Used 2009 Nissan Altima Consumer Reviews

Twice as Nice

Brought home a second Altima (2009 2.5) in less than a year to join the 2008 3.5 sibling at home! We love these cars! Great handling, good acceleration and power, even in the I4! Got our 3.5 after testing 4 and the 2.5 after testing 6 (each time visiting 3 dealers). Learned something very valuable -- out-of-round tires cause bad vibrations/shimmy! (Result of sitting in one spot on the lot too long -- a year or so. Permanently damages the steel belt radials -- you need new tires.) Also, discovered that cars made in Canton (rather than Smyrna) seem to be better -- quieter engines and superior quality parts such as knobs/trim. Must be the QA program Canton established after a bad start.

Great car!

Although I've only owned this car for one week, I'm already in love. It handles well and the ride is so smooth. I initially went to purchase the 2009 Nissan Rogue, but quickly changed my mind after test driving the Altima. The price compared to the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord is good. The car looks very sporty, yet still feels like you are driving a luxury car. I'm now a dedicated Nissan customer. I bought the fully loaded Altima, with the exception of the navigation system.

2009 Nissan Altima used purchase.

Con: Road noise is apparent, especially with front end, nothing loose tho. Biggest Pro is excellent acceleration, plenty of power from 4 cycl engine, 175Horse.

Sporty-looking, elegant car for grownups

This coupe is a fine-looking car. I got the Slate color, which is a really nice and elegant color, looks much better than white. Classy car that looks sporty without hanging a silly spoiler on the trunk. Have gotten lots of compliments on its looks. Have not seen another of these coupes on the road, although have seen the Infiniti G37 couple, which looks just about the same but costs about twice as much. This car is a very good value for the money. Car handles well, giving a sporty drive while keeping good road feel. Comfortable to drive. I am well satisfied with my first Nissan.

Almost like my beloved 92 Camry

Strengths: It is mechanically reliable and when I took the plastic cover off the engine this year to get a better look at it I was surprised at how clean it was. The rubber hoses are holding up well. Good passing acceleration Good overall craftsmanship and sturdiness in the engine compartment, interior, body Paint is durable Stiff suspension on good roads makes for excellent handling. Nice small turning radius for a mid-sized car making it easier to park and maneuver in general Weaknesses: Suspension too stiff in dry weather when road conditions are bumpy, better in rainy weather. Overly sensitive to small changes in tire pressure due to a defective TPMS that had a slow leak for three years since purchase until finally it was properly diagnosed when putting on new tires. Accelerates too suddenly from zero unless you gingerly apply just a little pressure to the gas pedal. Takes some getting used to. Brakes too grabby. You have to ease in on the brake pedal. Takes some getting used to. Audio System has way too much base even at minimum setting of -5. Had to replace original unit one year from purchase because of no display. Audio quality on factory replacement unit is worse on mid-range and base. Had to replace headlights after 4 years for fogging up (improper seal). Though the headlights have good spread for detecting deer the depth of field is weak on distance. Slant of windshield makes for compromised visibility for those wearing glasses because of optic interaction distortion between windshield and prescription glasses. Note - older cars with less slant to windshields have much better visibility. Poor rear view vision out rear windows requires extensive use of side mirrors. Large truck and van drivers probably won't notice but the average car driver will. MPG is less than advertised though that can be attributed to poor road conditions in Wake County NC and poorly timed traffic lights, and lately, drivers distracted by their cell phones. Original tires made for poor handling. After they wore out I bought the Michelin Defender which improved drive-ability drastically, like night verses day.

good car prone to some repairs, i sold the car

Takes about $100/year in miscellaneous repairs. Update, August 2, 2017, 58000 miles, runs well no major problems just serpentine belt and routine maintenance. I am pleased with the car. the new owner has had no problems in 2 years.

Great fun car but not perfect

I have owned my 2009 Altima for 7 months now. I love to drive it. It is such a fun good looking car. It drives and handles well, but it does have some exterior engine noise that could be looked into. Interior room needs a little expanding. They could have taken some of that trunk and given more leg room for backseat passengers.

Great Car!

I love my new Nissan Altima coupe. It has a great feel on the road, plenty of pep and it's fun to drive. The Altima coupe has that "sports car" feel at an affordable price. The new CVT transmission is excellent...a great addition to this fine car. I would highly recommend this car to anyone in the market for a sporty daily driver.

