Value among new cars is harder to find than a pearl at the supermarket seafood counter. Mid-size sedans like the 2020 Altima are ones worth cracking, however. 

Starting from less than $25,000, base Altima sedans don’t skimp on good stuff. They get cloth seats, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on an 8.0-inch touchscreen, automatic emergency braking, keyless ignition, four USB ports, and remote start. The wheels on the Altima S are less attractive than headgear at bedtime, but that’s life. 

It’s a 7 for features thanks to good standard gear and a good touchscreen. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

The 2020 Altima works its way up from S to SV, SL, SR, and Platinum trim levels. All-wheel drive is available at every stop (with the base engine) and SR and Platinum versions offer an optional, higher-power motor for more money. 

We’d step up to an Altima SV for less than $29,000 that includes upgraded wheels and cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped gear shifter and steering wheel, dual-zone climate controls and upgraded safety stuff. All-wheel drive is optional on Altima SVs (and every other trim) for $1,350. 

The top-of-the-line Altima Platinum falls down on value, but reaches high for features. It gets leather upholstery, 19-inch wheels, power-adjustable front seats that are heated, a surround-view camera system, navigation, premium audio, and a moonroof for about $33,000, or $36,000 for the more powerful turbo-4. They’re nice places to be, sure. For the price? Not so sure. 

Altima infotainment

The Altima gets an 8.0-inch touchscreen on all models that’s clear and responsive, although the screen can wash out sometimes in direct sunlight. (It’s more acute in cars equipped with a sunroof.) 

The native software is straightforward and easy to understand, although in desperate need of some UI/UX engineer love soon. (Eds note: It’s 2019 and the year of smooth fonts, people.)

Baked-in compatibility with smartphone systems from Apple and Google are welcome reprieves. The hardwired connection is easy to establish and the smartphone systems booted up for us without issues. (We had some problems in a Murano, however.)

On tony trims, Nissan offers native navigation but we don’t see much value there. Smartphone maps are just as good and destination input is easier. Concierge services that are available with navigation-equipped cars aren’t intuitive either; the button is nearly hidden on the map screen. 

Review continues below