2021 Nissan Altima MPG
EPA ratings for the 2021 Nissan Altima run from 25–28 mpg in town to 34–39 on the highway, or 29–32 combined, depending on which of its 6 versions you look at.
The most efficient pairs the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with a CVT and front-wheel drive, at 32 mpg combined. At the other end, the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with a CVT and all-wheel drive manages 29 mpg combined, 3 mpg less. That matches the best gasoline version of the 2020 model.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altima | 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 39 | 32 | Regular · 281 g CO₂/mi |
| Altima SR | 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 37 | 31 | Regular · 290 g CO₂/mi |
| Altima SV/SL | 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 37 | 31 | Regular · 289 g CO₂/mi |
| Altima AWD | 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | All-Wheel Drive | 26 | 35 | 29 | Regular · 295 g CO₂/mi |
| Altima AWD SR/Platinum | 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | All-Wheel Drive | 25 | 34 | 29 | Regular · 309 g CO₂/mi |
| Altima SR/Platinum | 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 34 | 29 | Regular · 311 g CO₂/mi |
2021 Nissan Altima fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2021 Nissan Altima costs about $2,040 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (32 mpg combined), or roughly 14 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (29 mpg combined) comes to about $2,250 a year, $210 more.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2021 Nissan Altima specs
The EPA lists 2 engine choices for the 2021 Nissan Altima: 2.5 L 4-cyl and 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo. It came with a CVT, in all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive versions. For fuel-economy purposes it sits in the EPA's "Midsize Cars" class.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L | 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive; All-Wheel Drive | 5 |
| 2.0 L turbo | 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 1 |
2021 Nissan Altima problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 70 owner complaints about the 2021 Nissan Altima.
Forward collision avoidance is the most-reported area (21% of component mentions), followed by electrical system (17%) and service brakes (15%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 12 complaints a year: fewer than the 2020 (23 a year) and more than the 2022 (6.1 a year).
That ranks 15th of 17 Nissan Altima model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 70, 7 mention a crash, 1 a fire and 4 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Forward collision avoidance | 26 | 21% |
| Electrical system | 21 | 17% |
| Service brakes | 18 | 15% |
| Unknown or other | 12 | 10% |
| Steering | 7 | 6% |
| Engine | 6 | 5% |
| Suspension | 5 | 4% |
| Back over prevention | 4 | 3% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 2% |
| Power train | 3 | 2% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 2% |
| Seats | 3 | 2% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 3 | 2% |
| Air bags | 2 | 2% |
| Visibility | 2 | 2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | <1% |
| Structure | 1 | <1% |
| Tires | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
My car is supposed to have an automatic braking system/collision detection. Two cars in front of me slammed on their brakes and the car in front of me slammed on his brake, and I didn't have enough time to react. …
Got the car from kingdom Chevy on 66 and western on February 2024 used at 62.000. I took the car back twice because the screen in the car kept cutting off fading on and fading off. …
When I make a turn, I hear a clicking noise and also when I come to a complete stop, I can a sound that sounds like a grunting noise. …
2021 Nissan Altima recalls
The 2021 Nissan Altima has been the subject of 2 recall campaigns.
The most recent, campaign 23V628000 from September 2023, concerns back over prevention.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Altima years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23V628000 | September 8, 2023 | Back over prevention | 2019–2021 |
| 21V138000 | March 4, 2021 | Steering | 2020–2021 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 2 versions of the 2021 Nissan Altima; the best overall score is 5 out of 5 stars.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-door FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| 4-door AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Nissan Altimas can be compared fairly. Among other 2021 models in the EPA's midsize cars class, the 2021 Chevy Malibu (32 mpg), 2021 Toyota Camry (32 mpg) and 2021 Nissan Sentra (33 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 31 | 226 | 25 | 2 |
| 2019 | 32 | 233 | 29 | 7 |
| 2020 | 32 | 160 | 23 | 6 |
| 2021 | 32 | 70 | 12 | 2 |
| 2022 | 32 | 31 | 6.1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 31 | 30 | 7.4 | 0 |
| 2024 | 31 | 41 | 13 | 1 |
Every Nissan Altima model year compared →
Similar 2021 models
FAQ
Is the 2021 Altima a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2021 Nissan Altima has 12 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (15th most of 17 model years), 2 recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 5 stars and up to 32 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2021 Altima problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are forward collision avoidance (26), electrical system (21) and service brakes (18). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2021 Altima have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Altima get?
The EPA rates the versions at 29–32 mpg combined (25–28 city, 34–39 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Altima per year?
About $2,040 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $2,250 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).