Fun, but room for improvement

Fun car. Looks great. Issues: Super loud wind noise esp. with windows down and driving over 40mph. Steering is weird. Always aligning it. tends to pull too much to left. Found condensation in rear brake light already. Volume knob makes squeaky sounds sometimes. Don't like the seek control on steering wheel. why hold it down and have to wait. That isn't good. Brakes are jumpy and just not right. The CVT shifting is okay,but takes too long to shift and hangs in high rev too long. It is better when i do it manual and shift at the proper time. It is not smooth at all. it's fun to drive around town. Engine revs a bit too loud and wish the shifting was better. Mileage is good and it looks nice

Great road trip car!

Reliable, comfortable, low maintenance , great highway mpg.

Amazing

The reason I purchased my Altima was because my wife wanted a bigger car. Owned a Honda Civic, which I loved great on gas. Just not roomy enough. I like the styling. Very roomy for my wife and my 2 daughters. The 4 cyl @ 175hp is amazing. Owned a Nissan Maxima before, so I know about Nissan performance. Enjoying every minute of it. Interior styling while not great is comfortable. Some slight exterior noise, a little noisy when accelerating.

Former Camry Owner

Owned two Toyota Camrys and due to their age, decided time was right to purchase new. Couldn't beat the Nissan price deals. Since all reviews show Nissan comparable, decided to give it a try. Initial Altima impression, nice car; nice ride; but, dislike don't like the blindspots. I'm also concerned that the engine makes a slight pinging sound at idle (i.e. sounds like a diesel). Haven't had the chance to have the dealer look at it yet. All in all, haven't had the car long enough to decide if it's as high quality as Toyota.

Disappointed

Having owned 2 older Altimas I'm disappointed with my new 09 Altima 2.5S 6 speed manual. The engine sounds horrible when cold. Acceleration is not good when trying to merge onto the highway but its ok around town. The cheap plastic door panels vibrate way too much when playing the music loud (very annoying). There is too much wind noise. The drivers seat is not comfortable. I hate the handling. The cheap tires and soft suspension makes the car floaty and unstable. On the highway the car is all over the place especially on windy days. Ironically it corners fairly well. On the good side, the ride is nice, it has plenty of room, it looks good and it gets great fuel economy.

Good Ride

I have had my 2.5SL for over a month. So far I am getting on average 30mpg. The car is very quiet and handles really well. The sound system is ok, could be improved. (I did not get the Bose) The exterior look sharp. Plenty of room for 4 passengers. I am 6'1'' and find the drivers seat somewhat uncomfortable. I am still trying to play with the 8 way adjustable seat to figure out how to get comfortable.

Performance Without A Heavy Price Tag

I recently traded in a 2009 Honda Accord EXL-4ycl because I was not satisfied with the braking and acceleration. After about 9k miles I started having problems with the rear brakes. I test the drove the Altima and was pleasantly suprised with the performance as compared to the Accord. The Altima has a silky smooth powertrain thanks to the CVT transmission. I prefer a more sporty type vehicle and did not have alot of money to spend. I purchased a used 09 that was in almost showroom condition for 16k. This is the vehicle to purchase if you are seeking performance in a 4 cyl.

Good car

This is my first new car and I really like it. I was testing 2008 altima coupe 2.5s and Honda accord coupe exl. Even though I like the long term reliability of Honda but I like the style and performance of altima coupe. It is much quite than the Honda accord. I would recommend this car to anyone who likes the sport car. Accord coupe is also a beautiful car but I think it is still like a family car.

Nice Car

Ive been very impressed so far with this car. The price was great for such a reliable car. It is not only reliable but can be quick and great on gas.

Big regrets

I was drawn to this car by the body style, the overall appearance, and the smoothness of the CVT. I have owned it for about 17 months. I think the luster was gone fairly soon. The visibility is very poor in my opinion. Gas Mileage is just okay. I recently hit a deer on the freeway. I was going about 65 mph. I'm fortunate that neither myself or my passenger was injured. But the damage to the car amazing and the repair bill to my insurance company was $9000. I wish it were totaled so I could have returned to driving a Honda Accord. Overall, I think the car is poorly designed.

Great Commuter

Bottom line is this is a great commuter car. It is comfortable, gets great gas mileage (28-32), has plenty of power compared to its competition, pleasure to drive (i didn't mean fun, you might fall asleep). I think it out performs the competition all away around. I drove them all. Some small issues I have are: the engine noise in the cabin(its a screamer if you like to drive on the harder side). The CVT can be annoying. It truly does sound like a motor boat. You'll have to use autostick to calm her down. Also the brakes are extremely grabby, be prepared, you'll get used to it though. Handles great in the rain with contiprotrac tires. Overall great car for the money!

