Used 2003 Nissan Altima Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
still a great car
Last report 5-6-08 see Great Highway Car. Still a great car. Holding up decently. Now have 77k miles. My first problem, started to stumble when on highway. Felt like misfire. Checked spark plugs, found #3 did not look good. Replaced all spark plugs and #3 coil pack. Now car is great again. I still get about 27 mph with spirited driving. I run Mobile 1 synthetic oil every 5-6000 miles, does not use a drop of oil. Maintenance easy. A Durango ran me off the road in Dec on snowy road and I ran up a curb. Had to get two new tires but everything else ok. Typical strut clunk but ride not affected so i'll wait to replace. Overall has been an enjoyable reliable and comfortable car on long trips.
Driving In Style..
Overall a great car. It Handles well. Very Spacious and comfortable. Sleek, and looks more like an Infinity than a Nissan.. Like the title says, driving in style..
- 2.5 S SedanMSRP: $3,725144 mi away
- 3.5 SE SedanMSRP: $9,980386 mi away
- 2.5 S SedanMSRP: $2,995477 mi away
Best Car on the Road for under 30K
Love this car, it handles better than any other car in its class, looks ten times better than anything in its class and has much more room than anything in its class, Camry and Accord are no match to this car, the North American Car of the Year for 2002, I rest my case!
Love it so far
My wife and I have had our Altima 3.5SE for about a month now and have enjoyed every minute so far. We both find excuses to go out and drive it.
Funnest car ever driven!!!
I was going crazy looking for mid-size cars, until I stopped at the Nissan dealer,this car has style,performance and reliability all wrapped up in one package. The price was great, the options that came were what I needed. Honda and Toyota would have charged me $3000 more for the same options I got in the Altima. Very fun to drive, worth every penny if you are looking for a dependable and stylish car set at just the right price.
Very Pleased !!!
Great car !!! If the '02 interior was cheap (as I have read) then they have really improved it. While there is some plastic, it does not come across "cheap " at all. It is layed out very well, is very easy to use and the fit is very good...the car is really quiet also (surprisingly). Very impressive, not a lot of wind or road noise....also it is very roomy and comfy. I am tall and have a ton of space in the cabin. Overall, I am very impressed and would recommend an Altima to anyone.
It Gets No Better Than This!
I just purchased my Altima on the 1st of December and I simply love it to death. It drives superb and hands very good handling on the highway and the interior is simply awesome. I traded in a 2000 Nissan Altima to get this new baby. It's simply "Nissan or Nothing!" This is the best quality midsize car on the market now.
Great car, great price
Bought the '03 Altima in September, and I've been enjoying it ever since. I considered the 3.5, but frankly, with Chicago traffic the way it is, I just couldn't see spending the money when I'll barely even get to play fully with the full capability of the 2.5. Even at that, the 2.5 has plenty of getup and go. Can't say as I was impressed with the sales staff, but I went in armed with Edmunds, Consumer Reports, and Kelly Blue Book's pricing lists, so there was no doubt as to the accuracy of my numbers.
SAFE car
Great car inside and out. Unfortunately, it was totalled because a semi, my Altima,and cement wall. The car is total loss, but I survived without a scratch! I highly recommend this vehicle for the safety features and all crupple zones worked as advertised!! I am currently searching for a new and improved 2003. Thank you NISSAN!
Great Car
Great car but could get better gas mileage.
Move on a dime
When i test drove this car I feel in love with the way it took off and the handleing on the road, but before that i allso test drove the camry,and the honda accord 4cyl. and the altima beat them hands down. so that was the reason that sold me.oh yeah and the price was real good too. thank you nissan.
Love that Altima!
Have owned 3 sentras and a 95 altima, this is by far the best. Great reliablility in a car. I have had the 2003 Altima for a week now and still can't get over the smooth, quiet ride. Considered Jetta and Accord but they have boring styling, this V6 has pep even in an automatic. Drove the 2002 Maxima for a day while removing pinstripes on new Altima. Altima much improved over Maxima. Watch out for the new 2004 maxima though.
I'm Loving It
I bought it used with 98400 miles on it. It's the first car I ever bought with high miles. I just hit 100000 miles a few days ago. I know it hasn't been a month yet, but it's probably the best car I have owned. Everything else I have owned were American cars. I've had a Ford Escort, Mercury Cougar, Dodge Neon, Pontiac Grand Am. I like the fact that it has a Timing Chain instead of a belt. I love driving it! The only thing is that I don't see a difference in gas considering my Grand Am was a V6 and this is a 4 cylinder. It seems like I got more mileage out of the V6.
