FuelFacts

2009 Nissan Altima MPG & Specs — Real-World vs EPA, All Trims

It depends on the trim. Some versions take premium and some take regular — check your exact engine/transmission below.

21–26
MPG combined (18–23 city / 26–32 hwy)
$2,192–$3,343
est. fuel / year (today's prices, 15k mi)
Varies by trim
gas type

Is the 2009 Nissan Altima good on gas?

At up to 26 MPG combined, the 2009 Nissan Altima is better than average for a Midsize Cars — that class averages about 23.0 MPG across 5,710 EPA-tested versions, so it's a good pick on fuel for its size.

Real-world MPG vs the EPA number

The EPA figures above come from a standardized dynamometer test, not the open road — real-world MPG typically runs a bit lower depending on your driving, climate and terrain. That's true of every car on this site, old or new.

At today's AAA national average price — $3.80/gal for regular gas as of 2026-07-05 — the most efficient trim runs about $2,192/year (roughly $183/month, about $14.62 per 100 miles) at the EPA's assumed 15,000 miles/year, using an estimated 577 gallons a year. We don't estimate a cost-per-fill since exact tank size isn't in the public EPA dataset, but the per-100-mile figure scales to any tank. Current national average gas prices →

2009 Nissan Altima trims & fuel economy

Trim (engine / transmission)FuelMPGFuel/yr (today's price)
2.5L 4-cyl, 6-spd manual, FWDREGULAR26$2,192
2.5L 4-cyl, CVT automatic, FWDREGULAR26$2,192
3.5L 6-cyl, CVT automatic, FWDPREMIUM22$3,191
3.5L 6-cyl, 6-spd manual, FWDPREMIUM21$3,343
Where the EPA lists premium, that’s the fuel the maker specified for the mileage test — many such engines run on regular with slightly less power/MPG. Whether premium is required or just recommended is an owner’s-manual detail the EPA dataset omits, so we don’t guess it.

2009 Nissan Altima specs

What the EPA test-car listings record for this model year — every combination sold is a row in the trims table above.

Engine options2.5L 4-cyl · 3.5L 6-cyl
Transmission6-spd manual · CVT automatic
Drive typeFWD
EPA body classMidsize Cars
FuelVaries by trim

Other years of the Nissan Altima

2013 Nissan Altima2012 Nissan Altima2011 Nissan Altima2010 Nissan Altima2008 Nissan Altima2007 Nissan Altima2006 Nissan Altima2005 Nissan Altima

Similar cars (Midsize Cars)

2009 Nissan Versa FE2009 Saturn Aura Hybrid2009 Kia Spectra2009 Saturn Astra 4DR Hatchback2009 Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec2009 Mercury Milan AWD

Cars that take premium · Cheapest cars to fuel · Where fuel grade depends on the trim · Fuel guides

4 trim(s) · EPA FuelEconomy.gov data retrieved 2026-07-24 · fuel prices AAA national average as of 2026-07-05.