2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2019 Nissan Altima

The 2019 Nissan Altima borrowed design cues from its larger sibling, the Maxima, to stand out in a competitive market. It featured a prominent trapezoidal grille, sharply raked headlights, and a black stripe in the C-pillar, which added a touch of visual excitement. Inside, the Altima's layout was similar to other modern cars, with a floating center stack and familiar controls. The interior design aimed to balance evolving technology with user-friendly features, including volume, tuning, and climate-control knobs. The Altima came in various trims, each offering a range of features from the base S with its Zero Gravity seats to the luxurious Platinum with 19-inch wheels and a 360-degree surround-view monitor.

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI, on the other hand, maintained a stealthy and conservative exterior, with subtle design elements like a honeycomb grille, red accents, and twin exhaust outlets hinting at its performance capabilities. The GTI was available in S, Rabbit Edition, SE, and Autobahn trims, with prices ranging from $27,595 to $37,095. The Rabbit Edition, a limited-production model, featured gloss black 18-inch wheels, a rear roof spoiler, and unique colors like Urano Gray and Cornflower Blue. Inside, the GTI's straightforward dashboard design, quality materials, and Clark Plaid cloth upholstery in the S and Rabbit Edition trims added a touch of whimsy to the otherwise serious interior.

The 2019 Nissan Altima offered two engine options. The base 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, standard across all trims, produced 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, a slight improvement over the previous model. The SR and Platinum trims had an available turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with variable compression technology, delivering V6-like power while maintaining 4-cylinder fuel economy. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and offered front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (AWD). The AWD system, a first for Nissan sedans, provided confidence in snowy conditions. The 2.5-liter engine returned fuel economy of 28 city, 39 highway, and 32 combined, while the AWD version achieved 25 city, 35 highway, and 29 combined. The turbocharged engine was expected to return 25 city, 34 highway, and 29 combined.

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, now producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The VAQ limited-slip differential, standard on all trims, maximized traction and reduced understeer. The GTI's handling was impressive, with responsive steering and a sport suspension that provided a stiff ride. The 6-speed manual gearbox offered light clutch action and short throws, while the optional 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic added Tiptronic manual shifting and launch control. The GTI's fuel economy was rated at 27 mpg combined, with real-world testing showing 25.1 mpg. The GTI's brakes, borrowed from the Golf R, provided strong stopping power, and the progressive steering made it easy to maneuver at any speed.

The 2019 Nissan Altima's interior featured extremely comfortable Zero Gravity seats, designed to reduce fatigue on long trips. The car had plenty of storage cubbies and cupholders, though the center console was shallow due to the AWD system. The back seat offered ample space for tall adults, and the trunk provided 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space, competitive with other midsize sedans.

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI's interior was designed for both comfort and practicality. The front seats, available in plaid cloth or leather, were height-adjustable and offered robust bolsters. The dashboard layout was straightforward, with clear gauges and sensibly arranged controls. Storage was plentiful, with a large glove box, deep door-panel bins, and a smartphone tray. The back seat provided acceptable comfort, though leg space was tight. The trunk offered 22.8 cubic feet of cargo space, which could be expanded to 52.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

The 2019 Nissan Altima came standard with NissanConnect, featuring a user-friendly infotainment system with large icons and easy-to-read fonts. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and a 7-inch color Drive Assist display between the tachometer and speedometer. This display allowed drivers to monitor various systems and features via a steering-wheel-mounted directional pad.

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI's infotainment system varied by trim. The S and Rabbit Edition trims featured a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Mirror Link. The SE trim offered an upgraded system with an 8-inch display, HD Radio, satellite radio, and a Fender premium sound system. The GTI Autobahn included a navigation system and adaptive LED front lighting. The Rabbit Edition's system was basic but functional, though it had some issues with pairing and running certain apps.

The 2019 Nissan Altima came with standard safety features, including front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, vehicle dynamics control, and a reversing camera. Higher trims, like the Platinum, included ProPilot Assist, which offered partially autonomous driving functions such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance. Forward-collision warning and driver-alertness monitoring were standard across all trims.

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI offered forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert as a $450 option on the S trim and standard on the Rabbit Edition. The SE trim added Car-Net Safety & Security services, while the Autobahn trim included adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. All GTIs featured an automatic post-collision braking system. The GTI received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA and high marks from the IIHS, though it had an Acceptable rating for front passenger protection in the small overlap frontal impact test.