Used 2009 Nissan Altima Consumer Reviews
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Pretty Good
Car has smooth ride and decent handling. Handling could be improved with better OE tires. Very pleased with MPG so far. Lease deal was terrific, and that is what swayed me, although I do like the styling and interior design. Intelligent key is great--no fishing for the remote.
Death Trap
Its been back to the dealer too many times, have owned the car around a month - what a headache! Twice today the passenger airbag light turned off with the passenger seated with seatbelt on. Whatever car you're getting, check out the NHTSA website for safety complaints. Its a bumpy ride, I guess the price you pay for more performance. The CVT is good, as is the low end torque. Attention to detail and quality are a couple of levels below Camry & Honda.
- 2.5 S CoupeMSRP: $9,999388 mi away
- 2.5 S SedanMSRP: $4,741176 mi away
- 2.5 S SedanMSRP: $7,998183 mi away
Fun to Drive
This is a fun car to drive. Traded in a 2009 accord EX-L for an end of year 09 Altima 2.5 SL. The Altima is a great car. has excellent pickup with the CVT. Smooth and quiet. Fuel economy is good, just took a 4 hour road trip, saw a little over 30 mpg.
Lot of Bang for the Buck
Why spend $10K more for a BMW, Audi, or Acura? This has most of the amenities of the high end luxury brands at a huge savings. Surprisingly quiet, good enough power, reasonably nice stereo. Sharp looking car.
Very happy Altima owner
I looked at the Accord and the Camry to measure up against the Altima. I believe all three of those cars are comparable. The main selling point to go with the Altima was the look of the car. I have received many compliments on the car that I do not believe I would receive had I bought either of the other two cars. Aside from the looks, this car has been fantastic. The fuel economy has been amazing, do not believe any review that tells you otherwise. The handling and the comfort of the Altima has met and exceeded our expectations. Nissan has done a fantastic job with this car and we couldn't be happier with a purchase. Kudos Nissan, great job! You have earned a long time customer.
Cheap, Fast, Cool
Car has good acceleration, and the CVT is nice. At cruising speeds, if you need to pass somebody the power is always there. The one thing that I found very odd: there is no radio in the base version? Dealer had to install one for me. Car looks good (minus the wheel covers... I don't get that either). Engine noise is present, but it's a 4 cyl so its expected. Push button start is cool. Display is cool. Overall it's a nice ride for the money.
Love my Altima
I've had my Altima 2 months, and the longer I have the more I love it. I get 35 mpg on the Interstate and 25-26 in town. I did a lot of research and test drove most of the competition. But when I saw the Altima, it was love at first sight. I have just under 2,000 miles on it and it drives like you're on a cloud. It is quiet and the CVT transmission is very smooth. I love the sporty look of it. I thought I got a great deal for this amount of car. I would highly recommend the Altima.
Car with lots to offer
Car is great. Looks really good. Like it in Silver the best. Handles pretty well. Lots of packages ..conv, conv plus and connection package. Looking forward to better reliability than I had with my Olds Alero v6. That was a fun car to drive, but too many issues with the head gasket leaking! Now I have a 4cylinder, but I am liking it. Coupe should have lights/design that sedan has! Love radio but does need quicker way to get from low #'d station to higher without having to hold down seek and wait. Also, brakes are a bit touchy. Steering seems to not want to center for some reason. Wind noise is really loud with windows down on faster drive..super loud. Key fab buttons look alike
less impressed all the time
I purchased my 2009 Altima 2.5 S in March. I previously was driving a 1998 Honda Accord. I have only driven about 1200 miles in this car so far. Fuel economy around town is about the same as my accord. I like driving this car around town. I don't think it compares to the Accord on the highway. The Accord drove itself, this car, I have to steer too much. I don't care for the way the Altima handles on the open road.
Very Pleased with the Altima
Just leased a fully loaded Altima (except for navigation) after leasing a 530i. Not as bad as a drop off in car as I thought. The Altima is sporty, quick on the highway and gets excellent gas mileage. The interior is roomy and sporty with a big advantage over the BMW - there is much more storage space and cup holders.
