Nissan Altima vs Volkswagen Jetta
Side-by-side comparison from manufacturer specifications, NHTSA safety data, and live dealer listings.
Vehicles
Vehicles
2026 Volkswagen Jetta
Overview
| Spec | Nissan AltimaSV | Volkswagen JettaS |
|---|---|---|
| Selected trim | SV | S |
| Body style | Sedan | Sedan |
| Drivetrain | front wheel drive | front wheel drive |
| Fuel type | regular unleaded | regular unleaded |
| Transmission | continuously variable-speed automatic | 8-speed shiftable automatic |
| Engine type | gas | gas |
| Model year | 2026 | 2026 |
Pricing & market
| Spec | Nissan AltimaSV | Volkswagen JettaS |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $27,580 | $23,995 (best) |
| Lowest listing price | $10,995 | $7,493 (best) |
| Median listing price | $19,772 (best) | $23,484 |
| Highest listing price | $30,470 (best) | $30,554 |
| For sale now | 60 | 80 (best) |
Fuel economy & range
| Spec | Nissan AltimaSV | Volkswagen JettaS |
|---|---|---|
| Combined MPG | 32 MPG | 34 MPG (best) |
| City MPG | 27 MPG | 29 MPG (best) |
| Highway MPG | 39 MPG | 40 MPG (best) |
| Fuel tank | 16 gal (best) | 13.2 gal |
Performance
| Spec | Nissan AltimaSV | Volkswagen JettaS |
|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 188 hp (best) | 158 hp |
| Torque | 180 lb-ft | 184 lb-ft (best) |
| Engine size | 2.5 L (best) | 1.5 L |
| Cylinders | I4 | I4 |
Size & capability
| Spec | Nissan AltimaSV | Volkswagen JettaS |
|---|---|---|
| Seating | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Cargo volume | — | 14.1 cu ft (best) |
| Payload | — | 915 lbs (best) |
| Curb weight | 3,281 lbs | 2,998 lbs (best) |
| Ground clearance | 5 in | 5.5 in (best) |
| Wheelbase | 111 in (best) | 105.7 in |
| Length | 193 in (best) | 186.5 in |
| Width | 73 in (best) | 70.8 in |
| Height | 57 in | 57.7 in (best) |
Safety & recalls
| Spec | Nissan AltimaSV | Volkswagen JettaS |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA overall | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Frontal crash (driver) | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | 4 / 5 ★ |
| Frontal crash (passenger) | 4 / 5 ★ | 4 / 5 ★ |
| Side crash (driver) | 4 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ (best) |
| Side crash (passenger) | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Side pole | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Rollover | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | 4 / 5 ★ |
| Open recalls (YMM scope) | None reported (best) | 1 |
Highlighted values indicate the better figure for that spec when a clear winner exists. Specs reflect the selected trim for each vehicle. Drag a vehicle header to reorder columns. MSRP and specifications are manufacturer data; listing prices and inventory come from live dealer listings. Safety ratings are from NHTSA.
Trim overview
All available trims with MSRP. The trim selected above is highlighted; comparison specs use that selection.
| Trim | Nissan Altima | Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SV $27,580 MSRP(Currently comparing) | S $23,995 MSRP(Currently comparing) |
| 2 | SV $29,080 MSRP | Sport $25,305 MSRP |
| 3 | SR $28,980 MSRP | SE $26,985 MSRP |
| 4 | SR AWD $30,480 MSRP | SEL $29,995 MSRP |
| 5 | — | Autobahn $33,745 MSRP |
| 6 | — | Autobahn $33,745 MSRP |
Live inventory
Nissan Altima60 for sale
See all
Used2024 Nissan Altima
2.5 SV
Garnet Pearl Metallic•Charcoal63,765 mi$18,797Peachtree Mitsubishi
Atlanta, GA
Certified2021 Nissan Altima
2.5 S
Glacier White•charcoal123,823 mi$10,995Wholesale Direct Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Used2017 Nissan Altima
2.5 S
Cayenne Red•charcoal78,978 mi$13,599Jim Coleman Nissan Bethesda
Bethesda, MD
Used2025 Nissan Altima
2.5 SV
Garnet Pearl Metallic•Charcoal51,248 mi$18,754Honda of Lake City
Lake City, FL
Used2024 Nissan Altima
2.5 SL
Pearl White Tricoat•charcoal53,524 mi$22,536Classic Nissan Newport News
Newport News, VA
Used2023 Nissan Altima
2.5 SV
Pearl White Tricoat•Charcoal62,043 mi$18,588Walla Walla Toyota
Walla Walla, WA
Volkswagen Jetta80 for sale
See all
Used2024 Volkswagen Jetta
SE
Rising Blue Metallic58,656 mi$20,475Tadd Jenkins Auto Sales Idaho Falls
Idaho Falls, ID
New2026 Volkswagen Jetta
1.5T S
Platinum Gray Metallic•Black15 mi$24,363Lou Sobh Volkswagen of Athens
Bogart, GA
New2026 Volkswagen Jetta
1.5T S
Platinum Gray Metallic•Black15 mi$24,549Lou Sobh Volkswagen of Athens
Bogart, GA
New2026 Volkswagen Jetta
1.5T Sport
Deep Black Pearl•Black12 mi$26,094Lou Sobh Volkswagen of Athens
Bogart, GA
New2026 Volkswagen Jetta
1.5T Sport
Pure White•Black15 mi$26,094Lou Sobh Volkswagen of Athens
Bogart, GA
New2026 Volkswagen Jetta
1.5T Sport
Platinum Gray Metallic•Titan Black13 mi$26,061Lou Sobh Volkswagen of Athens
Bogart, GA
Nissan Altima vs Volkswagen Jetta FAQ
- Which is better: 2026 Nissan Altima or 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?
- It depends on priorities. OpenDealer compares 2026 Nissan Altima vs 2026 Volkswagen Jetta on MSRP, fuel economy, horsepower, seating, towing, NHTSA safety ratings, and live market prices so you can weigh the tradeoffs.
- Which costs less: 2026 Nissan Altima or 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?
- Based on starting MSRP, the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta starts lower at $23,995. Live Nissan Altima listings start at $10,995. Live Volkswagen Jetta listings start at $7,493.
- Which has better startingMsrp: 2026 Nissan Altima or 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?
- The 2026 Volkswagen Jetta leads on startingMsrp in this comparison (23,995).
- Which has better combinedMpg: 2026 Nissan Altima or 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?
- The 2026 Volkswagen Jetta leads on combinedMpg in this comparison (34).
- Which has better horsepower: 2026 Nissan Altima or 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?
- The 2026 Volkswagen Jetta leads on horsepower in this comparison (228).
- How do the NHTSA safety ratings compare for 2026 Nissan Altima vs 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?
- NHTSA overall crash-test ratings in this comparison: Nissan Altima (5/5 NHTSA overall); Volkswagen Jetta (5/5 NHTSA overall).