2026 BMW 3 Series vs 2026 Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima wins clearly, 93.5 to 67.3, on price, tech & comfort, fuel & range. The BMW 3 Series is ahead on performance and space & cargo.
2026 BMW 3 Series
The 2026 BMW 3 Series is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid midsize sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 330i Sedan, is EPA-rated at…
2026 Nissan Altima
The 2026 Nissan Altima is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Altima, is EPA-rated at 30 mp…
2026 Nissan Altima
Clear winThe Nissan Altima wins clearly, 93.5 to 67.3, on price, tech & comfort, fuel & range. The BMW 3 Series is ahead on performance and space & cargo.
| Category · weight | 2026 Nissan Altimaoverall 93.5 | 2026 BMW 3 Seriesoverall 67.3 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 36.7 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 85 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 89.6 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 94.1 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 47.5 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 17.1 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 93.5 | 67.3 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Nissan Altima: base trim SV FWD · BMW 3 Series: base trim M340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Nissan Altima wins
- It lists 30 standard driver-assist features against 5.
- It starts $47,620 lower ($27,580 against $75,200 base MSRP).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (35 points against 6 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
Where the 2026 BMW 3 Series answers
- It turns out 398 lb-ft of torque against 180.
- It makes 386 hp against 188.
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- A Safety Signal of 100.
- 1 owner complaints.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
48 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $27,580 | $75,200 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 6 |
| Engine displacement | 2,488 cc | 2,998 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.5L 4-cylinder inline DOHC | Inline 6-cylinder TwinPower Turbo with 48-volt mild hybrid |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | — |
| Valve configuration | 4 valves per cylinder; CVTCS on intake and exhaust valves | DOHC 24-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 188 hp | 386 hp |
| Torque | 180 lb-ft | 398 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 26 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 30 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 36 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 4.828 | 2.81 |
| Transmission speeds | — | 8 |
| Transmission type | cvt | 8-speed STEPTRONIC |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 5.1 in |
| Overall height | 56.8 in | 56.7 in |
| Overall length | 193 in | 186 in |
| Overall width | 72.9 in | 71.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 111 in | 112 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 15.4 cu-ft | 16.9 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 116 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 39.1 in | — |
| Second-row headroom | 36.9 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 43.8 in | — |
| Second-row legroom | 35.2 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | — | 4,008 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 4,008 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent strut with coil springs, aluminum links, 25mm stabilizer bar | — |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link independent suspension, 26mm hollow stabilizer bar | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Dual-pinion electric-powered steering system | Electric Power Steering (EPS) with Servotronic function |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 18.7 ft | 39.4 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 296 mm | — |
| Front brake type | Power-assisted vented disc | — |
| Parking brake type | Foot brake / mechanical | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 292 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | 19 in |
| Wheel material | alloy | — |
| Wheel width | — | 8 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 215/55R17 | 225/40 R19 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 16.2 gal | 15.6 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | NissanConnect Services Powered by SiriusXM | — |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 3 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 58.2 in | — |
| Second-row shoulder room | 57.1 in | — |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
119 features · differences first, then sharedSafety37 differ · 38 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Blind Spot Warning | std | — |
| Intelligent Cruise Control | opt | — |
| Intelligent Forward Collision Warning | std | — |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | std | — |
| Surround View with 3D View | — | std |
| Front seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags | std | — |
| Lane Departure Warning | std | — |
| Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensor | std | — |
| Roof-mounted curtain side impact supplemental air bags for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection | std | — |
| Seat-mounted rear passenger side-impact supplemental air bags | std | — |
| Active Park Distance Control | — | std |
| Anti-lock Braking System | std | — |
| Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection | std | — |
| Brake Assist | std | — |
| Child safety rear door locks | std | — |
| Child seat upper tether anchors – 3 (rear seat) | std | — |
| Driver and front passenger supplemental knee air bags | std | — |
| Easy-Fill Tire Alert | std | — |
| Electronic / switch parking brake | opt | — |
| Electronic Brake Force Distribution | std | — |
| Emergency inside trunk release | std | — |
| High Beam Assist | std | — |
| Hill Start Assist | std | — |
| Intelligent Driver Alertness | std | — |
| Intelligent Lane Intervention | opt | — |
| LATCH System | std | — |
| Parking Assistance Package | — | std |
| Parking Assistant Plus | — | std |
| ProPILOT Assist | opt | — |
| Rear Automatic Braking | std | — |
| Rear Door Alert | std | — |
| Rear Sonar System | std | — |
| Traction Control System | std | — |
| Vehicle Dynamic Control | std | — |
| Vehicle Security System | std | — |
| Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System, 4-corner pressure readout | std | — |
| Rear View Camera | std | std |
Infotainment23 differ · 23 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD |
|---|---|---|
| BMW Curved Display with Head-Up Display | — | std |
| NissanConnect Services Powered by SiriusXM® (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately), Wi-Fi Hotspot | opt | — |
| 12.3-inch HD color display with multi-touch control | opt | — |
| 7-inch Advanced Drive-Assist® Display | std | — |
| 8-inch color display with multi-touch control | std | — |
| AM/FM with 6 speakers | std | — |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system | std | — |
| BMW Curved Display with Head-Up Display | — | std |
| Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant | std | — |
| Harman Kardon Surround Sound System | — | std |
| NissanConnect Services Powered by SiriusXM® (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately), Wi-Fi Hotspot | opt | — |
| NissanConnect® featuring Apple CarPlay® integration and Android Auto™ | std | — |
| Premium Package | — | std |
| Siri Eyes Free®/Google Assistant™ Voice Recognition | std | — |
| SiriusXM® with advanced audio features (three-month trial period included) | std | — |
| Streaming audio via Bluetooth® | std | — |
| Two front illuminated USB connection ports (one Type-A, one Type-C) | std | — |
| Two rear illuminated USB charge ports (one Type-A, one Type-C) | opt | — |
| Wired Android Auto | std | — |
| Wired Apple CarPlay | std | — |
| Wireless Android Auto | opt | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | opt | — |
| Wireless charging pad | opt | — |
Convenience5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan Intelligent Key® with Push Button Ignition | std | — |
| Cruise control | std | — |
| Power door locks with selective unlocking | std | — |
| Power windows with auto up/down with auto reverse – driver side | std | — |
| Remote engine start | std | — |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual-Zone Automatic Temperature Control | opt | — |
| Front HVAC system microfilter | std | — |
Seating9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 60/40 split fold-down rear seats | std | — |
| 8-way power | std | — |
| Heated front seats | opt | — |
| 2-way power lumbar | opt | — |
| 4-way manual passenger seat | std | — |
| 4-way power passenger seat | opt | — |
| Extended Merino Leather Upholstery | opt | std |
| Woven fabric seating | std | — |
| Zero gravity bucket front seats | std | — |
Interior7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 3-spoke urethane steering wheel | std | — |
| Carbon Fiber Interior Trim | — | std |
| Center console with armrest, 12V power outlet and storage | std | — |
| Dual overhead front map lights with sunglass holder | std | — |
| Meters/gauges – Fine Vision illumination (Speedometer, Tachometer, Coolant temperature, Fuel level with fuel door location indicator) | std | — |
| Rear reading lights | std | — |
| Steering wheel-mounted control switches (cruise control, audio, Bluetooth® hands-free phone system) | std | — |
Exterior26 differ · 26 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Single panel moonroof | opt | — |
| 17-inch alloy wheel, gloss black | opt | — |
| 17-inch machined aluminum-alloy with painted inserts | std | — |
| 19-inch M Dual-spoke Bicolor Black 792M wheels | — | std |
| 19-inch machined aluminum-alloy with painted inserts | opt | — |
| 215/55R17 all-season tires | std | — |
| 235/40R19 all-season tires | opt | — |
| Active grille shutters | std | — |
| Adaptive Full LED Lights | — | std |
| All-Season Runflat Tires | — | std |
| BMW Individual Paint | — | std |
| Center High-Mounted Stop Light (LED) | std | — |
| Dual power remote-controlled sideview mirrors – manual folding | std | — |
| Exhaust finisher | opt | — |
| Extended Shadowline Trim | — | std |
| Flat blade variable intermittent windshield wipers with mist cycle | std | — |
| Intelligent Auto Headlights (LED, Daytime Running Lights, High Beam Assist) | std | — |
| M Performance Exhaust | — | std |
| M Performance Rear Spoiler in Carbon Fiber | — | std |
| M Shadowline Lights | — | std |
| M Sport Package Professional | — | std |
| Rear decklid spoiler | opt | — |
| Shadowline Package | — | std |
| Rear window defroster with timer | std | — |
| Splash Guards | opt | — |
| Temporary spare tire – 16 x 4T, steel wheel | std | — |
Powertrain4 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Front Wheel Drive (FWD) | std | — |
| 8-speed Steptronic transmission | — | std |
| Battery saver timing device | std | — |
| TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine with 48-volt mild hybrid technology | — | std |
| xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive | std | std |
Chassis4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Active Ride Control | opt | — |
| Intelligent Trace Control | opt | — |
| M Sport Brakes | — | std |
| ZF Sachs monotube rear shock absorbers | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPNissan Altima
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
BMW 3 Series
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Nissan AltimaSV FWD | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $27,580 (base trim) | $75,200 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $27,580 – $30,480 4 trims | $75,200 1 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Altima | 330i xDrive Sedan |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 30 | 29 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,100 | $2,650 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Nissan Altima or the 2026 BMW 3 Series?
The Nissan Altima wins clearly, 93.5 to 67.3, on price, tech & comfort, fuel & range. The BMW 3 Series is ahead on performance and space & cargo. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Nissan Altima scores 93.5 and the 2026 BMW 3 Series 67.3. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Nissan Altima or the 2026 BMW 3 Series?
The 2026 Nissan Altima starts lower — $27,580 against $75,200, a gap of $47,620 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Nissan Altima or the 2026 BMW 3 Series?
2026 Nissan Altima: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. 2026 BMW 3 Series: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Nissan Altima and the 2026 BMW 3 Series?
Where the 2026 Nissan Altima wins: it lists 30 standard driver-assist features against 5, starts $47,620 lower ($27,580 against $75,200 base MSRP), and lists more comfort and tech equipment (35 points against 6 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). Where the 2026 BMW 3 Series answers: it turns out 398 lb-ft of torque against 180 and makes 386 hp against 188. What they share: 5 NHTSA stars, a Safety Signal of 100, and 1 owner complaints.