LOVE MY ALTIMA
I purchased this vehicle a couple of weeks ago and absolutely love it. I have the 2.5SL with every option except Navi. It is extremely comfortable and fun to drive. My first tank of gas I averaged 26 mpg and that is local driving. This is my 5th new car in 4 years and I finally found one I will keep!!!! I test drove the Optima, Accord, Sonata, Camry, several Crossovers, this won hands down. I would recommend this car very highly. The sales people and finance people at Mitchell Nissan on Enterprise AL are the best.
Awesome car
Narrowed my search to the '09 Altima or Malibu. Altima had more standard features and Chevy dealer didn't want to deal. So we got the Altima 2.5S with the convenience, convenience plus packages and a few other options. It was the best choice. The 4 cylinder Malibu was a dog. The Altima CVT out performs the Chevy hands down.
Love It
I've owned the car for just over two months now, and am completely satisfied with my purchase. Mixed highway and city driving gives 27-30 mpg (over 4000+ miles so far). The ride is smooth, the car is comfortable, and I love the way it looks and handles. Passengers have commented on how well it rides and how it looks. It is a quiet car even at highway speed. Another reviewer complained about the sound of the turn signal; I think it's so quiet I have to visually check to see that it's actually on. Keyless entry/push button start takes some adjustment, but is very convenient. Good A/C and stereo with the convenience package. Absolutely no doubts or regrets to this point.
The best car
I love my new Nissan. I purchased the Nissan Altima 3.5Se with the premium package. The car is super fast. The pickup is amazing. The seats are comfortable. The backseat is huge. Enough room for 3 adult size kids. The car is quiet. The controls are easy to handle. The gas mileage could be better. The car still rides like a dream and worth the extra in premium gas.
Very Pleased, so far
I switched from the Murano (which I loved)to the Altima, due to gas prices. I avg.30.5 per gal. and can't believe how far I can go on a full tank. I do miss the storage room, although it's generally good. The nav stinks compared to a Garmin at a fraction of the price. The design of the black console is just ok. On long drives my leg leans against the center console and becomes uncomfortable. Generally though, it's a nice drive. The car should have a rear wiper.It does have a Great sound system.
Great first impression
Just purchased 2009 2.5S w/ SL package and I must say I'm impressed with the acceleration of the 4cylinder engine. CVT is neat but keep waiting for the final shift into 5th. Very cool!!! Looked at equally optioned Camry and Accord. We were set to purchase Accord until driving the Altima. Only had for 2 days now. Will update after a month.
Hesitation on Acceleration
When accelerating the car hesitates significantly. This happens primarily in going from slower to faster speeds and around 2000rpm. Then when you give it a touch more gas, it takes off. It borders on being dangerous. I'm currently trying to get Nissan to recognize that there is an issue. I feel like I'm getting the run around.
very comfortable
Love this car. Owned two crv before and really love them too. But loved the exterior look of the altima, love the CVT, Boise system, quietness while driving. Traded in a Chrysler as a clunker, got a great new carLove this car. Owned two crv before and really love them too. But loved the exterior look of the altima, love the CVT, Boise system, quietness while driving. Traded in a Chrysler as a clunker, got a great new car
Poor performance
Having problems with the CVT trans. Hesitates upon acceleration. Took it to the shop and said that is normal. Car is getting used to your driving. Tries to anticipate what you are going to do. Now I am having problems with the windows opening on their own only the 2 front ones. Has done it 3 times since I bought in June. Dealer cannot find anything wrong. Just have to live with it. NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!! But Nissan will fix it if the inside gets ruined by rain. I am not pleased. Sure they will argue that I left the windows down. At this point I will NEVER buy another Nissan. Very unhappy after all of the great reviews.
Best Car Ever
I will be honest, I never liked the Altima's before the rebody, they were cheap and you could tell. Now I am so impressed with the styling & craftmanship, I dont think I will ever stray away again!!
