Nissan Altima vs Toyota Corolla: Which Used Buy Wins?

As used buys (July 2026), the Nissan Altima typically lists for $20,213 against $21,534 for the Toyota Corolla (same model years — 2024–2026 — national medians from live listings). The Toyota Corolla takes fuel economy (34 MPG combined vs 26 MPG); the Nissan Altima leads on NCAP safety (4.9★ vs 4.7★ average). Overall medians mix very different trims — at the cheapest common trims it's the S at $18,999 vs the LE at $23,292; see the trim-by-trim tables for a fair match. Every figure below is live market data, not book values.

Head to head

Trim-by-trim prices (last 4 model years)

A fair comparison matches equivalent trims, not overall medians. Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, the Nissan Altima S ($18,999) faces the Toyota Corolla LE ($23,292); the most common trims on the market are the SV (72.0% of Nissan Altima listings) and the LE (63.9% of Toyota Corolla listings); at the top of the market, the SL ($24,547) faces the XSE ($26,277). Share = portion of the model's trim-labeled used listings (a supply-side popularity signal: what the market actually stocks and sells most). “Cheapest”/“Priciest” mark the ends of the quotable trim range — trim ladders don't map one-to-one across brands, so this is not a factory base-model claim.

Rows are aligned by price position (both sides sorted cheapest-first), not by equivalent equipment — trim names never map one-to-one across brands. Full per-trim detail (price ranges, mileage) is on each model's price page: Nissan Altima prices · Toyota Corolla prices.

Used price by model year

Typical price = national median asking price of live listings for that model year (July 2026); MPG = EPA combined range across rated versions.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper to buy used — Nissan Altima or Toyota Corolla?

Comparing the same model years (2024–2026), the Nissan Altima is cheaper: it typically lists for $20,213 versus $21,534 for the Toyota Corolla (national medians, July 2026).

Which gets better fuel economy — Nissan Altima or Toyota Corolla?

The Toyota Corolla: its typical rated version returns 34 MPG combined versus 26 MPG for the Nissan Altima (median across EPA-rated versions of the compared years).

Which is safer — Nissan Altima or Toyota Corolla?

By NCAP overall crash-test rating the Nissan Altima averages 4.9 of 5 stars across rated years versus 4.7 for the Toyota Corolla. Always check the specific model year's rating in the table above.

Which is more reliable — Nissan Altima or Toyota Corolla?

NHTSA lists an average of 3.7 recalls per model year for the Nissan Altima and 5.5 for the Toyota Corolla — an edge for the Nissan Altima. Recall and complaint counts scale with sales volume, so treat them as context and check any specific car's VIN history.

Which trims should I actually compare?

Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, a Nissan Altima S typically lists for $18,999 vs $23,292 for a Toyota Corolla LE; the most common trims on the market are the SV ($19,990, 72.0% of Nissan Altima listings) and the LE ($23,292, 63.9% of Toyota Corolla listings); at the top of the market, the SL ($24,547) faces the XSE ($26,277). Overall medians hide this trim mix — use the trim tables above for a fair match. Trim names never map one-to-one across brands, so "cheapest" means the least expensive trim with a real market share, not the factory base.

Dig deeper

Nissan Altima — live listings & specs Toyota Corolla — live listings & specs Nissan Altima prices by year Toyota Corolla prices by year Nissan Altima MPG by year Toyota Corolla MPG by year

See also: All model comparisons · Best used cars by budget · Used car prices by model.