Good starter car!
I've owned this car for almost 2 years and have made some minor upgrades to it. Overall it is a good car, wish it had a little more power in the low end. Very stylish looking, great stereo system, and a smooth ride.
A steal at $7800 though some worries
I'm a 19 yr old who bought this as his first car, and I've had it for exactly a month now and it has been awesome but I have had a few problems with it. The exhaust emits blue smoke when I rev the engine while idling, and though nothing seems wrong the check engine light will not go off. And thats beginning to bother me. But who woulda thought a 4 cylidner engine could be so powerful yet so efficient? I can reach 0-60 in 6 seconds and I get almost 32 mpg on the freeway, the downside is the 20 gallon tank. The stereo system is amazing for something thats so standard, and the a/c is ice cold. And I always turn heads when I drive by.
GREAT CAR
This vehicle has done well even in the extreme temperatures that we have here in Canada. I'm in sales and as a result spend alot of time in my vehicle. My hats off to the company for making such a great car. I'm picking up my new one on Saturday!
Disappointed Nissan Fan
Delivered w/38 lbs air in tires! Still rides poorly, harsh,noisy over road joints, jiggly, rear suspension seems like it's suspended on bungee chords on dips. Numerous rattles. Fasteners missing on plastic inner fender splash shields. Dealer can't find klunk in rear area, is replacing shocks to hopefully fix the problem. We have been a Datsun/Nissan/Infiniti family since 1982, owned Sentras, Maximas, 200SX, G- 20 etc. VERY disappointed with this car in comparison. Tougfh to back up, no part of the car is visable out rear window.
yt
Excellent car. Highly recommended.
Better have a rocket to pass this car!
After owning Toyotas Avalon for seven years and also owned the Toyota Corolla, I hate to admit it but the Nissan Altima out did the Toyota easily. This car puts anything out there to shame! It is the smoothest riding car I have ever owned! Driving this car is like driving a rocket! Love the Bose 6 cd changer sound system along with everything else! Drive this car one time and you will be sold! If you get this car you better have a fat wallet so you can pay for all the personal invitation to the policeman ball!
Awesome Car
Its about time they made the Altima available in a V6...and what a V6 it is. The engine is smooth, responsive, quiet, and fast. The exterior design is great. That's probably what attracted me to the car initially. Then, I found out that it had 240 horsepower hiding under its hood...I had to have it. The interior lacks a bit; however, consider the car. The Altima's price range extends from as low as $16K-$30K. For a $16K car, the interior is fine. For a $30K car, which is what mine almost was, the interior is lacking a bit, mostly in the cheap-looking door panels. The interior has some rattles, but I've learned to deal with it - turn the radio up.
Great Car, I miss it!
I bought this car used at 62K miles and loved it, until it was recently totaled at 150K. Everything was great, except for a few problems as its mileage got higher. Had to have a throttle replaced and it was about 800, but that was really the only major problem. It was needing a new alternator and a new shift lock, but I fixed those myself. Everything else was AWESOME! And airbags deployed and engine shut off automatically...great safety features.
Ultimate Altima
Excellent, beautiful looks
nissan altima 2003
i love this car, i have a 5 speed manual and i have only had the car since march 2003 and the leather in the stick shift got a tear in it, besides that i am happy with it. can you suggest how to get it fixed?
03 altima
In my opinion, my 03 Nissan is one of the best entry level luxury sedans for the money. Ive mainly compared it to the VW Passat and overall, the Altima is better. It is about six thousand dollars cheaper and looks about the same on the outside. The interior is very advanced for its time as well.
Sweet ride!
The car has power. I love the the way it handles. The car even seems to have the same power with the air conditioner at full blast in the middle of the summer. The ride is nice, even with the standard 17" in wheels on the 3.5 SE. The trunk is very spacy and the inside of the car has tons of rear passenger room. The car has yet to have any problems, it was driven off the lot with 8 miles on it and hasn't skipped a beat yet at roughly 900 miles. Overall, I like the smooth ride, the slick look and the overall power/feel for the car. I am entirely satisfied and give the car my top recommendation.
