The first through fourth-generation cars were manufactured exclusively in the United States and officially sold in North and South America, along with the Middle East and Australia.

The suspension was composed of struts with stabilizer bars at both ends and was noted for providing sporty, satisfying handling (plus a firm ride and moderate road noise); all wheels were 15 inches.

The 1994 Altima gained a darker burl wood dash trim, a flush-mount passenger airbag, and regular seat belts.

A new interior (by Diane Allen) brought a revised glove box and cup holders, a folding back seat (except on XE), and depowered airbags.

While total volume remained identical at 108 cubic feet (3.1 m3), most felt it was distributed better and resulted in a slightly roomier-feeling cabin.

On the downside, many were let down by the new model's plainer styling and cheapened interior; some also felt the gas pedal was now too lightly sprung.

The SE can be distinguished by its body-color grille, fog lights, rear spoiler, alloy wheels, and white-faced gauges.

Gearing and final drive ratios were shortened on both transmissions, stabilizer bars were thickened, and the steering was firmed up.

The Altima grew slightly longer and got a deeper front grille, one-piece headlamps with integrated turn signals and standard low-speed cornering lamps, all-red tail lights, and the plastic trim on the deck lid.

For 2001, the Altima GXE again gained a Limited Edition package: a power driver's seat, keyless entry with alarm, and floor mats.

[7] It was the first mass-market product built on Nissan's new FF-L platform, which was unique to North America and had no equivalent model in Japan.

The 2005 Nissan Altima received a facelift, including a new front grille, all-red tail lights, redesigned interior, and an optional DVD-based navigation system.

Also new was the SE-R model with a 260 hp (194 kW) and 251 lb⋅ft (340 N⋅m) of torque version of the V6, a 6-speed manual transmission (automatic still optional), upgraded brakes, 18-inch wheels, a suspension even stiffer than that of the 3.5 SE's, and a high-flow exhaust.

[14] The third-generation Altima was well received by the press, with many critics praising the new style and extra space, being one of the most powerful and best-handling family sedans available.

[16] While previous iterations received decent reviews, the third-generation Altima was the first to enjoy considerable success, and it was credited with a turnaround of Nissan's operations from debt-ridden to among the industry's most profitable.

The 2002 2.5L Altimas had major excessive oil consumption issues causing potential catastrophic engine failures.

The lawsuit originally alleged that Nissan manufactured those model years with defective floorboards on both the driver and passenger side of the vehicle but was dismissed by a judge in January 2016.

The real cause was that the front mudguards were not high enough and there was no stone guard applied to the metal plates underneath the vehicle.

[20] The fourth generation Nissan Altima (chassis model L32A) was announced at the 2006 New York International Auto Show on April 12, 2006.

[citation needed] In 2009 for the 2010 model year, the Nissan Altima was facelifted with a new front fascia, hood, and headlights, as well as new wheels and interior materials.

Like the sedan, the Altima Coupe received a facelift for 2010 which included a redesigned front end, hood and grille, new projector beam headlights, and the Altima Coupe 2.5 S model came standard with 17" × 7.5" 5-split spoke aluminum alloy wheels, along with P215/55TR17 all-season tires instead of the 16" steel wheels provided in the former.

The SE model was renamed SR and came standard with 18" × 8.0" 5-split-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels, and there was a revision to the fabric and trim pieces in the interior.

The Hybrid also included the aluminum-alloy wheels that were otherwise optional on the 2.5 S. A redesigned Altima debuted at the 2012 New York International Auto Show for the 2013 model year and went on sale in the summer of 2012.

The Altima continues to be the lightest midsize sedan in its class; this is mostly due to its efficient use of high-strength steel and aluminum in areas such as the trunk, hood, and roof.

[51] The NissanConnect Infotainment System is revised, adding in the standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and a redesigned user interface.

In that round, it won decisively against the Chevrolet Malibu, Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, and Kia Optima.

[56] More recently, in a comparison test conducted by Edmunds.com, the Nissan Altima beat out the Honda Accord and the Mazda6 to win 1st place.

[61] The team has scored three race wins since moving to Nissan, with James Moffat in 2013, Michael Caruso in 2016 and Rick Kelly in 2018.

[65] Its design was previously previewed by the Nissan Vmotion 2.0 Concept, which was first showcased at the 2017 North American International Auto Show in January.

It replaces the previous 8-inch option and adds wireless Apple CarPlay in the process (Android Auto still requires a wired connection).