2021 Hyundai Sonata vs 2022 Nissan Altima

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata, having undergone a substantial redesign for the 2020 model year, emerged as a divisive figure in automotive aesthetics. It carried an audaciously bold look from its wide, provocative grille to its smoothly tapered tail. This design made the Sonata immediately recognizable, intended to evoke strong opinions.

The N Line variation enhanced this distinctiveness with both functional and stylistic changes. It featured a restyled front fascia with larger air intakes that not only improved engine cooling but also shifted focus from the car's unique daytime running lights bleeding into the hood. Gloss black side mirrors and window surrounds, coupled with striking 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, set it apart in profile. The rear included subtle enhancements like a gloss black lip spoiler and a refined bumper flanked by a four-outlet exhaust system, subtly hinting at the performance upgrades beneath the surface.

Inside, Hyundai carried the sporty aesthetic with premium Nappa leather and Dinamica suede inserts on the sport front seats, red stitching, aluminum pedal covers, and dark chrome accents, all under a panoramic sunroof that gave the car a two-tone appearance and a spacious interior feel.

Conversely, the 2022 Nissan Altima continued its lineage of evolving from a nondescript sedan into a sharp and sporty mid-sizer since its 2002 iteration. The sixth-generation Altima bore Nissan's familiar V-Motion grille, providing it a broad, low stance augmented by tall doors, distinct body lines, and a sloping "floating" roofline. Despite the effort to differentiate with the floating roof concept, critiques noted it wasn't necessary.

The Midnight Edition package on our test SR trim, a $1,750 option, further accentuated its sporty look with a gloss-black painted grille, LED fog lights, black 19-inch wheels, a moonroof, and a satin black badge. This package, combined with a Gun Metallic paint job, elevated the Altima's street presence by several notches, making it one of the better "black-out" packages available.

Inside, the Altima boasted comfortable Zero Gravity front seats, a user-friendly instrument panel, and high-quality materials. However, it was noted that this premium feel dwindled in lower trims, emphasizing the "you get what you pay for" adage.

Under the hood, the 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was a beast with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 290 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque from 1,650 to 4,000 rpm. This robust engine, combined with a new eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission, pushed power to the front wheels. The N Line allowed drivers to switch between Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Custom modes, with an Active Sound Design (ASD) engine note system enhancing the driving experience akin to a Subaru WRX's growl when accelerating.

The Sonata N Line excelled in dynamic driving thanks to stiffer engine and transmission mounts, faster electric steering, larger brakes, and a sport-tuned suspension. The 19-inch wheels with 245/40 all-season or summer performance tires provided excellent road grip. Evaluated on twisty mountain roads, the Sonata N Line demonstrated superior handling, responsive steering, and robust braking, making it a joy to drive. The front-wheel-drive layout hardly hampered its performance, with minimal understeer and well-controlled body movements.

Comparatively, the 2022 Nissan Altima offered two engine options: a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated unit producing 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, and a more advanced 2.0-liter variable-compression turbo engine with 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The VC-Turbo could adjust its compression ratio for performance or efficiency. The base engine was available with both FWD and AWD, whereas the turbo was limited to FWD on the SR trim. All engines paired with Nissan's Xtronic CVT, which, despite its flaws in delivering spirited performance, provided smooth and efficient power delivery.

The Altima's performance was adequate with the base engine, though its acceleration to 60 mph was less thrilling compared to its competition. However, the suspension and Active Ride Control ensured a smooth ride and refined road manners. Engine noise and CVT operation were occasionally intrusive, but the cabin remained impressively quiet and composed.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line balanced sportiness and practicality within its interior. The heated front sport seats were comfortably bolstered, using Dinamica suede inserts to enhance lateral support during spirited driving, while maintaining comfort during regular commutes. The front passenger seat included a manual height adjuster, adding to the car's ergonomic appeal.

Rear passenger space in the Sonata N Line, surprisingly, wasn’t significantly better than in the smaller Elantra N Line, offering similar legroom and thigh support. However, the Sonata did include rear air conditioning vents and a USB port, and the panoramic sunroof alleviated any sense of claustrophobia. The trunk offered 16 cubic feet of volume, featuring a Smart Trunk hands-free release, though it lacked an interior handle for closing.

In contrast, the 2022 Nissan Altima served its role as a reliable midsize sedan admirably. It provided comfortable seating for four and a decent middle seat for short trips. The Altima's dimensions placed it squarely in the middle of the segment, with a 15.4-cubic-foot trunk falling between the larger Accord and Sonata trunks and the smaller Camry. A notable complaint was the high rear shelf, reducing rear visibility, compounded by the Altima's sloping roofline and high trunk, making rearward view difficult. Trunk supports could also crush contents if not packed carefully.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line came well-equipped, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster paired with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The system included navigation, wireless smartphone charging, HD Radio, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year subscription to Blue Link connected services. It featured a Bose premium sound system but lacked a WiFi hotspot. The design quirks, such as the absence of a tuning knob and finicky voice recognition system, were minor inconveniences.

Unique offerings like the Sounds of Nature function and Hyundai Digital Key (compatible only with Android) added a touch of modern convenience, though iPhone users were left to rely on traditional key fobs.

The 2022 Nissan Altima's base trim featured a 5-inch multi-function display and a 7-inch touchscreen with basic audio and Bluetooth connectivity. Higher trims upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and additional USB ports. The SL trim introduced a nine-speaker Bose audio system, navigation, connected services, and remote engine start. The SR VC-Turbo trim added active noise cancellation, improving cabin serenity.

Another standout was the available ProPilot Assist, capable of handling acceleration, braking, and steering under certain conditions, making long drives easier. Our test vehicle lacked ProPilot Assist but performed well in voice command accuracy, smartphone integration, and audio quality.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was stacked with Hyundai’s SmartSense ADAS, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure and lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and more. It also featured Rear Occupant Alert, Safe Exit Warning, and Highway Drive Assist. This comprehensive suite fostered a sense of security without startling or annoying the driver.

Crash protection ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were yet to be updated for the N Line, but the standard Sonata’s high ratings suggested strong occupant protection.

Nissan's 2022 Altima provided impressive safety tech across trims. Standard features included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision warning. The SV trim and above added Safety Shield 360 with rear auto braking, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Altima received top safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, with the latter awarding it the "Top Safety Pick+" designation, underscoring its robust safety credentials.