Silver Bullet
I love this car. For the money it feels like a high end Lexus. It has tons of power and very quiet. I use it to get up and down the freeway to work and around town. I got the Bose system and it rocks! My only complaints are minor - no power garage door opener button on the ceiling; for what I paid ($25k)it should of come with ABS like the Accord does.
Excellent third-time buyer.
My 3rd Altima and am devoted. Has power like nothing before. Very comfortable to drive.
Exceptional
Based on personal comparison shopping, the 2003 Nissan Altima outperformed its competitors in terms of price and quality. The standard 170+hp engine on the 2.5s is more than sufficient and can be upgraded, while keeping a very young professional feel to it necessary in my line of work. The only minor drawback, which should not discourage the Altima's potentional buyers, is that the engine is slightly noiser than its Toyota Camry counterpart, which is to be expected with the larger engine. I am so satisfied with this car that I recommend this car to all my friends.
Nissan Altima 2.5s
To consumers looking for a safe, fun, reliable and roomy vehicle, choose or test drive a nissan altima. I'm telling you this car is so comfortable, drives so smooth and is a sweet looking car for the price. I would reccomend this vehicle to anyone. The gas mileage is excellent and with all the options you can't go wrong.
Great Car
I've only had the car for a week, but I've driven over 1000 miles already. The Altima is an excellent car. For the money I think it is best in its class. I would recommend one strongly.
Review from a test driver only
I test drove the Nissan Altima 2002 today (8/31) and I have to say I was very impressed. The car looks awesome. The paint looks questionable though - how long will it last? The V4 hesitates like most 4 cylinders. The V6 more than makes up for it. The car is definitely fun to drive.
2003 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL
175 ponies in a 4cyl engine has some nice get-up-and- go. Traded a 2000 VW Golf GTI GLX VR6 on this car. My VW was a V6 and had 2hp less. My new Altima is a great automatic car for fun to drive value and I thought my VW was fun... it was a manual tranny too which I thought I'd miss but don't so far. The gated shifter in the Altima is a nice styling touch but takes a little to get used to. The 2003 model adds wood trim to the SL model and they didn't over do it. Just enough to add more style. The Bose 6 disc in dash stereo has great sound, lots of bass too. Impressive!
Nissan To Die For!
I have owned a Lexus, BMW, Mazda RX-7, Diamante and a Suburban, to name some. I can honestly say this is the most fun car out of all of the above. The power is unbelievable! You have to be careful when accelerating quickly due to the front wheel drive (it gets a little out of control!) I LOVE IT! I would highly reccommend this car for the money.
AWESOME CAR
GREAT OVERALL CAR! AFOORDABLE! DEPENDABLE AND RELIABLE. A CAR WITH A LOT OF CLASS
best
overall a nicely designed and built car, that can take on the best Toyota or Honda can throw at it.
stand out from the pack
I have had this car for 2 weeks now and I love it. I can't wait until it hits 1200 miles so I can really open it up. I have the black interior. If you scotchguard the seats and carpet you can avoid the lint problem. I noticed a bad seam on the door panel. The dealership has already ordered a replacement door and it will be replaced next week. The car is very roomy, great looking, and so fun to drive. I don't even get mad when I send in my 360 a month.
Great Car!
I bought my '03 Nissan new in 10/02 and now have over 130K miles on it, and still running strong. The maintenance has been minimal, and my driving style is not always easy on it. The acceleration is perky and my gas mileage is 27-28 on a daily basis. I've been driving it for almost 6 years and feel that it will last me a lot longer. The interior is a little on the cheap side, however it cost me $22-23,000 new, so who's complaining. Oh, and it's been paid for for 3 years, what a ride!!!
excellent
This is the most comfortable, fast, reliable, and a great Design.Fun to drive and very comfortable for long trips. very economic.
I'm so happy, I could plotz!
Just picked this up yesterday, and have already put close to 200 miles on it. This is absolutely the most fun car I have ever owned!! I am the mom of a 3 year old, and it fits an adult and 2 car seats in the back, as well as me (5'8") and my brother (6'4") in the front. Factory stereo is good quality- no Bose, but a nice sounding system, and the crystal blue paint with the side sills and splash guards gives this car a distincly not-your-average kindermusik mom look!!
Excellent car!
I love this car. Lots and lots of room, very beautiful, classy looking car. Many people thought it was a Lexus when I first purchased it.
