2026 Nissan Altima vs 2026 Tesla Model 3
The Nissan Altima wins clearly, 82.7 to 74, on safety, tech & comfort, price. The Tesla Model 3 is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.9 and it flips.
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 Tesla Model 3
The 2026 Tesla Model 3 is sold in the U.S. as an electric midsize sedan with 5 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Model 3 Premium RWD, is …
2026 Nissan Altima
Clear winThe Nissan Altima wins clearly, 82.7 to 74, on safety, tech & comfort, price. The Tesla Model 3 is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.9 and it flips.
| Category · weight | 2026 Nissan Altimaoverall 82.7 | 2026 Tesla Model 3overall 74 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 74.6 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 23.5 | 100 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 57.9 | ||||||||||||
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 | 76.1 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 51.4 | ||||||||||||
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 | 82.7 | 74 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
Nissan Altima: base trim SV FWD · Tesla Model 3: base trim Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.9 and the answer flips.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Nissan Altima wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 30 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists 30 standard driver-assist features against 3.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (35 points against 18 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
Where the 2026 Tesla Model 3 answers
- It is rated 139 combined against 30 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $1,700 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($550 against $2,250).
What they share
- 5 seats.
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
45 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $27,580 | $36,990 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | — |
| Cylinder count | 4 | — |
| Engine displacement | 2,488 cc | — |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.5L 4-cylinder inline DOHC | Electric Motor |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | — |
| Valve configuration | 4 valves per cylinder; CVTCS on intake and exhaust valves | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 188 hp | — |
| Torque | 180 lb-ft | — |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 26 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 30 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 36 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 4.828 | — |
| Transmission type | cvt | Single-Speed |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 5.4 in |
| Overall height | 56.8 in | 56.7 in |
| Overall length | 193 in | 186 in |
| Overall width | 72.9 in | 76.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 111 in | — |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 15.4 cu-ft | 24 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 (minimum) | — | 3,759 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 | — |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 18.7 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 | — |
| Wheel material | alloy | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 215/55R17 | — |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 16.2 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
123 features · differences first, then sharedSafety37 differ · 37 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Blind Spot Warning | std | — |
| Intelligent Cruise Control | opt | — |
| Intelligent Forward Collision Warning | std | — |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | 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 | — |
| RearView Monitor | 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 | — |
| 8 exterior cameras | — | 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 | — |
| Full Self-Driving (Supervised) capable | — | std |
| High Beam Assist | std | — |
| Hill Start Assist | std | — |
| Intelligent Driver Alertness | std | — |
| Intelligent Lane Intervention | opt | — |
| LATCH System | std | — |
| ProPILOT Assist | opt | — |
| Rear Automatic Braking | std | — |
| Rear Door Alert | std | — |
| Rear Sonar System | std | — |
| Traction Control System | std | — |
| Traffic-aware cruise control | — | std |
| Vehicle Dynamic Control | std | — |
| Vehicle Security System | std | — |
| Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System, 4-corner pressure readout | std | — |
Infotainment26 differ · 26 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2 wireless phone chargers | — | std |
| Cellular data, Wi-Fi, ultra-wide band and Bluetooth connectivity | opt | std |
| 12.3-inch HD color display with multi-touch control | opt | — |
| 15.4" First-row touchscreen | — | std |
| 3 USB-C ports | — | std |
| 7 Speaker audio system | — | std |
| 7-inch Advanced Drive-Assist® Display | std | — |
| 8-inch color display with multi-touch control | std | — |
| AM/FM with 6 speakers | std | — |
| Basic Vehicle Warranty: 4 years or 50,000 mi, whichever comes first | — | std |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system | std | — |
| Grok voice assistant | — | 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 | — |
| Over-the-air software updates | — | 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 | — |
Convenience6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan Intelligent Key® with Push Button Ignition | std | — |
| Cruise control | std | — |
| Hands-free power open on approach | — | std |
| Power door locks with selective unlocking | std | — |
| Power windows with auto up/down with auto reverse – driver side | std | — |
| Remote engine start | std | — |
Climate3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual-Zone Automatic Temperature Control | opt | — |
| Front HVAC system microfilter | std | — |
| Particulate and odor filter; First-row touchscreen adjust air vents | — | std |
Seating13 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 60/40 split fold-down rear seats | std | — |
| 8-way power | std | — |
| First-row heated seats | opt | std |
| 2-way power lumbar | opt | — |
| 4-way manual passenger seat | std | — |
| 4-way power passenger seat | opt | — |
| First-row power recline | — | std |
| Five-seat interior | — | std |
| Leather-appointed seating | opt | — |
| Second-row manual-folding seats | — | std |
| Vegan leather with textile inserts | — | std |
| Woven fabric seating | std | — |
| Zero gravity bucket front seats | std | — |
Interior9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated steering wheel | — | std |
| 3-spoke urethane steering wheel | std | — |
| Center console with armrest, 12V power outlet and storage | std | — |
| Center console with extended storage | — | std |
| Dual overhead front map lights with sunglass holder | std | — |
| Manual-adjust heated steering wheel | — | 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 | — |
Exterior19 differ · 19 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Single panel moonroof | opt | — |
| 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 | — |
| Center High-Mounted Stop Light (LED) | std | — |
| Dual power remote-controlled sideview mirrors – manual folding | std | — |
| Exhaust finisher | opt | — |
| Flat blade variable intermittent windshield wipers with mist cycle | std | — |
| Intelligent Auto Headlights (LED, Daytime Running Lights, High Beam Assist) | std | — |
| LED headlights; Auto and adaptive high beams | — | std |
| Manual-folding side-view mirrors | — | std |
| Panoramic glass roof | — | std |
| Rear decklid spoiler | opt | — |
| Rear window defroster with timer | std | — |
| Splash Guards | opt | — |
| Temporary spare tire – 16 x 4T, steel wheel | std | — |
Powertrain6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive | std | — |
| Front Wheel Drive (FWD) | std | — |
| Battery & Drive Unit Warranty: 8 years or 100,000 mi, whichever comes first | — | std |
| Battery saver timing device | std | — |
| Drive Modes: Chill, Standard | — | std |
| Supercharging Max 225 kW; Pay Per Use | — | std |
Chassis4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Active Ride Control | opt | — |
| Intelligent Trace Control | opt | — |
| Passive shock absorbers | — | 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.
Tesla Model 3
Top recalls
- high Seats 25V410000 · 48 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $27,580 (base trim) | $36,990 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $27,580 – $30,480 4 trims | $36,990 – $54,990 4 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | BEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Altima | Model 3 Standard RWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 30 | 139 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,250 | $550 |
| EV range | — | 321 mi |
| Basic warranty | — | 4 yr / 50,000 mi |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Nissan Altima or the 2026 Tesla Model 3?
The Nissan Altima wins clearly, 82.7 to 74, on safety, tech & comfort, price. The Tesla Model 3 is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.9 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Nissan Altima scores 82.7 and the 2026 Tesla Model 3 74. 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 Tesla Model 3?
The 2026 Nissan Altima starts lower — $27,580 against $36,990, a gap of $9,410 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 Tesla Model 3?
2026 Nissan Altima: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. 2026 Tesla Model 3: no NHTSA rating yet, 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 Tesla Model 3?
Where the 2026 Nissan Altima wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 30 filed with NHTSA), lists 30 standard driver-assist features against 3, and lists more comfort and tech equipment (35 points against 18 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). Where the 2026 Tesla Model 3 answers: it is rated 139 combined against 30 (EPA mpg or MPGe) and costs $1,700 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($550 against $2,250). What they share: 5 seats.