Head-to-head
2026 Kia K4 vs 2026 Nissan Altima
Too close to call: Kia K4 93.4 vs Nissan Altima 92.9 with these weights. The Nissan Altima is ahead on safety and performance. Raise the performance weight from 2 to 2.4 and it flips.
A
2026 Kia K4
The 2026 Kia K4 is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the K4 4DR w/ DMS, is EPA-rated at 33 mp…
vs
A2026 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…
Verdict · default weights
2026 Kia K4
Toss-upToo close to call: Kia K4 93.4 vs Nissan Altima 92.9 with these weights. The Nissan Altima is ahead on safety and performance. Raise the performance weight from 2 to 2.4 and it flips.
Price 2026 Kia K4 leads by 19.2
Safety 2026 Nissan Altima leads by 15.4
Performance 2026 Nissan Altima leads by 23.4
| Category · weight | 2026 Nissan Altimaoverall 92.9 | 2026 Kia K4overall 93.4 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 80.8 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 91 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 84.6 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 100 | 94.8 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 76.6 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 92.1 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 92.9 | 93.4 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Nissan Altima: base trim SV FWD · Kia K4: base trim LX FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the performance weight from 2 to 2.4 and the answer flips.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Kia K4 wins
- It starts $5,290 lower ($22,290 against $27,580 base MSRP).
- It is rated 33 combined against 30 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $200 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,050 against $2,250).
Where the 2026 Nissan Altima answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 13 filed with NHTSA).
- It turns out 180 lb-ft of torque against 132.
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
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.
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Specifications side by side
49 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $27,580 | $22,290 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 2,488 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.5L 4-cylinder inline DOHC | 2.0L I-4, Multi Point Injection (MPI), Atkinson |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | 4 valves per cylinder; CVTCS on intake and exhaust valves | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 188 hp | 147 hp |
| Torque | 180 lb-ft | 132 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 26 mpg | 29 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 30 mpg | 33 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 36 mpg | 39 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 4.828 | 5.149:1 |
| Transmission type | cvt | Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Overall height | 56.8 in | 55.9 in |
| Overall length | 193 in | 185 in |
| Overall width | 72.9 in | 72.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 111 in | 107 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 15.4 cu-ft | 14.6 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 116 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 39.1 in | 39 in |
| Second-row headroom | 36.9 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 43.8 in | 42.3 in |
| Second-row legroom | 35.2 in | — |
| Third-row legroom | — | 38 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | — | 2,956 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 2,932 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 3,924 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent strut with coil springs, aluminum links, 25mm stabilizer bar | MacPherson strut |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link independent suspension, 26mm hollow stabilizer bar | Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (CTBA) |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Dual-pinion electric-powered steering system | Column Mounted-Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 18.7 ft | 17.6 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 296 mm | 280 mm |
| Front brake type | Power-assisted vented disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | Foot brake / mechanical | epb |
| Rear brake diameter | 292 mm | 262 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | 16 in |
| Wheel material | alloy | steel |
| Wheel width | — | 6.5 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 215/55R17 | 205/55R16 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 16.2 gal | 12.4 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 92 |
| 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 | 56.5 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 57.1 in | — |
| Third-row shoulder room | — | 54.7 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
175 features · differences first, then sharedSafety37 differ · 49 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA) Driving-Warning, with Parallel Exit | std | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA), Car/Pedestrian/Cyclist/Junction-Turning | — | std |
| Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with Stop and Go, steering remote control | opt | std |
| Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA), Car/Pedestrian/Cyclist/Junction-Turning | — | std |
