Nissan Altima Depreciation: Do They Hold Their Value?


in Car Costs and Prices

Here's everything you need to know about Nissan Altima depreciation: how well it retains its value, which years depreciate the fastest, and which Altima years depreciate more slowly.

Black Nissan Altima in a city
Source: Flickr

The Nissan Altima is a mid-size selection, available since 1992, offering customers an excellent mix of power and style. It’s changed significantly over time through all the model years. Before purchasing a Nissan Altima or any vehicle, it’s important to consider the value retention of the machine. How quickly does the Altima depreciate?

Those interested in purchasing a vehicle should understand how fast it depreciates. Depreciation is tied to how long the car will last and determines the value you earn after selling the machine. Read on to learn more about the Nissan Altima depreciation, the best years to purchase for depreciation, and other helpful tidbits. 

Do Nissan Altimas Retain Their Value?

Nissan does a decent job of retaining their value. They aren’t at the top of the chart but are typically at the top half of the list with most of their vehicles. Of course, value retention will differ depending on the specific needs. Let’s look at the available data for the Nissan Altima.

According to caredge.com, here is some data for the Nissan Altima:

**

**

Which Model Years of the Altima Are Best for Depreciation?

When landing on the top years for the Nissan Altima, you want to ensure you pick reliable years. The more unreliable the year, the more likely the car is to break down and, thus, the greater the depreciation rate. Luckily for interested drivers, there are many years of the Nissan Altima to choose from.

Here are the best selections for Nissan Altima depreciation if you want to have the biggest bang for your buck:

  • 2001 Nissan Altima
  • 2003 Nissan Altima
  • 2004 Nissan Altima
  • 2006 Nissan Altima
  • 2007 Nissan Altima
  • 2008 Nissan Altima
  • 2010 Nissan Altima
  • 2011 Nissan Altima
  • 2012 Nissan Altima
  • 2015 Nissan Altima
  • 2016 Nissan Altima
  • 2017 Nissan Altima
  • 2018 Nissan Altima
  • 2019 Nissan Altima
  • 2020 Nissan Altima

These are excellent choices for the Nissan Altima.

As with any vehicle, you want to care for your Altima as best as possible to ensure it will last. The more effort you put into your Altima, the more you can slow down the depreciation rate. 


DOWNLOAD THE FREE APP

The CoPilot car shopping app is the smartest way to buy a car. Get a curated list of the best cars for sale in your area, as well as notifications if a similar vehicle is listed nearby at a lower price. CoPilot is the smartest way to shop for used cars. 


Which Model Years of the Altima Are Worst for Depreciation?

Unfortunately, where there are excellent editions, there are also some that are less ideal. Luckily, this list isn’t as long as the excellent selections with depreciation. Keep away from these, if possible, in your investment. 

If you want to avoid losing a substantial amount on your investment, keep away from these years:

  • 2002 Nissan Altima
  • 2005 Nissan Altima
  • 2009 Nissan Altima
  • 2013 Nissan Altima
  • 2014 Nissan Altima

These are unfortunate selections for value retention.

These choices might be cheaper than the more dependable selections, but they won’t make you more money in the long term. If you care for them, they can last for a long time. However, they won’t be as practical when it’s time to give them up. 

Can You Assist with Depreciation?

When checking out the Nissan Altima depreciation, it’s natural to want to decrease the rate yourself if possible. There are many ways where depreciation will happen naturally, but there are also ways you, as an owner, can contribute to value retention. 

According to folsomlakehonda.com, here are a few ways to assist with retaining value:

  • Keep up with regular maintenance
  • Ensure the car remains clean
  • Keep out of accidents
  • Do not modify the car

These will keep the vehicle in excellent condition.

There are always things you can do to keep the car in excellent shape, but there are also items that provide wear and tear that are out of your control. Your vehicle will always depreciate, but these techniques slow the depreciation process. 


NISSAN ALTIMA TOP SPEED

If you’re looking at a Nissan Altima and want a little more kick out of your vehicle, you might wonder - what is the Nissan Altima top speed?


Which Nissan Holds Its Value the Best?

Maybe you want to invest in the Nissan Altima but don’t want to deal with the Nissan Altima depreciation. Perhaps you’re seeking the top choices from the Nissan name to get the best value retention possible. In that case, Nissan has several choices available that are better than Altima’s.

According to iseecars.com, here are the top Nissans with excellent resale value:

  • Nissan Kicks
  • Nissan Z
  • Nissan Versa
  • Nissan 370Z
  • Nissan Frontier

These are solid choices if you want to keep as much money as possible in your pocket. 

The Nissan Altima fails to make the top five list in available selections from Nissan. It doesn’t come in until fourteen, which places it far behind other selections from the Nissan name. Those who want the best value from their vehicle investment should pick something else.

What is the Life Expectancy of a Nissan Altima?

Another ideal consideration for the Nissan Altima is to look at the life expectancy. Much of the time, the lifespan of a car impacts its depreciation rate. This lifespan can also vary depending on the model year invested in.

Typically, a Nissan Altima will last 250,000-300,000 miles on the road. This lifespan should provide more than twenty years on the road. Of course, that only happens with excellent maintenance, and the value will decrease the closer you get to the maximum longevity. 


NISSAN ALTIMA PROS & CONS

We evaluate the Nissan Altima’s pros and cons. What are the best aspects of this mid-size sedan?


Final Thoughts on Nissan Altima Depreciation 

Although the Nissan Altima has decent depreciation, it doesn’t come anywhere close to the top of the list when considering all Nissan offers. If you are determined to purchase an Altima, go with one of the most dependable years to have decent value retention.

We hope this information is helpful if you’re considering an Altima. Although it wouldn’t be our first choice for effective depreciation, it’s okay compared to other car manufacturers.



Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You

The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for, and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to provide you with a personalized list of the best car listings.

The best part? CoPilot is built using the same technology that dealerships use to buy and sell their inventories, so we have more info on each vehicle than competitors. CoPilot doesn’t work with dealerships, so there are no sponsored posts or other shady practices — just the most info on the best cars. Check out our About Us page to see how CoPilot works.

trade-in