--- title: "Nissan Altima Sets Up for Joyless Final Years Without Turbo" description: "The optional 248-horsepower engine has been retired, and now only the 188-hp mill remains amid the sedan's rumored demise." date: "2024-08-18" modified: "2024-08-18" authors: - name: "Beverly Braga" job_title: "Weekend Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/beverly-braga" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/nissan-altima-sets-up-for-joyless-final-years-without-turbo" categories: - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Nissan News" tags: - "Altima" - "Nissan" - "sedan" --- # Nissan Altima Sets Up for Joyless Final Years Without Turbo ![]() *\Nissan\* We have a saying back home: "If can, can. If no can, no can." What the heck does that even mean? To translate Hawaiian Pidgin (yes, it's a Creole language), the basic idea is that if something is possible, go for it. And if it's not, no worry, beef curry. Well, [Nissan]() decided "still can." Because if you didn't think the [Altima]() could become any more dull and forgettable, imagine it without a turbo option. Pricing and specs for the 2025 model year were [recently released](), and the Altima's starting price is now $28,140 including destination—an increase of $1,270 for the base car. Although the media alert touts a "new SV Special Edition package," nothing in the product info mentions what *didn't* carry over. Did Nissan think no one would notice that between the four trim levels, only a single powertrain is mentioned? Our friends at [*Carscoops*]() did. Previously available only on the Altima SR front-wheel-drive model, the 2.0-liter turbo-four produced a respectable 248 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. You had to pump premium fuel for those numbers, but the powertrain was notable for being the world's first variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo). Looks like that distinction will be an [Infiniti-only]() calling card, for now. ![]() ![]() ![]() What *will* power the 2025 Altima SR—as well as the S, SV, and SL trims—is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 188 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive variants sacrifice 6 hp and 2 lb-ft. The 2.5-liter engine returns an EPA-estimated 27 city, 39 highway, and 32 combined mpg. The now-deceased turbo returned 25/34/29 mpg. Those weren't poor numbers, especially when the range was 470 miles on a full tank. [Rumors of the Altima's eventual demise]() have been swirling for some time. And it's a little strange because although the Altima (or, for that matter, Nissan) doesn't reach the volume numbers of its direct competitors, for its part, the Altima remains the brand's best-selling car and second best-selling vehicle overall behind the [Rogue](). Last year, Nissan moved 128,030 Altimas, which beat out the [Sentra]()'s 109,195 units but fell behind the Rogue's 271,458. Granted, the Altima's [annual sales]() were down 8.5 percent, but that's not as bad as the Leaf's *40.5 percent* drop and the Frontier's 23.7 percent loss. Is this it for the once highly praised passenger car in its allegedly waning days? Even today, [the Altima continues to compete]() in Australia's Dunlop Super2 feeder series for the Supercars Championship. It appears there's still some life left in those bones, but it seems maybe no can for much longer. *Got a tip? Send it in to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Born and raised in Hawaii, Beverly has been a prolific and published creative writer since her teens. As a contributor to The Drive, Beverly covers the weekend shift, blogging about all things automotive, mobility, transportation, and topics in-between. Currently a digital nomad, Beverly's only constant is her car, a second-generation Mazdaspeed3. Even though she's never in one place for too long, her hot hatch always feels like home. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()