Does The Nissan Altima Have Leather Seats?

The Nissan Altima is one of the more common sedans in the US market. It has been in continuous production since 1993, with its features evolving year after year. With so many model years and trims, it's difficult to tell which ones come with leather seats. So instead of having to seek out each model year, we have the information for you here in this post. 

The Nissan Altima comes with either fully leather seats or leather-trimmed seats. Here are the model years and trims that come in full leather: 

  1. 2021 Nissan Altima SL and Platinum
  2. 2020 Nissan Altima SL and Platinum 
  3. 2019 Nissan Altima SL, Platinum, and 2.0 Edition ONE
  4. 2018 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL and 3.5 SL

That's the broad list of leather seating options on the Nissan Altima. But, there is more you need to know about the seating features of each Altima. Please continue reading to learn more about qualities like heated seating, color options, and adjustability features. 

A red Nissan Altima displayed outside a Nissan dealership, Does The Nissan Altima Have Leather Seats?

Leather Seating Options on the Nissan Altima

Each of the model years of the Nissan Altima has up to six different trim levels. The 2021 Nissan Altima, for example, comes in the S, SV, SR, SL, SR-VC Turbo, and Platinum trims. As with other vehicles, the number of premium features increases as you reach the higher trims. 

Leather seating material is one of the most defining features that set the lower-tiered trims apart from the higher. Let's take the discussion a little deeper and look at each model year of the Nissan Altima. Within each model year, we will examine the availability of leather seats and other seating features. 

1. 2021 Nissan Altima

As stated above, the 2021 version of the Nissan Altima has a total of six different trims. Of those trims, only the SL and the Platinum come with leather seats. The leather seats on the 2021 Altima are not fully leather, but leather-appointed seats, which are seats with leather accents. 

According to the trims comparison page on the Nissan Altima's website, the other trims do not have any leather in their seating. The S and the SV trim both come with standard cloth. But the middle two trims, the SR and the SR-VC Turbo, both come with upgraded Sport Cloth seating. 

The specifications page for the Nissan Altima also tells us there are other features to improve seating comfort available for the sedan. Standard trims have a six-way adjustable driver's seat that you can upgrade to an eight-way adjustable version with power lumbar support on premium trims. Additionally, you can upgrade the passenger seat from manual adjustment to powered adjustment. 

2. 2020 Nissan Altima

Based on information on Nissan of Tacoma's website, the 2020 Nissan Altima comes in five trims, and cloth is the standard seating material. Three of the five trims, the S, SR, and SV, only have cloth seating. The other two premium trims, the Altima SL and Platinum, both come with leather seating. The leather seating in both of these trims is similar to the style found in the 2021 version. 

3. 2019 Nissan Altima

According to Cars.com, the leather seat situation for the 2019 Altima is similar to the two years that followed it. The S, SV, SR trims each have either cloth or vinyl seating material. The 2019 Altima SL and Platinum trims have a leatherette accent option. Again, these aren't fully leather seats, but seats with leather-like accents to the standard seating material. 

The premium versions of the 2019 Altima have all-around more advanced seats. For example, on the Platinum trim, the front seats are bucket-style chairs that are adjustable eight ways with driver memory technology. 

4. 2018 Nissan Altima

The trims on the 2018 Nissan Altima were more limited than any of the other model years between 2019 and 2021. Of the five available trims, the S, SR, and SV have standard cloth seating. Other trims like the 2.5 SL and 3.5 SL are made from leatherette material. 

The 2018 version of the Nissan Altima has the same differences in powered seat options as the new models of the Altima. The standard versions have seats that require manual adjustments, while trims like the SL have powered adjustable seats. 

Does the Nissan Altima have Heated Seats?

The Nissan Altima does have heated seats, but only on specific model years and trims. For example, the 2021 Altima does have heated seats as an option. For this model year, heated seats are available on the SV, SR, SL, SR-VC Turbo, and Platinum trims. 

Other model years of the Nissan Altima only had heated seats available through upgrade packages if it wasn't already a standard feature on the model. For example, to have heated seats on the 2019 Nissan Altima SR, you would have purchased the SR Premium Package.

Of course, all older models are only being sold as used cars now. So, if you want one with heated seats, verify that it's a trim that included heated front seats or that had an upgrade package. 

What's the Difference Between Leather Seats and Leatherette?

According to an official Nissan blog, three different types of automobile seating material have a leather look and feel. The types are plain leather, leatherette, and leather-appointed. We already discussed leather-appointed seats since that is what models like the 2021 Nissan Altima come feature. Leather-appointed seats are seats made out of a non-leather material that uses leather or leatherette to accent the other material. 

Of course, plain leather is genuine leather and is of the most premium quality. Thus the final type is leatherette. Leatherette is an artificial leather material that tends to be of higher quality than cloth or other seating types. It may not be genuine leather, but it certainly passes off for it. 

How do you Turn On the Heated Steering Wheel on Nissan Altima?

Specific model years of the Nissan Altima have an available heated steering wheel. This feature is usually only available on the more premium trims. For example, in the 2021 Altima, only the SL and the Platinum trims have a heated steering wheel. The feature isn't available on any of the other four trims. 

The method you use to turn on the heated steering wheel may vary slightly from model year to model year. But, the effects and benefits of the feature on a cold morning are the same. To turn on the heated steering wheel, follow these steps:

  1. First, start up your Nissan Altima. 
  2. Press the button with the picture of the steering wheel on it (the button is located on the center console above the climate buttons). 
  3. After that, the heated steering wheel will heat and maintain its temperature as long as it is on. 

Here is a video explaining how to use the heated steering wheel:

Does Nissan Have Ambient Lighting? 

Some Nissan models like the Altima have extra interior lighting features on the interior of the vehicle. For example, the 2019 Altima Platinum trim has interior accent lighting. In general, Nissan does have ambient lighting, but it largely depends on the model. There is even a Nissan Parts website where you can buy official aftermarket ambient lighting for models like the Rogue. 

If your Nissan does not have ambient lighting, but you wish you have it as a feature, you're not out of options. You can get aftermarket ambient lighting kits designed to work with any make or model online. For example, take a look at this set of lights from Amazon:

Click here to see the Govee Interior Car Lights at Amazon. 

In Closing

If you are in the market for a new or used mid-size sedan with leather seats, the Nissan Altima could be a good option for you. From each of the four most recent model years of the Nissan Altima, there are options for leather seats in the more premium trims, usually the SL and the Platinum. In addition to the nicer quality seats, the seats in each of those higher-end trims also come with advanced features like heated seats or power adjustment capabilities. 

If you found the information in this post helpful, please check out a few of our others: 

How To Condition Leather Car Seats Naturally

How to Clean Leather Car Seats? [Step-by-Step Guide]

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