| Intelligent Forward Collision Warning | std | — |
| Lane Following Assist (LFA) | — | std |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance (RCCA) | std | — |
| Lane Departure Warning | std | — |
| Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) | — | std |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) | — | std |
| Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection | std | — |
| Brake Assist | std | — |
| Child Anchor (ISO FIX) | — | 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 | — |
| Front and rear 3-point seat belts | — | std |
| Front and rear seat-belt pretensioners and load limiter | — | std |
| Front seatbelt buckle sensor | — | std |
| Front seatbelt Driver's reminder | — | std |
| Haptic Steering Wheel warning | — | std |
| Height-adjustable front seat-belt anchors | — | std |
| Intelligent Driver Alertness | std | — |
| Intelligent Lane Intervention | opt | — |
| LATCH System | std | — |
| Parking Brake Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Hold | — | std |
| ProPILOT Assist | opt | — |
| Rear Automatic Braking | std | — |
| Rear Child Safety Door Locks | — | std |
| Rear Sonar System | std | — |
| Traction Control System | std | — |
| Vehicle Security System | std | — |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) | — | std |
| Dual front advanced airbags | std | std |
| Dual front seat-mounted side airbags | std | std |
| Full-length side curtain airbags | std | std |
| Rear View Monitor (RVM) with Parking guidelines | std | std |
| Dual rear seat-mounted side airbags | std | std |
| Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) | std | std |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | std | std |
| High Beam Assist (HBA) | std | std |
| Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) | std | std |
| Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) | std | std |
| Immobilizer | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) High line | std | std |
Infotainment25 differ · 25 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | — |
| 12.3-inch Touch screen, ccNC Lite Radio, SXM and HD Radio | — | std |
| 4 speakers | — | std |
| 7-inch Advanced Drive-Assist® Display | std | — |
| 8-inch color display with multi-touch control | std | — |
| AM/FM with 6 speakers | std | — |
| Audio and Bluetooth Hands-free with Steering remote control | — | std |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system | std | — |
| CarPlay/Android Auto Wired and Wireless | — | std |
| Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant | std | — |
| NissanConnect Services Powered by SiriusXM® (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately), Wi-Fi Hotspot | opt | — |
| NissanConnect® featuring Apple CarPlay® integration and Android Auto™ | 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 | — |
| USB-C charger Front (2 ports, front center console) | — | std |
| USB-C charger Rear (2 ports, rear center console) | — | std |
| Wired Android Auto | std | — |
| Wired Apple CarPlay | std | — |
| Wireless Android Auto | opt | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | opt | — |
| Wireless charging | opt | — |
Convenience12 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Auto door lock system with Speed Sensing/Shift Lever Auto Lock, and Impact Sensing Unlock | — | std |
| Cruise control | std | — |
| Front and rear power windows | — | std |
| Inside Handle Override All Doors | — | std |
| Power door locks with selective unlocking | std | — |
| Power outlet (x1) | — | std |
| Power windows with auto up/down with auto reverse – driver side | std | — |
| Remote engine start | std | — |
| Remote Trunk Lid Release Cable operated | — | std |
| Two-turn driver door unlock | — | std |
| Central door lock switch | — | std |
| Power driver window with auto-up/down | — | std |
| Smart Key with Remote/Push-button Start | std | std |
Climate4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual-Zone Automatic Temperature Control | opt | — |
| Air Conditioner Manual | — | std |
| Front HVAC system microfilter | std | — |
| PTC Heater | — | std |
Seating11 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 60/40 split-folding rear seat | 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 | — |
| Bench fixed seatback folding | — | std |
| Driver's seat Height Adjustable - Pumping type | — | std |
| Leather-appointed seating | opt | — |
| Passenger side Height Adjustable - Pumping type | — | std |
| Zero gravity bucket front seats | std | — |
| Cloth seat trim | std | std |
Interior23 differ · 23 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 3-spoke urethane steering wheel | std | — |
| 4-inch TFT Cluster | — | std |
| C/Pad interior trim with Technical Embossing | — | std |
| Center console with armrest, 12V power outlet and storage | std | — |
| Deluxe SynTex Inside Door Armrest | — | std |
| Dual overhead front map lights with sunglass holder | std | — |
| Floor console Armrest with SynTex material | — | std |
| Front/Rear Door Center Plastic Trim | — | std |
| Front/Rear Door Upper Plastic Trim | — | std |
| Glove Box with Damper | — | std |
| LED Map and Room Lamp | — | std |
| Luggage Lamp | — | std |
| Metal Paint Inside Door Handle | — | std |
| Meters/gauges – Fine Vision illumination (Speedometer, Tachometer, Coolant temperature, Fuel level with fuel door location indicator) | std | — |
