Nissan Kills the Altima's Turbo Engine for 2025

The old 2.5-liter four-cylinder is all that remains, but Nissan offers a new SV Special Edition package in lieu of the turbo's demise.

Photo by: Nissan

By: Christopher Smith

Aug 20, 2024 at 1:04pm ET

Comment

The Nissan Altima SR VC-Turbo is canceled for 2025.
The sole engine for all Altima trims is now the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder.
A new SV Special Edition package is available, bringing higher-spec features and sporty looks to the lower-grade trim.

The Nissan Altima heads into the 2025 model year with just one engine. The turbocharged 2.0-liter variable-compression (VC) four-cylinder is gone, taking the 248-horsepower Altima SR VC-Turbo trim with it. The Maxima ended production in 2023, which means Nissan's flagship sedan is now the Altima SL with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder under the hood.

In all-wheel-drive guise, it makes 182 hp and 178 pound-feet of torque. Opting for front wheel drive gives you a bit more power—188 hp and 180 lb-ft. It's not exactly a barnstormer, but it is pretty good on gas. Lower-level S and SV trims have EPA mileage ratings of 27 mpg city, 39 highway, and 32 combined with front wheel drive. Going all-paw drops those numbers to 26/36/30, still not bad in the dwindling sedan segment.

Nissan

Why did Nissan axe the VC turbo? A reason wasn't given in the automaker's 2025 Altima announcement, but a company spokesperson gave us the following statement:

"Nissan frequently adapts powertrain options across its lineup to meet the needs of customers. Our 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine delivers the optimum balance of fuel economy and performance, combined with the AWD compatibility that more Altima customers are looking for."

We suspect reliability is also a factor. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation into Nissan's VC engine in December 2023 after a slathering of failures were reported.

What do you think?

View

Comments

To ease the pain of the SR VC-Turbo's demise, Nissan added an SV Special Edition package to the 2025 Altima lineup. The package brings numerous upgrades to the lower-priced SV range, including a 12.3-inch center touchscreen, wireless phone charging, dual-zone climate control, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. Visually speaking, the Special Edition gains a moonroof, rear spoiler, faux carbon fiber trim on the center console, and black 17-inch wheels.

Are we seeing the beginning of the end for the long-running Altima? Nothing has been confirmed, but Automotive News reports the sedan will be canceled at the end of the 2026 model year.