2020 Lexus ES 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 large 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 vents and dials. The interior design was practical, with easy-to-use volume, tuning, and climate-control knobs, and the infotainment system was straightforward.

The 2020 Lexus ES, once criticized for being "boring," adopted a more aggressive look with a large spindle grille and thin taillamps. The cabin blended modern technology with an organic aesthetic, featuring soft-touch materials and a large infotainment screen. The interior was considered one of the best in the luxury-sedan segment, second only to Mercedes-Benz. The ES offered trims like the base 350 FWD, Luxury, Ultra Luxury, and F Sport, each with varying levels of luxury and performance features.

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 power with 4-cylinder fuel economy. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and offered front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The AWD system performed well in snowy conditions, and the 2.5-liter engine provided decent power for city driving. Fuel economy for the 2.5-liter engine was 28 city, 39 highway, and 32 combined, while the AWD version achieved 25 city, 35 highway, and 29 combined.

The 2020 Lexus ES came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 302 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This combination allowed the ES to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 131 mph. The ES prioritized a comfortable and refined ride, with Dynamic Control Shocks and an optional Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) for the F Sport trim. The AVS offered adjustable dampers and multiple drive modes, including Sport+ for a more engaging driving experience. The ES was not a high-performance vehicle but provided confident acceleration and precise steering.

The 2019 Nissan Altima featured extremely comfortable Zero Gravity seats, designed to reduce fatigue on long trips. The interior had plenty of storage cubbies and cupholders, though the center console was not very deep. The back seat offered enough space for tall adults, and the trunk provided 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space, competitive but not class-leading.

The 2020 Lexus ES had a spacious cabin with ample head- and legroom in both rows. The front seats could slide back without compromising rear-seat legroom, and rear-seat headroom was improved with the 2019 redesign. The front doors had deep pockets, and the center console featured multiple storage trays and cupholders. The ES offered 16.7 cubic feet of trunk space, mid-pack for the midsize luxury segment. However, the rear seats did not fold down, limiting cargo flexibility.

The 2019 Nissan Altima came standard with NissanConnect, a user-friendly infotainment system with large icons and easy-to-read fonts. It 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 2020 Lexus ES featured the Lexus Remote Touch system, controlled by a touch-sensitive pad in the center console. The system was not a touchscreen but included hard buttons for easy navigation. The ES gained standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for 2020, with the CarPlay screen taking up the entire infotainment display. The ES also offered a 10-speaker premium audio system, with an optional 17-speaker Mark Levinson stereo system and a head-up display.

The 2019 Nissan Altima included standard safety features like front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, vehicle dynamics control, and a reversing camera. Higher trims came with ProPilot Assist, a suite of driver-assistance systems offering partially autonomous driving functions. ProPilot Assist was standard on the SV, SL, and Platinum trims, while forward-collision warning and driver-alertness monitoring were standard across all trims.

The 2020 Lexus ES came standard with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, which included forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, dynamic radar cruise control, and automatic high beams. The system also featured pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, and lane-tracing assist for limited semi-autonomous driving. Additional safety features included front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, stability control, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.