2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Hyundai Sonata

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata, redesigned for the 2020 model year, presented a bold and distinctive look that was immediately recognizable. The N Line version further enhanced this design with functional and stylistic changes, such as a restyled front fascia with larger air intakes, gloss black side mirrors, and 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The rear featured a subtle gloss black lip spoiler and a reworked bumper with a four-outlet exhaust system, giving the car a stealthy performance-oriented appearance. Inside, the Sonata N Line boasted sport front seats with Nappa leather bolsters and Dinamica suede inserts, red stitching, aluminum pedal covers, and dark chrome accents, along with a standard panoramic sunroof.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Altima showcased a strong family identity with its bold V-Motion grille, available in chrome or dark chrome, and a sleek, aerodynamic profile. The Altima's design included modern features like standard LED lighting and a range of wheel options from 16-inch steel to 19-inch alloy wheels. The car's fit and finish were exceptional, with deep lustrous paint and rich chrome details. Inside, the Altima featured an uncluttered dashboard with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display, intelligently laid out for safety and convenience. The interior materials improved with higher trim levels, adding stitching to the dash and seats for a more premium feel.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 290 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque from 1,650 to 4,000 rpm. This engine was paired with an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) with paddle shifters, rev-matching, and a launch control system. The car offered multiple driving modes, including Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Custom, and featured an Active Sound Design (ASD) engine note enhancement system. The Sonata N Line also had significant improvements in engine and transmission mount stiffness, faster rack-mounted electric steering, larger brakes, and a sport-tuned suspension. It rode on 19-inch wheels with 245/40 all-season or summer performance tires. The car delivered an engaging driving experience, with responsive steering, firm underpinnings, and stout brakes, while maintaining a comfortable ride quality. The EPA rated its fuel economy at 27 mpg combined, though real-world driving yielded an average of 23.7 mpg.

The 2021 Nissan Altima offered two powertrain options. Most configurations featured a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT. This engine was available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), with fuel economy ratings of 28 mpg city/39 mpg highway/32 mpg combined for FWD and 25 mpg city/35 mpg highway/29 mpg combined for AWD. The Altima SR VC-Turbo trim level featured a unique variable compression turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This engine was only available with FWD and had fuel economy ratings of 25 mpg city/34 mpg highway/29 mpg combined. The VC-Turbo engine provided a more engaging driving experience, though the suspension differences between the two powertrains were not significant. All Altima models featured four-wheel independent suspension and electric-powered steering.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line featured heated front sport seats with Dinamica suede inserts for comfort and lateral support. The front passenger seat had a manual height adjuster, making it comfortable for both front-seat occupants. The rear seat offered less legroom and thigh support compared to the Elantra N Line, but included rear air conditioning vents and a USB port. The Sonata's interior storage was generous, though the center console design was somewhat inelegant. The trunk provided 16 cubic feet of space, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. The Smart Trunk hands-free release feature was convenient, though the lack of an interior handle on the trunk lid was a minor inconvenience.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan’s Zero Gravity front seats, which were comfortable for long drives and available with power adjustment, position memory, leather appointments, and heating on upper trims. The front cabin offered ample storage, including a large glovebox, center console storage bin, cupholders, and door pockets. The second row was roomy enough for two adults or three for short trips, with a 60/40-split folding seat for trunk access. The trunk had a capacity of 15.4 cubic feet, slightly less than the Sonata's.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line came with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Standard features included navigation, wireless smartphone charging, a Bose premium sound system, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year subscription to Blue Link connected services. However, it lacked a WiFi hotspot and a tuning knob, which could be frustrating for some users. The infotainment system also offered Sounds of Nature for a calming driving experience. Hyundai Digital Key was standard but only compatible with Android devices.

The 2021 Nissan Altima included Nissan Intelligent Key with pushbutton start, remote engine start, Bluetooth, cruise control, HomeLink, rear-view camera, Siri Eyes Free, Google Assistant Voice Recognition, and streaming audio/hands-free phone with Bluetooth as standard features. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on all but the base S model. The base touchscreen was 7 inches, while other models had an 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen. Higher trims featured a Bose audio system, Active Noise Cancellation, and Nissan Door to Door Navigation. NissanConnect Services included a WiFi hotspot and emergency crash notification on higher trims.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was equipped with Hyundai’s SmartSense suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, driver-attention warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional features included Rear Occupant Alert, Safe Exit Warning, and Highway Drive Assist. The Sonata had high safety ratings, though specific ratings for the N Line were not available at the time of review.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, and high-beam assist. ProPilot Assist was available for highway driving assistance, including intelligent forward collision warning, intelligent lane intervention, traffic sign recognition, intelligent driver alertness, and adaptive cruise control. The Altima also offered an Intelligent Around View Monitor for easier parking. The Altima received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick + rating from the IIHS.