Compare the2026 Nissan AltimaVS 2025 Tesla Model 3

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

© 1999 - 2026Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. P5DDX-4CWSY 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2026/02/03

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Altima are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Altima SR offers an optional 360-degree Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model 3 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Altima offers optional NissanConnect Service, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Altima and the Model 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Nissan Altima is safer than the Tesla Model 3:

	Altima	Model 3
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	114/342 lbs.	333/455 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Nissan Altima is safer than the Tesla Model 3:

	Altima	Model 3
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	185	206
Spine Acceleration	46 G’s	46 G’s
Hip Force	544 lbs.	556 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	157	384

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

There are over 5 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Altima’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Altima’s reliability 16 points higher than the Model 3.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Altima first among midsize cars in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Model 3 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is ranked 17th, below the industry average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 5 places higher in reliability than Tesla.

Brakes and Stopping

The Altima stops much shorter than the Model 3:

	Altima	Model 3
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Altima has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Model 3 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Altima has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Model 3; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Altima has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Altima flat and controlled during cornering. The Model 3’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Altima SR handles at .90 G’s, while the Model 3 pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Altima’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Model 3’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

Chassis

The Nissan Altima may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 pounds less than the Tesla Model 3.

Passenger Space

The Altima has 3.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Model 3 (100.6 vs. 97).

The Altima has 1.1 inches more front legroom, 1.7 inches more front hip room, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear legroom, 2.2 inches more rear hip room and 2.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model 3.

Ergonomics

The Altima’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model 3 doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Altima has standard extendable sun visors. The Model 3 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Altima is equipped with both FM and AM stereo radios, offering access to more content and better coverage than the Model 3, which solely provides FM radio. With AM radio, you can enjoy a wider variety of stations featuring news, talk shows, sports commentary, native language programing, automated traffic guidance, and emergency broadcasts. AM waves travel further and penetrate buildings and obstacles more effectively than FM signals, especially at night. Having both FM and AM stereo radios the Altima offers a more comprehensive listening experience compared to only FM in the Model 3.

HD Radio boasts several benefits over conventional radio: superior sound quality with clearer and consistent FM broadcasts, CD-quality audio, and Multicast Channels offering up to four streams from a single station, adding programming choices. Cars like the Altima optionally equipped with HD Radio provide an improved in-car entertainment experience. The Model 3, devoid of this technology, foregoes these benefits. Selecting the Nissan Altima empowers drivers to enjoy a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience while on the go.

Compared to the Tesla Model 3’s traditional radio, the Nissan Altima equipped with standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Nissan Altima retains 52.18% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 43.01% resale value of the 2025 Tesla Model 3 after five years, which can save the Nissan’s owner up to $11304 in depreciation.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Altima is less expensive to operate than the Model 3 because typical repairs cost much less on the Altima than the Model 3, including $640 less for a water pump, $1 less for front brake pads, $41 less for front struts and $627 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Nissan Altima and the Tesla Model 3, based on reliability, safety and performance.

See Available Inventory