in a 2017 Nissan Altima to complain about.
Photos: Nissan