Great Car for the Money
Couldn't be happier with my Altima purchase! Traded "up" from a '03 BMW 525. Got all the luxuries PLUS in the 2.5 SL (loaded except nav.) that I had in the Beemer... much more room, updated interior and accessories, better mpg, regular gas(yes!), etc. I loved the look when saw others on the road, and once I test drove and saw price, amenities, available options, colors, etc... I was sold!!! Already have over 10k miles (100+ mile commute each day) and still rides/looks/smells like new. Would definitely recommend to others. Love the look, ride (smooooooth), interior, trunk room, mpg (avg 30-32 combined! -- but mostly highway), Bluetooth, AUX input on Bose stereo.... and list goes on.
Expensive Rattle Trap
If you want to pay top dollar for a car that sounds like it is falling apart almost as soon as you drive it off of the lot then, by all means, buy a Nissan Altima. Dealing with Nissan's inept and rude service network is a free bonus. Otherwise you're much better off buying a Honda or a Toyota. The Altima is a really nice car that is hampered by bad engineering and shoddy workmanship. Purchased 7/09 and I've had to take it in for warranty service way too many times for a car that has only 7500 miles. The car's misc. annoying problems are too numerous to list here.
Brakes, nuff said
I'm going on my 3rd set of brakes in 2 years. Front brakes I should say. I've owned various cars through my life, drive mostly highway miles, and regularly check my brake fluid. I can't say I recommend this or the refresh model based on this. It's getting a little costly to say the least. I've owned a prior altima to this and had no issues, and drove in the city at the time. If you search it, it's a common problem which has not been issued a recall, so I guess it's not as known or common as it needs to be for a recall. I can without a doubt say this is my last altima, and I will always wait 2-3 years after the refresh and do proper diligence prior to buying a car.
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!
Fantastic Travel Car
We wanted a vehicle which offered comfort first and economy second for our retirement travels. Our 2009 Altima has exceeded expectations. It is as comfortable on the open road as our 2003 Tahoe and gets 32 mpg at and 5 mph above speed limits with AC on. Also pleasantly surprised with 29 mph around town. Has sufficient power to climb I70 from Denver into the Rockies with ease. Bought the Altima after extensive comparisons to the Camry, Accord and Hyundai Sonata. Altima won for riding comfort and power in the 4- cylinder group. Cannot be more pleased with our selection and would recommend this car to anyone.
Great Value
I just purchased my Nissan Altima and really love it. I have spent a months looking for the best car for my wife and new driver son. This car fits perfectly. I spent 17k for a car that is loaded with features. My primary concern was saftey and size. The car is again is perfect, not too big not too small. Fun to drive great looks, great value. Very happy with the price and purchase experience.
ALTIMA 3.5 SE SEDAN
Car is a blast to drive. The 3.5 mated to the CVT tranny is fantastic. The combination gives immediate throttle response and will push you back in the drivers seat. The handling is great also. Very sure- footed around corners and on the freeway. Steering is tight and responsive. Quality touch and feel to the interior. Well built and stylish. Alternator had a problem (important to note that the car still started and drove fine) and was grounding out on the frame somehow only six weeks after purchase (This is my fourth Nissan and all have been very reliable). Dealer fixed without question and back on the road enjoying car the next day. Drives and feels like a $45K car
Great Car
I was out looking for a new family car after selling my sports car from my little girl being born. I looked at several other brands but also at the Sentra. I found the Altima to be big enough on the inside for the large rear facing car seat we had trouble fitting in other vehicles. The steering response on the vehicle is great, I get an average of combined 26 mpg. The car feels peppy for the 4cyl and the CVT is very smooth. Interior materials seem of good quality and buttons and knobs are conveniently placed. Standard all disc brakes and ABS is a nice feature and the safety features cant be beat. Great 5 star safety ratings. Its the highest in its class. I also really like the exterior looks.
Average
CVT not as expected as it downshifts too often. Windshield is always fogging up. Electrical issues as airbag and tire pressure light go on and off.
