Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2023 Nissan Altima

midsize car / 4-door sedan

2023 Nissan Altima 4-door sedan

Crashworthiness

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

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system
Advanced
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (night)
Standard system
No Credit

Seat belts & child restraints

Seat belt reminders
LATCH ease of use
+

Other available safety features

  • Standard blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning
  • Optional lane departure prevention

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.

Overall evaluation
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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

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

Driver injury measures

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.

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

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

Passenger injury measures

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

Driver injury measures

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.

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

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

Driver injury measures

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

Moderate overlap front: updated test

Rating applies to 2023 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4-door

The Nissan Altima was redesigned for the 2019 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh/hip
Leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh
Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics

View of the vehicle after the crash showing the airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

The rear passenger dummy's head remained a safe distance from the front seatback.

Rear passenger dummy injury values indicate a moderate risk of injury to the head or neck and chest. During the crash, the shoulder belt remained in an ideal position on the dummy’s chest.

The rear passenger dummy's lap belt moved from the ideal position on the pelvis onto the abdomen, increasing the risk of abdominal injuries.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEF2308
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 8
Left (cm) 11
Center (cm) 12
Right (cm) 9
Brake pedal (cm) 4
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 2
Right (cm) 2
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 2
Rearward (cm) -1
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 1

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF2308
Head
HIC-15 127
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 18
Maximum Nij 0.24
Chest maximum compression (mm) 28
Femur (kN)
Left 0.7
Right 1.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.32
Right 0.51
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.3
Right 2.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 49
Right 65

Rear passenger injury measures

Test ID CEF2308
Head
HIC-15 for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 2.1
Compression (kN) 0.7
Maximum Nij for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Chest
Chest index 40
Shoulder belt tension (kN) 4.1
Thigh (kN)
Left femur compression 0.3
Right femur compression 0.3

About the moderate overlap front test

February 2024 adjustment to rating criteria

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2022-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV 4-door

The Nissan Altima was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Beginning with 2022 models, side curtain airbags were enlarged and door sill and pillar reinforcements were implemented to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2022 Altima conducted by Nissan.

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS2112
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -25.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS2112
Head HIC-15 175
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Compression (kN) 0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 36
Lateral force (kN) 1.7
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 37
Average deflection (mm) 33
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.85
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.44
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.4
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.2
Combined force (kN) 2.4
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.0
L-M moment (Nm) 162
A-P moment (Nm) 36

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS2112
Head HIC-15 107
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.2
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 26
Lateral force (kN) 1.2
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 17
Average deflection (mm) 16
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.92
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.20
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.5
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.8
Combined force (kN) 2.0
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.4
L-M moment (Nm) 105
A-P moment (Nm) -32

About the original side crash test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2022-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4-door

The Nissan Altima was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Beginning with 2022 models, side curtain airbags were enlarged and door sill and pillar reinforcements were implemented to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes. Two side impact 2.0 tests were conducted because rear dummy injury data was not recorded in the first test. Rear passenger injury measures are from the second test. Driver injury measures and structure ratings are based on both tests.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
The dummy's head moved downward past the side curtain airbag and struck the window sill of the driver door hard. The head protection is inadequate.
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows that the driver dummy's head moved downward, past the side curtain airbag, and contacted the window sill.

Smeared greasepaint shown is on the upper/outboard seatback. The rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbags.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES2223 CES2216
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -7.5 -9.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES2223 CES2216
Head
HIC-15 562 667
Peak gs at hard contact 109 no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 2.8 2.5
Compression (kN) 0.1 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 53 51
Lateral force (kN) 1.8 2.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 56 52
Average deflection (mm) 51 49
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.74 4.81
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 1.36 1.35
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 6.0 6.2

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES2223
Head
HIC-15 122
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Compression (kN) 0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 27
Lateral force (kN) 1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 26
Average deflection (mm) 21
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.33
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.28
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 4.0

About the side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight3,203 lbs
Peak force14,235 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio4.44

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

Trim level(s)

  • All trims
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

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
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
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

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Standard Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection
  • Standard Intelligent Forward Collision Warning (I-FCW)

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2021-23 models

Superior
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, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • standard Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2019-24 models

Advanced
Advanced

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

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (night)

Night

System details

  • standard Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

Includes high-beam assist credit

This rating applies to all 2023-24 models
No Credit
No Credit

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 5 mph when using its high beams. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 1 mph.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 7 mph when using its high beams. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 5 mph.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 11 mph when using its high beams. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 5 mph.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 9 mph when using its high beams and a warning was issued 1.3 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, this vehicle failed to slow and a warning was issued 0 seconds before impact.

About pedestrian front crash prevention test

Seat belt reminders

Rating applies to 2023-25 models

Overall evaluation
Front row
Unbelted occupant alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
DurationLong enough (90+ seconds)
Volume
Audio frequency
Second row
Startup status alert (visual)
Initiation time
Duration at least 60 seconds
Belt disengaged alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
Duration at least 30 seconds
Volume
Audio frequency
Technical measurements for this test
Background cabin sound pressure level at 24 km/h 51 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 24 km/h 64 dB
Difference between background and signal 12.4 dB
Background cabin sound pressure level at 40 km/h 55 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 40 km/h 68 dB
Difference between background and signal 12.2 dB
Dominant audio frequency 2000 Hz

About the seat belt reminder evaluation

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2021-25 models

Overall evaluation
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trim2.5S
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 and the ability to borrow lower anchors from the other seating positions.

Note: When anchors are borrowed, they aren't available to use in their designated positions.

Overall evaluation
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trim2.5S
Seat type cloth
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
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

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
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
Can be borrowed from 1 and 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

Seat position 21

3

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

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Lower anchor B
Lower latch is shared 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

Seat position 23

1

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