Couldnt' be Happier

To say that I am happy with my Nissan Altima would be an understatement. This vehicle replaced a 2006 Murano. It has everything I could want... and more. My car comes with Bluetooth, which is easy to use and it actually understands me! I don't have the optional Navigation system, but there is a convenient compartment with electrical to plug in my portable Nuvi. My Altima only has 4 cylinders, but I have no problem with acceleration onto the expressway. My only regret is that I am leasing. If I had known how happy I would be, I would have bought it.

Good 4 Dr. Sedan Choice!

Owned this car for just over 1 month, and I know I made the right choice. I had 23 choices: Accord, Camry or an Altima. I was looking at the 6 cyl. versions of these sedans. Nissan came through in quality of the interior over the Camry. The Honda had more road noise than the others. The Nissan was the most comfortable for me (6'1", 200#). The handling was superior in the Altima - it felt most in touch with the road. I thought I would not like the transmission, but I LOVE the CVT. No harsh shifting points. The CVT does make a noise when accelerate or shutting the engine down like a jet engine. The 10 year CVT warranty assured me it is ok. I do not hesitate to recommend it.

A winner

I'm what you could consider a hesitant buyer, someone who may spend a year researching and test driving vehicles before committing to buy. As a long- time Honda owner (I still own an Odyssey), the Accord was my initial favorite, but I've researched and test drove most of the competition as well. These are all excellent cars. While I cannot claim that the Altima is the better car, it had enough features I liked to win me over. I owned it for almost 3 months now and I am still excited every morning when I get into it. Since the Accord was my initial choice, I'm listing below the features of the Altima that won me over. What I liked in the competition is listed as suggested improvements.

Awesome Altima

I just bought my 2009 Nissan Altima and I love it! It has a really smooth ride, has a good sound system. Looks almost like the other Altima upgraded models. Real big trunk and glove box to store items. Every time I drive it I feel real safe, I love the intel key and push button start. It has real good MPG too. I would recommend this car to anyone. GO NISSAN! :D

disturbing horn/alarm

the altima 2009 is okay but one major pain: the remote key set. the horn button is awkwardly place that whenever the keys are in my pocket, the pad will often touch pocket contents or plain body and sound the alarm when I don't need it. I have to hold it all the time. can the next key pad be modified to ensure the alarm part is lower than other keys and cannot accidentally be triggered.

Lien holdet

Good running car

ABSOLUTE SCAM

Much like other Nissan CVT owners, the transmission is HORRIBLE!!!! DO NOT GET THIS NISSAN, OR ANY SIMILAR. Bought this Nissan when it was at 170,000 miles, however, previous owner replaced with new transmission at 119,000 (at Nissan dealership... I have the receipt for it). After only a few weeks of driving it, the car was already making weird noises, and gears were not shifting correctly. TWO TIMES: I was driving on the highway, and car just stopped accelarating. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. NO TRANSMISSION SHOULD GIVE OUT AFTER A LITTLE OVER 50,000 ADDED MILES!!!! And yes, I did take it to the same dealership that replaced the transmission, and was told that nothing could be done. Horrible customer service. This car is so much maintence, and EXTREMELY UNRELIABLE. DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME, STRESS, AND MONEY.

CRAPPIEST Car I ever owned

I bought the 2009 Altima in March 2009. It is by far the CRAPPIEST car I ever owned (among 10+ cars). Extremely noisy cabin, gas-alcoholic, rides uncomfortably, issues with transmission, touchy brakes, cheaply-made interior, seals already weathered, very noisy while accelerating, etc, etc. ... and not to mention the much higher insurance-premiums Nissan owners have to pay for such a piece of crap. CVT is totally worthless - it truly subtracts any little value this vehicle has. The only positive attribute I can talk about is the style of the car, and outside shape/contours, which were quite a big factor in choosing it - I still think it has a great look (as most Nissans do).

2009 Nissan Altima 4 door SL

Bought brand new. I think that the overall appearance of the vehicle is sharp. I do however have some issues. The engine noise in the cabin is quite loud. I also have condensation in my rear brake lights and when addressed with the dealer, they told me that was normal. Had to have the rotors resurfaced already at 11,400 miles (I've had it less than a year.) The CVT transmission seems to lag and not shift fast enough. It also feels like it can't get out of its own way sometimes. My Mazda 3 was faster and way more fun! The Altima is nice but not really fun to drive and the steering is weird, I always feel like I am correcting it.

Worst car ever owned

Bought 2009 Altima brand new in Nov 2009. Engine extemly loud, the rear brakes are so loud. I only have 11,000 miles on it. The engine sounds like it is going to drop to the ground at any moment. The passenger chair makes a virbrating sound. Just an awful new car. I regret buying this piece of crap. I can't wait to go back to Honda.

I felt it is for Older people 45+

When i first bought it i was thrilled with the looks of the car especially the black (the best color on an Altima) and loved the Bluetooth system, start button and the intel. key system and so on. but thinking i got a sporty car every-time i see this car on the street i see a 45+ person driving it(with all due respect). now i reached 10,500 km and want to sell it for this reason mostly. i thought it was a sporty car but i was wrong.

fair

Worst transmission, engine, and noise

I don't actually own an Altima (thank God), however, a friend of mine has one and I honestly hate it more than any other midsized car sold in America. The car uses what I consider to be the worst transmission offered on any car, anywhere. That, combined with the engine, produces mediocre power, lazy throttle acceleration, and the absolute worst engine noise conceivable. Combine that with an EXTREMELY outdated exterior/interior, unbearable rear seats, a mediocre sound system, and a lack of joy, and you are left with what is quite possibly the worst midsized car sold today. Seriously, I hate that CVT transmission. The transmission takes what little power there is and reduces it to nothing.

GREAT CAR!

I love this car! I was undecided between the Altima and the Malibu and after test driving both of these cars I fell in love with the Altima! It has so much more room and it drives so much smoother then the Malibu! I'm so pleased with my final decision! Also, you can also use the Altima as a standard or an automatic vehicle. I don't know how to drive a standard but my boyfriend loves that we have that extra feature in the car! The push start button is amazing because when I leave work my hands are always so full so I've always had to dig for my keys and now I don't have to! This is a really amazing car and I'm so pleased that I chose the NISSAN ALTIMA!

Don't buy if you use for travel

Took our new Altima SL on its first out of town trip. Very uncomfortable passenger seating, especially the poorly designed front passenger seat. The seat is only 8" from the floor, and seat dimensions are too small for someone over 5'10". Unfortunately, we spent too much time worrying about engine performance and options, and the test drive was not long enough to focus on this serious problem. We bought this for in town driving (which is fine), and for some out of town trips. It is physically painful to ride more than an hour. Very disappointed -- wish we had stayed with a slightly less responsive, and a little more boring Accord or Camry that we considered.

Will buy another

This car is amazing! PLENTY of power considering it is a 4 cyl. when I test drove it I thought it was a 6!!!! Inside is comfortable with lots of room for my 6 ft husband to drive and sit. Back seat is giant. I will buy another when I am ready and usually that is a year but I want to keep this one for years to come. My friend is going to buy one this weekend!!!

09 Altima 2.5 with Navigation

You get your money's worth! The 2.5 with navigation has many high end features of luxury brands without the price. I traded in an 07 Audi A4 which had more torque and better cornering but the Altima has a lot more to offer for the price and looks just as sporty. The navigation system with integrated Bluetooth and Bose stereo is great. The fog lights and rear spoiler make the car more sporty. The CVT is great but the engine can be loud when you accelerate quickly. Push button start is a cool and convenient feature. I'm happy with my purchase and got a fantastic lease payment!

Overhyped Car - Too Much Noise/Vibration

I was in the market for a new car and after reading reviews and test driving a lot of cars, the Nissan Altima was my eventual choice. First the good - great power for a 4-cyl and great gas mileage. Interior is plain but functional. Very stylish. But now the bad. After 1 week of driving - A LOT of vibrations in the floor and pedals from the road. It is to the point now that my feet physically hurt if I operate the car for more than 20 minutes. According to 2 different Nissan mechanics, this is "perfectly normal" and "why the car is so cheap." I don't consider $24K to be cheap and I certainly don't expect any car to operate like this one. This purchase is a regrettable one for sure.

Well worth the little extra in price

Just purchased this car for my wife, we researched and test drove the Camry, Fusion, and Mazda6 as well but selected the Altima. It has what we felt was the best finishing details/trim and was sportier than the Camry and Fussion. The Mazda6 was a close 2nd place but our local dealer didn't have much of a selection. We have owned Mazda 626 and a Camry in the past and really like both of them, but the Altima just fit our needs better this time. Probably a little more in price when equipped comparably, but worth the extra $$. We love it so far.

Go With Six Cyl

I got the SL package on my 2.5S and am only mildly content with the performance vs. options compromise I chose. Having only owned previous 8 cyl. cars (Last was a Continental), the change to 4cyl has been an adjustment to say the least. Ride is great, styling and value are better than Accd/Camry/Mazda6. Power is acceptable; but, wish I got the 6cyl. Still think the mileage for either is great.