Good
2009 Nissan Altima is a fun ride You get a lot for the price
Update
I've got about 10000 on the clock now. Car still drives like a champ. Mileage pretty much the same as when purchased, @ 20-22mpg combined 20 miles roundtrip daily depending on foot. Noise in engine compartment is ABS automatic and occurs on all Lexus and Nissan V6's, some more audible than others. Sadly, the rattle in the back was never solved after repeated trips. Strangely, it goes away when a passenger sits on side of the back seat, may try and lcoate rattle myself at some point. No major disappointments yet.
Great Car Great Price
I'm in the army so I travel alot and the Nissan altima is the perfect car for me. It's great on gas and it has plenty of room for me and my family. Its a smooth ride and its very quiet for being a 4 cylinder. I have had no problems with it and I love all the features.
Confused now happy
Only purchased the car a couple of days ago. Love it! Test drove Honda, Mazda, and Toyota. Different priced categories in each make. Looking for fuel efficient, looks, ride, and price. I own a Honda crv love it, but I wanted to have a sedan as well. This car fit the bill. Has it all. Love it!
Big mistake, transmission out at 23k miles
I bought this car after was told it is sporty to drive. It might be sporty for old folks. The engine is loud as a jet taking of every-time you accelerate. My main issue with the car is highway driving. After driving on highway for more than two hours and then you decide to get off an exit for gas or a quick break, the car won't move. It has done that to me every time i had come to a stop after highway driving. It is very dangerous because the car won't move at all while the gear is on D and gas pedal pressed all the way down to the floor. Dealer wants to replace transmission. The second thing is this car is the worse vehicle for winter driving, especially in snow.
Two Winners
My 2009 Altima replaced my 2002 Altima 2.5S, which logged 165,000 without any problems. I just figured that time would catch up with the '02, so I traded when the promotional financing made sense. I put lots of highway miles on my cars, and often drive deep into Mexico, e.g., Acapulco, so comfort, fuel economy, and RELIABILITY are top concerns of mine. Luckily, the Altima offers all that along with a beautiful body.
Great Looking car-good in snow
I currently have about 2k miles on the car. The Car handles excellent on the highway and in the city. It took a little while to get used to the brakes and the acceleration of the CVT. I recently drove in the snow storm of 2009. I had no problem keeping up with the snow plows. Handles great in rain, snow and icy roads.
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.
Fun, stylish, but a few issues
Car looks good and is fun to drive around. Had to get a recall taken care of before first oil change! Manual shifting can be fun. CVT seems smoother after first oil change. CVT seemed to be revving high sometimes. Heater takes too much time to shoot hot air out. Blows cold air and the auto feature stays on lowest fan setting until the heat kicks in. Also it always blows at your feet when on auto and the A/C is always on with auto. There is a leak with back tail light. Nissan ordered the part and it took a while to come in.
Love it
Love this car inside and out. Loaded with heated leather, bose stereo, bluetooth,push button start, sunroof etc....Was worried about having a 4 cylinder engine, but was amazed at the pick up it has. Has the CVT engine that runs very smoothly. Getting 29 mpg. I don't miss being at the gas station
Awesome Car!
Just came off my second Acura TL lease and very pleased with the move to purchase the Altima. Very smooth, comfortable ride. Fun to drive around town. Smart key is much cooler than I thought it would be. Love the transmission.
Best made sedan built in Mississippi
No issues at all, great on MPG, Nashville to Jackson on a tank of gas! Comfort is great, compared to a old mans Camry, this is the car with style and reliability!
Love This Car!!
This car is the best...I love it!! Sporty looks, nice colors to choose from, love the keyless entry/start, storage, cup holders, auto windows up/down & more, the 4 cyl has plenty of pep and I feel like I have a little bit of a luxury vehicle but at a great price! I compared to Honda Accord but it was kind of boring...I just kept thinkin about the Altima and I'm so happy I went with my gut feeling and chose this over the Honda. I have a child so needed a sedan for practical reasons, but I still wanted something a lil sporty too and this is it..the two pipes out the back add to the fun look and I got the rear spoiler which is nice. Only wish I could get the fog lights.
