2020 Acura TLX vs 2019 Nissan Altima

The 2019 Nissan Altima borrowed design elements from its larger sibling, the Maxima, to stand out in a competitive market. This included a prominent trapezoidal grille, sharply angled headlights, and a black stripe in the C-pillar. Inside, the Altima featured a floating center stack and a layout similar to other contemporary sedans like the Honda Accord and Kia Forte. The interior was designed to balance evolving technology with user-friendly controls, avoiding the cluttered dashboards of the past. The Altima's infotainment system included essential features like navigation and Bluetooth, with physical knobs for volume, tuning, and climate control.

The Altima was available in several trims: S, SR, SV, SL, and Platinum. The base S trim offered comfortable Zero Gravity seats, push-button start, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SR trim added sporty features like 19-inch alloy wheels and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The SV trim focused on value, adding features like heated seats and adaptive cruise control. The SL trim introduced luxury elements like leather seating and a Bose sound system. The top-tier Platinum trim included all previous features plus 19-inch wheels, memory settings for the driver's seat, and a 360-degree surround-view monitor.

The 2020 Acura TLX, after a design overhaul, presented a handsome but somewhat anonymous exterior. The A-Spec option package enhanced its appearance with 19-inch wheels, revised bumpers, and side sill skirts. The limited-edition PMC Edition, hand-built in Ohio, featured a striking Valencia Red Pearl paint and unique exterior accents. Priced at $50,945, the PMC Edition was the pinnacle of the TLX lineup, while non-PMC models started at $33,995. CarGurus recommended the Technology and A-Spec packages for a well-rounded TLX under $40,000, though this configuration lacked the powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine and SH-AWD.

The 2019 Nissan Altima offered two engine options. The base 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine produced 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, a slight improvement over the previous model. The SR and Platinum trims had an optional turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with variable compression technology, delivering V6-like power with better fuel economy. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and offered front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, a first for Nissan sedans. The AWD system performed well in snowy conditions, providing confidence without altering the driving experience. The 2.5-liter engine achieved 28 city/39 highway mpg, while the AWD version returned 25 city/35 highway mpg. The turbocharged engine was expected to deliver 25 city/34 highway mpg.

The 2020 Acura TLX PMC Edition featured the top-performing powertrain, a 290-hp, 3.5-liter V6 engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission and SH-AWD. This system could direct up to 70% of engine output to a single rear wheel, enhancing cornering and acceleration. The V6 provided a smooth power build-up, especially in Sport and Sport+ modes. The TLX's driving dynamics were further improved by amplitude reactive dampers and a well-balanced weight distribution. The car returned 23 mpg in combined driving, matching EPA estimates. The TLX offered a comfortable and quiet ride, suitable for both daily commutes and spirited drives.

The 2019 Nissan Altima's interior featured extremely comfortable Zero Gravity seats, designed to reduce fatigue on long trips. The cabin had ample storage, though the center console was shallow due to the AWD system. Rear passengers enjoyed sufficient space, and the trunk offered 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space, competitive within its class.

The 2020 Acura TLX provided a luxurious interior with high-quality materials and well-positioned, heated, and ventilated front seats. Rear passengers also had comfortable accommodations with air-conditioning vents and optional heated seats. However, the trunk was smaller, offering just 14.3 cubic feet of space, more akin to a compact car than a midsize sedan.

The 2019 Nissan Altima came with NissanConnect, a user-friendly infotainment system with large icons and easy-to-read fonts. It included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. A 7-inch color Drive Assist display between the tachometer and speedometer provided essential driving information, navigable via a steering-wheel-mounted pad.

The 2020 Acura TLX's dual-screen infotainment system was less intuitive. The top display was not a touchscreen, while the bottom one was, leading to confusion. Climate controls were split between physical buttons and the touchscreen, and some buttons were hard to read. The system lacked a tuning knob and had outdated navigation graphics. Despite these issues, the Acura/ELS premium audio system and smartphone charger were appreciated, and the car included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2019 Nissan Altima included standard safety features like airbags, traction control, and a reversing camera. Higher trims featured ProPilot Assist, offering partially autonomous driving functions like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance. Forward-collision warning and driver-alertness monitoring were standard across all trims.

The 2020 Acura TLX, designed in the early 2010s, had aging safety architecture. It received an Acceptable rating in the IIHS small overlap frontal-impact test but earned 5-star ratings in all NHTSA tests. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and road-departure mitigation. However, these systems lacked the refinement of more modern vehicles.