Awesome car over all - love it

I got the 2.5SL with the nav package. I'm very happy with the car. I love the CVT - very responsive and smoother than the 07 loaner the dealer gave me while waiting for my car. Car is fun to drive, and has a surprising amount of power for a 4 cyl - made me forget about not being able to get the V6. I average about 27-29 mpg in suburban traffic. It stinks that stability and traction control are only available in the V6 cyl. My other big gripe is the radio that comes with the nav package. Could be MUCH better. Sounds good though Overall, this is the best car I've bought to date. I enjoy driving it and it has a smooth and quiet ride. Engine can be a little noisy when revved though.

I Just love Altima 2.5 S

My wife had a car accident and our Acura Integra was a total loss. So when we chose a new car safety was of primary concern. We found the Nissan Altima had the highest safety rating so we bought it. Now I can tell that not only you feel safe driving it, but also fun driving it. It feels so smooth and, the fuel economy is just excellent. We are so glad that we bought it rather than Toyota Camry which we looked at first. Camry is a good car too. But Altima 2.5 S is just great.

Hard to Please Happy Driver

I wanted to wait until the I had some time with the car before I gave my review. All i can say is that I really enjoy driving this car. The engine is sweet and quite responsive around town and on the highway. The gas mileage is where I though it would be (average 26 in mixed driving) and it has been increasing with each tank. No car is perfect, but the SL has all the features I was looking for at a price that did't leave me car poor at the end of the month. I test drove all the competition...Fusion, Accord, Camry, Malibu, Mazda6....and I kept coming back to the Altima. I'm glad I did.

Ya gotta drive this one !!!!!

This is my first foreign vehicle. I have been a " Ford Guy " since I started to drive 32 years ago. I tried Honda, Toyota and Nissan is my choice. This car is fun to drive and the gas mileage is unreal. I get on average 31 mpg. I am 6'3" and I have plenty of head and leg room. There is also plenty of room for 3 average adults in the back seat also. No need for the 6 cyl for power, just take the 4 cyl first and give it a try. Much better gas mileage also.

THE ULTIMATE ALTIMA YET....

well let me start by writing I sold my 2008 Toyota Avalon touring pkg for this car. this is one comfertable, fun to drive, well equiped, FUEL EFFCIENT, FAST.....etc and the list goes on and on and on... i've owened this car from march/2009 and until today i still look forward driving it. the CVT trany it is the best invention yet that nissan used in their cars. if you ask me about pros and cons all I can say is PROs... PROs. i was a toyota guy for the past 10 years. I tried hondas and more toyotas but didn't like them. i'm so glad/happy that i bought a nissan it is well build inside and outside.the only think that I had to get used to "WHICH IS NOT A BAD THINK" is CVT trany.

Liking My Altima

I am leasing an '09 after my '94 Camry finally broke down. I looked at Camry, the Aura and a slightly used Milan, but the Altima was more fun to drive, with lots of interior space and a more eye catching exterior. My Altima has been problem free and enjoyable from day one. It handles well, has easy controls, and gives some refinement along with fun.

Just Purchased -- Great So Far

Just purchased this vehicle a week ago using the clunker incentive. I purchased the Altima 2.5S with all the options except for the Navi. So far I have driven it ~900 miles. Ride, handling, acceleration, etc are all excellent. I couldn't be happier.

Nissan Altima 2.5SL w/Nav

I looked at Accords, Acura TSX, Mazda 6, and even a used Lexus ES 350. Hands down for the money I feel like I couldn't find a better car. I ended up leasing a brand new 09 Altima 2.5 SL w/nav. Has all the features of high end vehicles w/o the price tag. If your looking for a smooth looking car with great features this is a hard one to beat!

Stay Away

Had the car for two months and water has entered on the drivers side. Although the dealer is attempting to determine the cause and will fix under the warranty, I now worry whether there has been any damage to the wiring or computer systems most critical to this vehicle, as the water has entered up under the dash. Particularly, the keyless starting system and the possible rust to the floor boards due to the amount of water that has been deposited since I do not know how much water has entered the car. I am retired and have not driven much and there have been at least 4 heavy rains.

Zip Down the Highway in Style & Comfort

I love the styling and comfort of my 2.5S and am glad I made the choice to buy a Nissan product this time around. It has a lot of zip and a sporty look for a 4 door sedan. I've always owned 2 door coupes, but this 4 door car has won me over.

Fun family car

Got it loaded minus nav. Only owned the car for a week with almost 200 on the clock. The ride is wonderful and the power is exceptional. It feels very athletic yet has the capabilities for a family car that I was looking for. I rated it slightly lower on build and reliability because I already have a squeak by the back seat and a strange clank in the engine compartment by the driver's side firewall. Almost sounds like some spring mechanism resetting. It only does it after each start up after cooling down when you are just starting to drive off. Very strange.