New Surprise
I own a 2003 Nissan Pathfinder that now has 125,000 miles. It is my baby that I love but since moving to SC from NJ I wanted a car with good mileage for our travels. While only owning the car for a few months I find it fun to drive, mileage is good and I love the way it handles. It is almost like a sports car. In two weeks it will be taken on a drive to Florida and I can't wait to get it on 95 where I can really see the mileage it gets. For a 4 cylinder its has great pick-up.
Best Value Midsize Sedan
My 2006 Honda Accord lease was up and I wouldn't lease another noisy Accord!After test driving the Mazda 6(uncomfortable seats,strange engine noise),Malibu(not a fun driving experience),Accord(still noisy),Audi 4(loose low speed steering),Acura TSX(slow acceleration,small back seat),Fusion(poor steering feel),I kept coming back to the Nissan Altima 2.5SL,with connection package !After 2000 miles,I'm very happy!The car rides very smoothly,great acceleration for a 4cyl,23-25mpg in city,very quiet,Bose stereo,Bluetooth,ipod jack,are wonderful!No problems!
Push Start/Stop
I drive a lot of freeway miles. This car is got the perfect balance of power, acceleration, comfort and fuel economy. CVT transmission works like a dream. Get 29.4 average mpg: 80% freeway cruising at 72mph; 20% varied driving about town. Negatives: 1) Tail pipe smells in the cabin initially. Whatever it was seemed to burn itself out after the first 8,000 miles. 2) Push Start/Stop button works great except...frustrated with the stop button instantly killing the sound system along with engine. Sound like a minor quibble but when I get to my destination sometimes I want to hear the rest of the song or talk radio topic without having to continue running the engine.
Noisy
I've test driven almost any mid-size family sedan on the market and that's what I can say about Nissan Altima. Compared with others in its class, Nissan is noisy. Its engines (both 2.5 and 3.5L) produce, on average, 10-15HP more than the competition but at what cost!!! Engine noise beyond 2000RPM is excessive! At par with Suzuki I've driven the other day (yes, it's that bad)!!! On the positive side, the exterior and interior design is fantastic. No nonsense or extra not needed buttons. Everything is ergonomically laid out and easy to use. CVT is the biggest and unique feature about this car though (surprisingly) it's not as smooth as it seems. You just touch the gas slightly and it jolts.
My recent purchase
My 2009 Altima 2.5 SL was purchased in early March of 2010. It was a Clearance purchase, and was purchased new. So far I would have to say it was my best purchase in 30 years of buying new cars. Took it on a 200 mile all Highway drive to Montauk Point on long Island and averaged 36 mpg at a average speed of 65. The ride was comfortable and quite. The Radio was excellent. And the power was more than sufficient. I'm in love with this car to say the least!
Nice Altima
Bought this vehicle about 6 mos ago. Drive is smooth and has Great pick up speed! The comfort is great as well as the gas mileage. Just a great car for the price. However, there seems to be a knocking noise every time I start the car and take off--took it in and they say it is the brakes and or airbags. Hmmm is pretty loud, sounds like something is stuck. There sometimes is a noise coming from the back, not sure what it is. Over all the car is a good car. No other problems.
New car experience
White W/SL Package minus navigation... Initially worried about getting a four cylinder to commute across a small mountain everyday on the way to work. Those fears have been put to rest and the cvt helps slow the car when going downhill. Very smooth ride and currently averaging 27 mpg.
Have always owned Nissan...
This new Altima is a very nice car. I sold a '96 that just wore out after 215000 miles. I always buy Nissan, as they are $2 to 5k cheaper than Toyota and the fit, finish and quality are comparable. I love this car and it is fun to drive. Love the Keyless entry and push button starter. Trunk is very nice. All around, I think this car, in Dark slate and charcoal interior looks very classy, and can compete with next model up lines.