Looking for solid fuel economy in a mid-size sedan? The Nissan Altima’s gas mileage numbers tell an interesting story—one that depends entirely on what you’re comparing it to. Let’s break down exactly what you can expect from the 2025 Altima’s fuel efficiency and how it stacks up against the competition.
The Real Numbers: 2025 Nissan Altima MPG Ratings
The 2025 Nissan Altima runs exclusively on a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. The performance VC-Turbo option? It’s gone. That simplifies your choices and focuses the lineup on efficiency over performance.
Here’s what you actually get:
Front-Wheel Drive Models
The FWD Altima S and SV trims deliver the best numbers: 27 MPG city, 39 MPG highway, and 32 MPG combined.
The SR and SL trims drop slightly to 27 city, 37 highway, and 31 combined. Those bigger 19-inch wheels and extra equipment add weight, which explains the difference.
All-Wheel Drive Models
Every AWD configuration—SV, SR, and SL—gets the same rating: 25 MPG city, 34 MPG highway, and 28 MPG combined.
That’s actually a 2-MPG drop from last year’s AWD models. Not a huge change, but it matters when you’re comparing options.
| Trim | Drive Type | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S, SV | FWD | 27 | 39 | 32 |
| SR, SL | FWD | 27 | 37 | 31 |
| SV, SR, SL | AWD | 25 | 34 | 28 |
How Far Can You Actually Drive on a Tank?
The Altima comes with a 16.2-gallon fuel tank for FWD models and 16.0 gallons for AWD versions.
Do the math on the best-case FWD scenario: you’re looking at roughly 437 city miles or 630 highway miles before you need to refuel. That’s a legitimate road-trip range that beats most competitors.
The AWD models give you about 400 city miles and 544 highway miles—still respectable for weekend getaways or long commutes.
Real-world testing backs this up. Reviewers testing the 2025 Altima reported getting approximately 38 MPG on highways and around 26 MPG in city driving, which aligns closely with EPA estimates.
The Elephant in the Showroom: No Hybrid Option
Here’s where things get uncomfortable for the Altima. There’s no hybrid version. Not in 2025, not planned, just… nothing.
Meanwhile, Toyota made the 2025 Camry hybrid-only. The entire lineup. Honda pushed nearly all its premium Accord trims to hybrid powertrains. Even Hyundai offers a 47-MPG Sonata Hybrid.
The Altima? Still running on straight gasoline while its competitors lap it in efficiency.
This isn’t just a product gap—it’s a strategic surrender. When shoppers search for “gas mileage,” they’re really asking about hybrids. Nissan doesn’t have an answer.
Nissan Altima Gas Mileage vs. the Competition
Let’s see how the Altima actually performs against its rivals. Spoiler: it depends on which rivals you’re counting.
Honda Accord: The Split Decision
The base Accord with its 1.5L turbo matches the Altima at 32 MPG combined. You get better city mileage (29 vs. 27) with the Honda, while the Nissan wins on the highway (39 vs. 37).
But then there’s the Accord Hybrid, which hits 48 MPG combined. That’s 16 MPG better than the Altima’s best number. Over a year of driving, that difference adds up to serious money at the pump.
Toyota Camry: The Efficiency Benchmark
This comparison hurts. The 2025 Camry lineup is all-hybrid, with the base model hitting 51 MPG combined.
Even the least efficient Camry variant beats the Altima by 12 MPG. The Camry’s AWD hybrid option delivers 50 MPG combined compared to the Altima AWD’s 28 MPG. That’s not a competition—it’s a different technological generation.
Hyundai Sonata: Your True Equal
The Sonata’s base gas engine delivers 32 MPG combined in FWD form—identical to the Altima. The AWD Sonata also matches the Altima at 28 MPG combined.
This is your apples-to-apples comparison. Two conventional sedans with similar efficiency. The difference? Hyundai also offers that 47-MPG hybrid option if you want it.
Kia K5: A Win for Nissan
Finally, a victory. The K5’s gas models range from 29 to 30 MPG combined for FWD and 27 MPG for AWD. The Altima beats it by 1-2 MPG across the board.
If you’re strictly comparing conventional gas sedans, the Altima has better numbers than the K5.
Subaru Legacy: The AWD Specialist
Here’s where the Altima’s AWD option loses its appeal. The Subaru Legacy comes with AWD standard on every trim and delivers 30 MPG combined with its base 2.5L engine.
