2020 Hyundai Elantra vs 2019 Nissan Altima

The 2019 Nissan Altima borrowed design elements 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, aiming to inject visual excitement. Inside, the Altima's layout was similar to other new cars, with a floating center stack and familiar controls, making it user-friendly. The interior was designed to balance evolving technology with a straightforward, intuitive interface, featuring essential knobs for volume, tuning, and climate control.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra, last redesigned in 2017 and restyled in 2019, retained its bold, geometric exterior for 2020. The Elantra's angular design elements, including headlights and fog lights, were highlighted by a black paint job and chrome detailing. Inside, the Elantra aimed for an upscale look with silver trim on various controls and a mix of hard and glossy plastics. The Limited trim added leather upholstery and a power driver's seat, enhancing comfort and style.

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 featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with variable compression technology, delivering V6-like power and 4-cylinder fuel efficiency. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and offered front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The AWD system, a first for Nissan sedans, provided confidence in snowy conditions. The 2.5-liter engine achieved 28 city/39 highway mpg, while the AWD version returned 25 city/35 highway mpg. The turbocharged engine offered 25 city/34 highway mpg.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra came with a 147-horsepower, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and a new CVT, replacing the previous six-speed automatic. The Elantra Eco featured a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine with 128 horsepower and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, achieving 36 mpg combined. The Elantra Sport, with a 1.6-liter turbo engine producing 201 horsepower, offered a sportier driving experience with an independent rear suspension. The new CVT improved fuel efficiency by 2 mpg, but real-world testing showed an average of 29.3 mpg, slightly less than expected. The Elantra's torsion beam axle rear suspension detracted from ride quality, but the Sport trim's independent suspension provided a better experience.

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

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra provided roomy accommodations for four adults, with a fifth person fitting for short trips. The Limited trim included power driver's seat adjustment, leather upholstery, and a sliding center console armrest. All Elantras featured dual-zone automatic climate control, but rear air vents were not available. Interior storage was adequate for a compact car, and the trunk offered 14.4 cubic feet of space, nearly matching some midsize sedans. A grab handle inside the trunk lid added convenience.

The 2019 Nissan Altima came standard with NissanConnect, featuring a user-friendly touchscreen with large icons and easy-to-read fonts. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration were standard, along with a 7-inch color Drive Assist display between the tachometer and speedometer, providing various driving information.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra's standard equipment included a touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth and a USB port. The SE trim had a 5-inch screen, while the SEL and higher trims featured a 7-inch display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Limited trim added wireless smartphone charging and a premium Infinity sound system. The Ultimate Package increased the screen size to 8 inches and added navigation and additional services. The infotainment system was easy to use, with shortcut buttons and volume/tuning knobs, and the Infinity sound system impressed for a compact car.

The 2019 Nissan Altima included standard safety features such as front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, vehicle dynamics control, and a reversing camera. The Platinum trim 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 Hyundai Elantra came standard with Hyundai Smart Sense, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and a driver attention monitor. The SEL trim added blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert, while the Limited and Sport trims featured full LED headlights with automatic high beams. The Ultimate Package included adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, and Safe Exit Assist. The Elantra earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS with full LED headlights and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.