2026 Nissan Altima: MPG and fuel economy
The 2026 Nissan Altima is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 30 combined MPG, with 26 MPG in the city and 36 MPG on the highway. That lands well below the average for cars in the Midsize Cars class in the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2026 Nissan Altima. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- Returns 32% worse combined MPG than the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2026 model year (44.4 MPG class average).
- The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2026 model year is the Tesla Model 3 Standard RWD at 139 MPG.
- The Nissan Altima has gained 6 MPG since its first rated model year, the 1998 Nissan Altima at 24 MPG.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2026 Nissan Altima. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 30 MPG |
| City MPG | 26 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 36 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,000 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 297 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 2026 Nissan Altima compares
The 2026 Nissan Altima returns 30 combined MPG. Cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year average 44.4 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 32%.
The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2026 model year is the Tesla Model 3 Standard RWD at 139 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Nissan Altima alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2026 model year (across all classes) returns 45.5 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2026 model year is on its own page.
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for regular gasoline, which is $3.99/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 500 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,000 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $2,000 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $3,333 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Nissan Altima
The EPA has rated the Nissan Altima across 29 model years, from 1998 Nissan Altima through 2026 Nissan Altima. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
The 1998 Nissan Altima returned 24 MPG. The most recent 2026 Nissan Altima returns 30 MPG. That is an improvement of 6 MPG over 28 model years, the kind of gain that usually comes from smaller engines, hybrid systems, or aerodynamic redesigns.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 30 MPG | this page |
| 2025 | 31 MPG | 2025 Nissan Altima |
| 2024 | 31 MPG | 2024 Nissan Altima |
| 2023 | 31 MPG | 2023 Nissan Altima |
| 2022 | 32 MPG | 2022 Nissan Altima |
| 2021 | 32 MPG | 2021 Nissan Altima |
| 2020 | 32 MPG | 2020 Nissan Altima |
| 2019 | 32 MPG | 2019 Nissan Altima |
| 2018 | 31 MPG | 2018 Nissan Altima |
| 2017 | 31 MPG | 2017 Nissan Altima |
| 2016 | 31 MPG | 2016 Nissan Altima |
| 2015 | 31 MPG | 2015 Nissan Altima |
| 2014 | 31 MPG | 2014 Nissan Altima |
| 2013 | 31 MPG | 2013 Nissan Altima |
| 2012 | 26 MPG | 2012 Nissan Altima |
| 2011 | 26 MPG | 2011 Nissan Altima |
| 2010 | 27 MPG | 2010 Nissan Altima |
| 2009 | 26 MPG | 2009 Nissan Altima |
| 2008 | 26 MPG | 2008 Nissan Altima |
| 2007 | 26 MPG | 2007 Nissan Altima |
| 2006 | 24 MPG | 2006 Nissan Altima |
| 2005 | 24 MPG | 2005 Nissan Altima |
| 2004 | 23 MPG | 2004 Nissan Altima |
| 2003 | 23 MPG | 2003 Nissan Altima |
| 2002 | 23 MPG | 2002 Nissan Altima |
| 2001 | 23 MPG | 2001 Nissan Altima |
| 2000 | 24 MPG | 2000 Nissan Altima |
| 1999 | 24 MPG | 1999 Nissan Altima |
| 1998 | 24 MPG | 1998 Nissan Altima |
Compare against other Midsize Cars for 2026
If you are cross-shopping the 2026 Nissan Altima, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Tesla Model 3 Standard RWD leads this group at 139 MPG, 109 MPG ahead of the 2026 Nissan Altima.
Specifications
The 2026 Nissan Altima runs a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (variable gear ratios), sending power through front-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Midsize Cars
- Engine
- 2.5L 4-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic (variable gear ratios)
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 9.9 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2026 Nissan Altima
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2026 Nissan Altima.
-
Is the 2026 Nissan Altima fuel efficient?
Not particularly. The 2026 Nissan Altima returns 30 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year by about 32%. -
What MPG does the 2026 Nissan Altima get?
The EPA rates the 2026 Nissan Altima at 30 combined MPG, 26 MPG in city driving, and 36 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2026 Nissan Altima per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $2,000 for the 2026 Nissan Altima. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
What fuel does the 2026 Nissan Altima use?
The EPA lists the 2026 Nissan Altima as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
Has the Nissan Altima become more fuel efficient over time?
Yes. The first EPA-rated Nissan Altima, the 1998 Nissan Altima, returned 24 combined MPG. The most recent 2026 Nissan Altima returns 30 MPG, an improvement of 6 MPG over the run. -
How much CO₂ does the 2026 Nissan Altima emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 297 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 4,455 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2026 Nissan Altima?
City driving returns 26 MPG and highway driving returns 36 MPG, a gap of 10 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise. -
What engine is in the 2026 Nissan Altima?
The 2026 Nissan Altima has a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (EPA description: SIDI). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2026 Nissan Altima have?
The 2026 Nissan Altima comes with a automatic (variable gear ratios) transmission and front-wheel drive. -
How does the 2026 Nissan Altima compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2026 model year is the Tesla Model 3 Standard RWD at 139 combined MPG. The Nissan Altima returns 30 MPG, a gap of 109 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.