That’s 2 MPG better than the Altima AWD’s 28 MPG. Subaru gives you a more robust all-wheel-drive system and better fuel economy. The Altima’s AWD value proposition just evaporated.
| Model | Gas FWD | Gas AWD | Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Altima | 32 MPG | 28 MPG | N/A |
| Honda Accord | 32 MPG | N/A | 48 MPG |
| Toyota Camry | N/A | N/A | 50-51 MPG |
| Hyundai Sonata | 32 MPG | 28 MPG | 47 MPG |
| Kia K5 | 30 MPG | 27 MPG | N/A |
| Subaru Legacy | N/A | 30 MPG | N/A |
What Changed from 2024 to 2025?
Not much for FWD buyers. The 2024 Altima S and SV FWD models had the same 27/39/32 ratings you get in 2025. Same story for the SR and SL trims at 27/37/31.
The AWD models took a hit, though. Last year’s AWD Altima achieved 26 city, 36 highway, and 30 combined. This year drops to 25/34/28—a 2-MPG decrease across every category.
That’s significant when you consider the Subaru Legacy now has a clear efficiency advantage with its standard AWD.
The other big change? Nissan discontinued the 248-hp VC-Turbo engine that was available in 2024. The lineup’s now simplified to just the 2.5-liter engine. Less complexity, but also fewer performance options.
The Technology Behind the Numbers
The 2025 Altima’s efficiency comes down to two key components working together.
The 2.5L Engine
Nissan’s 2.5-liter Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG) 4-cylinder produces 188 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque in FWD configurations. The AWD versions get slightly less—around 182 hp and 178 lb-ft based on last year’s specs.
It’s not a powerhouse, but it’s designed for steady efficiency rather than thrilling acceleration.
The Xtronic CVT
Every Altima uses Nissan’s continuously variable transmission. Unlike traditional automatics with fixed gears, the CVT constantly adjusts its ratio to keep the engine in its most efficient operating range.
That’s why the Altima shines on highways—the CVT keeps engine RPMs low during steady cruising, maximizing that 39 MPG highway rating.
Some drivers don’t love the feel of CVTs (they can sound droning under acceleration), but you can’t argue with the efficiency results.
Who Should Actually Buy the 2025 Altima?
The Altima makes sense for specific buyers—not everyone.
You’ll Love the Altima If:
You want a new, conventional FWD sedan and don’t care about hybrid technology. That 39 MPG highway rating is excellent for road trips, and the spacious, comfortable cabin makes long drives pleasant.
If you’re comparing only gas-versus-gas sedans, the Altima competes well on efficiency and typically costs less than comparable Accords or Camrys.
Skip the Altima If:
Maximum fuel efficiency is your priority. The hybrid Camry, Accord, and Sonata will save you thousands in fuel costs over the vehicle’s lifetime. That 15-19 MPG combined advantage compounds quickly.
You want AWD for weather capability. The Subaru Legacy gives you more robust all-wheel drive with better fuel economy (30 vs. 28 MPG combined). Why compromise?
You’re interested in performance. With the VC-Turbo gone, there’s no sport sedan option anymore. Look at the Sonata N-Line or K5 GT instead.
The Final Verdict on Altima Fuel Efficiency
The 2025 Nissan Altima’s gas mileage tells two different stories depending on your perspective.
In the shrinking world of conventional gas sedans, it’s competitive. That 32 MPG combined matches the base Accord and Sonata. It beats the K5 handily. The 39 MPG highway rating is genuinely impressive for a non-hybrid.
But step back and look at the broader mid-size sedan market—the one that includes hybrids—and the Altima looks dated. It’s a competent gas car in a segment that’s moved on to hybrid-centric strategies.
Car and Driver ranks it fifth among mid-size sedans, behind the hybrid-focused Accord and Camry. That ranking reflects the market reality: “good gas mileage” now means hybrid efficiency, not conventional engine optimization.
Reports suggest 2025 might be the Altima’s final year in this generation. The discontinuation of the VC-Turbo, the lack of hybrid development, and the reduced AWD efficiency all point to a model winding down rather than building up.
For buyers specifically seeking a traditional, affordable, comfortable sedan who don’t want hybrid complexity, the Altima delivers solid value. But if you’re asking “what gets the best gas mileage?”—that answer now lives in the hybrid aisle, where Nissan doesn’t have a seat at the table.
