• The Nissan Altima comes fully loaded at $34,250
• Nissan’s Altima has spotty reliability scores from Consumer Reports
• The Altima pulls off the budget luxury car role with aplomb

Nissan often gets overlooked when it comes to full-size sedans. Typically, vehicles like the Honda Accord and best-selling Toyota Camry leave it in the dust. However, there’s something to be said for the little guy. A fully loaded 2022 Nissan Altima pulls off the pseudo-luxury car act better than you might think it does.

A fully loaded Nissan Altima is $34,250

Starting at $34,350 the newest Altima will rapidly approach luxury car prices. However, the top-tier Altima Platinum manages to eek buyers’ cash out to the maximum. It starts with standard AWD in the 2022 Nissan Altima. That’s almost a must, seeing as a fully loaded Toyota Camry also offers AWD. Like the cheapest Mercedes on the market, the Altima also offers interior ambient lighting, another luxury car feature, for $210.

Optional paint finishes are also surprisingly cheap, with both an optional red and white finish costing only $395. Unfortunately, there’s only a total of six paint colors to choose from. All told, a fully loaded Nissan Altima doesn’t stretch too far above its advertised MSRP. Options like the $375 door edge guards and cosmetics like a $420 rear spoiler means a truly loaded up Altima comes out to a manageable $37,520.

Is the 2022 Nissan Altima a good car for the price?

So, is the 2022 Nissan Altima worth it for nearly forty stacks? We decided to ask Consumer Reports. On the brand’s 0-100 scale, the Nissan Altima sedan scored a not-half-bad 72/100. Critically, Consumer Reports found the Altima a real treat on the road, giving it an 81/100 on their road test. The highlights reel is promising, with the Altima delivering on a quiet and comfortable ride, a solid 31 mpg, and spacious rear seats and cargo room.

Really, for a family sedan, it’s hard to see why the Altima is overlooked until you dig deeper. Unfortunately, Consumer Reports predict the reliability for the 2022 Altima won’t be as great as one would hope. Unlike the dead-reliable Toyota Camry, the Nissan sedan has a spotty history that lead to a poor 2/5 reliability score. As a result, owner satisfaction could be lower than traditionally popular choices in the segment like the Accord.

The Altima is a semi-budget semi-luxury sedan

Thankfully, that’s what a warranty is for, and you should make sure your Altima comes with one. Should Nissan be able to address reliability concerns with this model year, the Altima could become far more competitive. Still, if a budget sedan with some luxury car features is your goal, the Altima ought to deliver, especially at this price.