| Rear reading lights | std | — |
| Soft PVC Transmission Gear Shift Knob | — | std |
| Steering wheel-mounted control switches (cruise control, audio, Bluetooth® hands-free phone system) | std | — |
| Sunvisor Vanity mirror with cover and Driver's Ticket Holder | — | std |
| Two-spoke design, Polyurethane Steering Wheel | — | std |
| Inside Rear-view Mirror Day and Night | — | std |
| Manual tilt and telescopic steering column | — | std |
| Trip Computer | — | std |
| Front/Rear Inside Door Map Pocket and Bottle Holder | — | std |
Exterior36 differ · 37 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Sunroof Wide-Type Power one-touch safety | opt | — |
| 16-inch steel wheels (Dark Gray cover) | — | std |
| 17-inch alloy wheel, gloss black | opt | — |
| 17-inch machined aluminum-alloy with painted inserts | 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 | — |
| Black Belt-line molding | — | std |
| Black bumper | — | std |
| Black Radiator Grille with Metal Paint trim | — | std |
| Black Side Sill | — | std |
| Black Side Window Trim | — | std |
| Bulb type High Mounted Stop Lamp | — | std |
| Center High-Mounted Stop Light (LED) | std | — |
| Conventional Wiper Blade type | — | std |
| Dual power remote-controlled sideview mirrors – manual folding | std | — |
| Escort headlights | — | std |
| Exhaust finisher | opt | — |
| Flat blade variable intermittent windshield wipers with mist cycle | std | — |
| Heated Back-lite | — | std |
| Intelligent Auto Headlights (LED, Daytime Running Lights, High Beam Assist) | std | — |
| K4 emblem (left side of trunk) | — | std |
| LED Amber Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | — | std |
| LED and Bulb type Rear Combination Lamps | — | std |
| LED Multi-Focus Reflector (MFR) Headlights | — | std |
| Outside Mirror with Black Mirror Arm and Body Color Mirror Cap | — | std |
| Outside Rear-view Mirror Electric adjustable and Heated | — | std |
| Rear decklid spoiler | opt | — |
| Single Muffler Hidden Exhaust tips | — | std |
| Trunk Lid Trim Inner cover with inside handle | — | std |
| UV Cut Glass and Solar Glass Windshield with Backlite, Front and Rear door | — | std |
| Auto Light Control System | — | std |
| Rear window defroster with timer | std | — |
| Splash Guards | opt | — |
| Low Washer Fluid Warning | — | std |
| Temporary spare tire | std | std |
Powertrain4 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Available Intelligent All-Wheel Drive | std | — |
| 2.0L Multi Port Injection (MPI) engine | — | std |
| Battery saver timing device | std | — |
| Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) | — | std |
| Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) | std | std |
Chassis7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Active Ride Control | opt | — |
| Column Mounted-Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) | — | std |
| Front McPherson strut with Coil spring | — | std |
| Intelligent Trace Control | opt | — |
| Rear Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (CTBA) | — | std |
| Shock Absorber Type Gas | — | std |
| ZF Sachs monotube rear shock absorbers | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
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Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPNissan Altima
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 1 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (1), Lane Departure (1)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Kia K4
Safety Signal 92 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls 1
Owner complaints 13 · 6 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Steering (5), Lane Departure (5), Unspecified (5)
Top recalls
- high Seat Belts 26V135000 · 14,870 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Kia K4LX FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $27,580 (base trim) | $22,290 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $27,580 – $30,480 4 trims | $22,290 – $28,890 8 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Altima | K4 4DR w/ DMS |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 30 | 33 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,250 | $2,050 |
| 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 Kia K4?
Too close to call: Kia K4 93.4 vs Nissan Altima 92.9 with these weights. The Nissan Altima is ahead on safety and performance. Raise the performance weight from 2 to 2.4 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Kia K4 scores 93.4 and the 2026 Nissan Altima 92.9. 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 Kia K4?
The 2026 Kia K4 starts lower — $22,290 against $27,580, a gap of $5,290 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 Kia K4?
2026 Nissan Altima: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. 2026 Kia K4: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. 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 Kia K4?
Where the 2026 Kia K4 wins: it starts $5,290 lower ($22,290 against $27,580 base MSRP), is rated 33 combined against 30 (EPA mpg or MPGe), and costs $200 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,050 against $2,250). Where the 2026 Nissan Altima answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 13 filed with NHTSA) and turns out 180 lb-ft of torque against 132. What they share: 5 NHTSA stars.