Great car, great price
Bought the 2003 3.5 SE, and have been just completely blown away by how improved the interior is over the 2002, as well as how comfortable and fun to drive this car is. I've never owned a Nissan before (Honda & Toyotas mostly), but this Altima has me won over!! And, best of all, due to an error by the dealership, I got this one at slightly over Invoice!!! ;) The only downer is that Nissan doesn't run any financing specials on Altimas, so the Rate is a little higher than I would have liked, but I can live with it!
My Best Friend
I first bought a '99 Altima in 2000 and fell in love with it.I only had the '99 for a year and a half.I wanted a different style and much newer. I had seen the '03 on tv and just kept saying that was my next car, and sure enough in sept '02 I bought a 2002 Altima, had nothing but problems, so in dec '02 I traded that in for 2003 Altima and was the best choice ever.Have not had any problems whatsoever.I love the ride it gives, very comfortable. If I was to trade this one in I would either get another Altima or a Maxima or a Murano.Nissan is my type of car and will always be.
2003 Altima is terrific.
What a great car! My fiance happily dropped off her lemon (a 2000 Olds Alero) and picked up one of the nicest cars on the market. We fell in love with this car after test driving many others in its class. The styling and build quality were unmatched.
ok car
i got this car for my wife for Christmas 2003 car did us right for aprox 3 years brought back to dealer for 3 recalls dealer insisted we need a service when dropping off the car we were not getting suckered for those ridiculous prices we maintain this car like a baby oil change every 3k all the time. after getting car back from dealer for recalls we had numerous problems sevice light would always go on car ran very rough when idling had to get it towed back to dealer 2 months later this went on for a year and a half costing $300 each time sensor sensor sensor every dam sensor seamed to be changed now running ok but the gas mileage stinks 18-22 mpg my wife loves her car i don't too big for 4c
GREAT CAR CHEAP QUALITY
ITS A BIG GREAT PERFORMANCE CAR, BUT THE MATERIAL USED IN THIS CAR LIKE THE SEATS CLOTH AND THE INTERIOR ARE VERY VERY VERY CHEAP AND BREAKABLE AFTER A PERIOUD OF TIME.
Patience is a virtue
I looked for two months for the right car. I narrowed it down to the Altima 2.5S, Camry LE and the Sonata LE (fully loaded).Each car has advantages.I finally made the decision to buy the Altima and I am extemely happy. I got it for a few hundred under invoice. The Camry was to plain and I just could not flush my money on the Hyundai. The Altima is large, powerful, roomy, plenty of power features, and lots of storage space. The 175hp 4cyl is responsive and the gas mileage is good. I have never been happier with a new car purchase. The color is polished pewter. I highly recommend the Nissan Altime for looks, power and quality.
NO BUYERS REMORSE HERE!!
I searched for a year, to find a car I could love for 5 years or more. The Altima 2.5S was that car. I looked for a 2002(checking for a deal), and couldn't find one, cheaper than a 2003. Whoever, says they are not holding there own on re-sale, try looking in Arizona. They are hanging in there with the Honda's and Toyota's. Which there body styles are in no comparison to the Altima's. I got my Altima - I absolutely love it. It drives like a dream. The interior is a little "plasticy" but what do you except for a car in that price range. Honda wasn't any better.
The Family Sports Car
Just bought this car this week, but was very impressed with the exterior styling, engine, interior layout, and competitive price. Steering and handling is exceptional, and up to this point, haven't found any shortcomings with the vehicle anywhere. Nissan's financing program on the Altima is exceptional at the present time. Hope reliability is as good as my 1983 Datsun Pickup (I still drive and use) that has over 300,000 miles on it. So far, a Great Car.
dont buy black
I love this car.....but I ahve owned other black cars and not had near the problem I am having with this car. I think it is a pretty cheap paint....I know it looks great clean but with this paint it is impossible to get rid of water spots!
Nissan Hits Jackpot
After owning an older Altima and having NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER for the 130K miles (sold it above Edmunds.com's estimate for Private Party), I have bought my 2003 2.5 S in October, 2002. Already put 6,000 miles on without ANY problems. Love the powerful 4 cyl., the steadiness at speed on the road and in the curves, the comfort and space inside. The outside design is a winner, leaving Toyota and Honda scrambling at the drawing boards to catch up. Price was fantastic (about $4000 less than any other car in this category). BUY ONE and KEEP IT as long as you need and... ENJOY!