Top Safety Pick

2019 Nissan Altima

midsize car / 4-door sedan

Award applies only to vehicles with specific headlights

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria	Rating
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system	Superior
Standard system	Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Optional system	Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteria	Rating
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

Optional blind spot detection
Optional lane departure warning
Optional lane departure prevention
Optional rear automatic braking

Key

G
Good
A
Acceptable
M
Marginal
P
Poor

Superior
Advanced
Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4-door

The Nissan Altima was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Nissan.

Evaluation criteria	Rating

Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTN1816
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	15
Footrest (cm)	7
Left toepan (cm)	3
Brake pedal (cm)	1
Parking brake (cm)	19
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	5
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column	4
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	8
Upper dash (cm)	8
Lower instrument panel (cm)	8

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTN1816
Head
HIC-15	59
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm)	9
Maximum Nij	0.16
Chest maximum compression (mm)	19
Femur (kN)
Left	0.4
Right	0.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	1
Right	0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.53
Right	0.45
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	0.9
Right	0.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	43
Right	35

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4-door

The Nissan Altima was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Nissan.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1833
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	12
Footrest (cm)	9
Right toepan (cm)	3
Center toepan (cm)	4
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	2
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm)	2
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	5
Upper dash (cm)	5
Right lower dash (cm)	5

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1833
Head
HIC-15	52
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.7
Extension bending moment (Nm)	14
Maximum Nij	0.19
Chest maximum compression (mm)	19
Femur (kN)
Left	1.4
Right	1.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	2
Right	0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.37
Right	0.32
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	0.9
Right	1.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	29
Right	38

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1833
Head
HIC-15	37
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.7
Extension bending moment (Nm)	11
Maximum Nij	0.13
Chest maximum compression (mm)	23
Femur (kN)
Left	0.3
Right	0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	0
Right	0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.19
Right	0.32
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	0.7
Right	0.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	23
Right	31

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4-door

The Nissan Altima was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Nissan.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF1827
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	7
Left (cm)	10
Center (cm)	10
Right (cm)	6
Brake pedal (cm)	4
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	0
Right (cm)	0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	1
Rearward (cm)	-5
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	0

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF1827
Head
HIC-15	155
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm)	25
Maximum Nij	0.30
Chest maximum compression (mm)	27
Legs
Femur force - left (kN)	0.4
Femur force - right (kN)	0.7
Knee displacement - left (mm)	1
Knee displacement - right (mm)	3
Maximum tibia index - left	0.29
Maximum tibia index - right	0.42
Tibia axial force - left (kN)	1.7
Tibia axial force - right (kN)	1.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	47
Right	56

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2019-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV 4-door

The Nissan Altima was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Nissan.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection

Technical measurements for this test

Test ID	VTS1825
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-10.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS1825
Head HIC-15	138
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.9
Compression (kN)	0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	37
Lateral force (kN)	1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	31
Average deflection (mm)	28
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	3.11
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.36
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	2.8
Acetabulum force (kN)	2.8
Combined force (kN)	5.5
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	1.6
L-M moment (Nm)	289
A-P moment (Nm)	71

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS1825
Head HIC-15	99
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.3
Compression (kN)	0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	30
Lateral force (kN)	1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	14
Average deflection (mm)	12
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	3.16
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.16
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	0.3
Acetabulum force (kN)	1.1
Combined force (kN)	1.3
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.3
L-M moment (Nm)	104
A-P moment (Nm)	29

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight	3,203 lbs
Peak force	14,235 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio	4.44

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power cloth seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry

Technical measurements for this test

Seat type	Power cloth seat
Geometry
Backset (mm)	18
Distance below top of head (mm)	20
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail	Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g)	10.4
Head contact time (ms)	58
Force rating	1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N)	0
Max neck tension (N)	288

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 3 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

SV trim
SL trim
Platinum trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on the sharp left and both right curves and inadequate on the gradual left curve.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual left curve and inadequate on the sharp left and both right curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	SV trim SL trim Platinum trim
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2019-25 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	123.5 m	None
Straightaway left edge	50.6 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	63.2 m	None
250m radius left curve, right edge	46.8 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	50.2 m	None
150m radius left curve, right edge	48.4 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	159.7 m
Straightaway left edge	149.3 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	63.2 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	65.5 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	49.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	50.2 m

Trim level(s)

SR trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual left curve and inadequate on the sharp left and both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	SR trim
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating Applies to 2019 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	123.5 m	None
Straightaway left edge	50.6 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	63.2 m	None
250m radius left curve, right edge	46.8 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	50.2 m	None
150m radius left curve, right edge	48.4 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	159.7 m
Straightaway left edge	149.3 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	63.2 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	65.5 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	49.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	50.2 m

Trim level(s)

S trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	S trim
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating Applies to 2019-20 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	83.6 m	None
Straightaway left edge	54.0 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	51.6 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	45.1 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	42.0 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	38.0 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	154.8 m
Straightaway left edge	128.7 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	67.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	62.5 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	55.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	54.4 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

Ratings are given for 2 different trim variations available on this vehicle.

System details

Optional Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) w/ Pedestrian Detection
Standard Intelligent Forward Collision Warning (I-FCW)

Package name

Optional (standard on SV, SL, Platinum, Platinum VC-Turbo, and Edition One VC-Turbo)

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2019 models

Superior

with optional equipment

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

System details

Standard Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
Standard Intelligent Forward Collision Warning (I-FCW)

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2019-20 models

Superior

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 24 mph.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

optional Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to 2019-25 models of the following trim lines: SV trim, SL trim, Platinum trim, Platinum VC-Turbo trim, Edition ONE VC-Turbo trim

Advanced

with optional equipment

Crossing child

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 11 mph.

Crossing adult

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 18 mph.
In the 37 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision. A warning was issued 1.8 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2019-22 models

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	2.5 S
Seat type	cloth

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	2.5 S
Seat type	cloth

Rating icon	Rating
G	Good
A	Acceptable
M	Marginal
P	Poor
	Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol	Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol	Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol	Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
	No hardware available

Details by seating position

Position	Rating
1
1	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	not too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors
2
2	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	none available
3
3	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	not too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors

Technical measurements for this test

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	0-2
Force (lbs)	7
Clearance angle (degrees)	92
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	0-2
Force (lbs)	12
Clearance angle (degrees)	93
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	0-2
Force (lbs)	9
Clearance angle (degrees)	85
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	0-2
Force (lbs)	8
Clearance angle (degrees)	89
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation