2019 Hyundai Elantra vs 2020 Nissan Altima

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra received a significant facelift, featuring new styling elements forward of the windshield and front doors, redesigned wheels, and a revamped trunk lid, taillights, and rear bumper. While the previous model had a more conservative and upscale look, the 2019 version adopted a more geometric and kaleidoscopic design, which may not have been as universally appealing. Inside, the Elantra saw subtle yet effective improvements, such as new air vents, a carbon-texture finish on some plastic housings, updated gauges, and revised dashboard controls. These changes added a touch of excitement to an otherwise dull cabin, and the interior quality was generally high, with tightly assembled parts and a robust shifter.

In contrast, the 2020 Nissan Altima boasted a clean and contemporary design, with a focus on ergonomic simplicity. The Platinum trim, equipped with 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels, looked particularly striking. However, some design elements, like the door handles on different visual planes and the body-color lower diffuser panel, were questionable. The interior featured a high-mounted touchscreen infotainment system, clearly legible climate controls, and a traditional PRNDL transmission shifter. The materials quality was on par with the midsize sedan segment, with matte chrome detailing and striated simulated wood trim adding a touch of elegance.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra was powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels. While acceleration was acceptable, the driving dynamics were not particularly inspiring. The Elantra offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, but Smart mode was not very perceptive, and Sport mode added unwelcome weight to the steering. The EPA estimated a combined fuel economy of 32 mpg, and during testing, the car averaged 29.3 mpg on a modified loop and 32.4 mpg over a week. Handling was decent, with unremarkable steering and brakes, and the ride quality was somewhat busy due to the torsion-beam rear-axle suspension.

The 2020 Nissan Altima, on the other hand, offered a more engaging driving experience. Most Altimas came with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine making up to 188 horsepower, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The test car featured the optional turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, known as the VC-Turbo, which produced 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. The EPA estimated a combined fuel economy of 29 mpg, but the car averaged 26.2 mpg during testing. The Altima's ride and handling were impressive, thanks to standard Active Ride Control and Intelligent Trace Control. The VC-Turbo engine provided quick, sharp, and responsive performance, making the Altima satisfying to drive in various settings.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra offered good front-seat comfort for a compact car, with height-adjustable seats for both the driver and front passenger. Most trims included heated front seats, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. However, backseat comfort was less impressive, with hard plastic front seatbacks and no air conditioning vents or USB ports for rear passengers. Interior storage was decent, with a good-size center-console storage bin, a sizable glove box, and a tray for smartphones. The trunk offered 14.4 cubic feet of space, and most trims included a hands-free Smart Trunk release.

The 2020 Nissan Altima featured NASA-inspired front and back seats designed for superior comfort, though the front passenger's seat lacked height adjustment, and ventilated front seats were not available. Heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a remote engine starter with climate control operation were available for cold climates, but heated rear seats were not. The Altima provided substantial in-cabin storage space, though it lacked a wireless smartphone charging pad. The trunk offered 15.4 cubic feet of space, with optional grocery bag hooks and an interior grab handle for convenience.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra, except for the base SE, came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The Limited trim included an Infinity premium sound system, and the Ultimate Package added an 8-inch display, navigation, and SiriusXM Data Services. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a good balance of knobs and buttons, and the Limited's Infinity audio system delivered impressive sound quality. The Value Edition and Limited trims also offered a free 3-year trial subscription to Blue Link services, providing a range of safety and convenience functions.

The 2020 Nissan Altima offered a nearly perfect infotainment system with an 8-inch display, stereo volume and tuning knobs, and physical and virtual buttons for easy navigation. Standard features included Bluetooth connectivity, a text-messaging assistant, Siri Eyes Free, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Available features included satellite radio, a navigation system with door-to-door directions, a 9-speaker Bose premium audio system, and NissanConnect Services. The connected services technology was free for the first six months, with various plans available for continued use. The door-to-door navigation function was particularly helpful, though the voice recognition technology could be improved.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra included important driver-assistance and collision-avoidance systems starting with the SEL trim, such as forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, a blind-spot-monitoring system, and a driver-monitoring system. The Limited trim added adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beam headlights, and a Safe Exit system. The Elantra received top marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), except for an Acceptable rating for LATCH child-seat anchors. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Elantra a 4-star overall rating.

The 2020 Nissan Altima included Nissan Safety Shield 360, with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking standard on the base S trim, and additional features like pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane departure warning, rear automatic braking, and automatic high-beam assistance on other trims. Additional safety systems included a driver monitoring system, a road-sign recognition system, and a surround-view camera. ProPilot Assist, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving aid, was available but proved difficult to trust. The Altima received a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS.