2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Lexus ES

In 2021, Lexus expanded the ES lineup to include the new ES 250 series, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and standard all-wheel drive (AWD), priced similarly to the ES 350 which houses a 3.5-liter V6 engine with front-wheel drive (FWD). The ES 250 and ES 350 both offered trims ranging from Standard to Ultra Luxury, including the sporty F Sport variant. Additionally, Lexus introduced the ES 300h, a gas-electric hybrid commanding a $1,910 premium yet significantly boosting fuel economy.

Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were made standard on all versions except the base trim. Lexus also released a limited-production Black Line Special Edition for the ES 350. With pricing spanning from $40,000 to $50,910 plus a $1,025 destination charge, the Lexus ES presented various levels of luxury and sportiness. The F Sport Black Line Special Edition, for example, included extra-cost paint, triple-beam LED headlights, adaptive variable suspension, Sport+ and Custom driving modes, a Navigation Package, wireless smartphone charging, a head-up display, and more, resulting in an MSRP of $54,070 including destination fees.

Design-wise, the F Sport trim added unique 19-inch wheels, front and rear styling elements, a rear spoiler, aluminum interior trim, F Sport-specific instrumentation, and a black headliner. The Black Line Special Edition visually set itself apart with black wheels, side mirrors, and a rear spoiler, available in three color options. Lexus produced only 1,500 units of this special trim, each accompanied by a matching set of Zero Halliburton luggage. While the ES’s bold grille required some getting used to, its long, lean body with toned-down chrome and larger wheels made it a visually attractive sedan.

The 2021 Nissan Altima continued to embody Nissan’s strong family identity with its V-Motion grille, available in chrome or dark chrome depending on the trim level. The Altima boasted an attractive shape with a sloping roofline and taut body contours, though it exhibited a somewhat dated stance with its design. Modern features like standard LED lighting and various wheel sizes, from 16-inch steel to 19-inch alloy, kept its look contemporary.

Exceptional fit and finish, along with deep, lustrous paint and rich chrome details, were hallmarks of the Altima. Nine exterior colors were available with names like “Super Black” and “Scarlet Ember Tintcoat.” The Altima’s interior featured an uncluttered dashboard, a standard 8-inch touchscreen, and intuitive layout. Higher trims offered improved materials, dash and seat stitching, better hand feel, and more comprehensive storage solutions.

Lexus equipped every ES 350 with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 302 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup provided power to the front wheels, with driving mode selections including Normal, Eco, and Sport. The addition of an adaptive damping suspension in the F Sport trim unlocked Sport+ and Custom modes, enhancing driving dynamics.

According to Lexus, the ES 350 accelerated to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and had an EPA fuel economy rating of 25 mpg combined. During testing, an average of 22.9 mpg was achieved. The ES 350 F Sport felt quicker than its official acceleration time suggested, with the front tires breaking loose easily, revealing a need for an AWD system similar to Acura’s SH-AWD.

Testing revealed noticeable differences between driving modes, showcasing the ES 350 F Sport’s unexpected competence and genuine driving enjoyment in the sporty modes. Despite its reputation as a comfortable cruiser, the ES 350 F Sport exhibited remarkable firm ride quality, flat cornering, and overall athleticism. However, it was categorized as a sporty sedan, not a true sports sedan, leaving that distinction to models like the IS 350 F Sport and the upcoming IS 500 F Sport Performance.

Nissan’s 2021 Altima offered a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine across most configurations, delivering 182 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, mated to an Xtronic CVT. Available with AWD (excluding the base S trim), the Altima had impressive fuel economy ratings: 28 mpg city/39 mpg highway/32 mpg combined with FWD, and 25 mpg city/35 mpg highway/29 mpg combined with AWD.

The standout powertrain was the VC-Turbo engine, available only in the SR VC-Turbo trim. This turbocharged 2.0-liter engine produced 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, utilizing a unique variable compression system allowing dynamic compression ratio changes for efficiency and power. It returned fuel economy ratings almost as good as the AWD Altima, making it a more engaging drive despite a 200-pound weight difference.

All Altima variants featured four-wheel independent suspension, with the VC-Turbo’s suspension “sport-tuned,” though differences between systems were hard to discern. The electric-powered steering offered decent feedback, making the VC-Turbo Altima a livelier performer.

The 2021 Lexus ES’s interior boasted a daring yet functional design. The ES 350 F Sport’s sport-bolstered front seats featured 10-way power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The NuLuxe synthetic leather offered excellent thigh support, ensuring comfort. Equally spacious, the rear seats provided good legroom and backrest angles, accompanied by rear air-conditioning vents and an available power sunshade. Visibility was excellent due to thin windshield pillars and large side mirrors.

Storage options were plentiful but oddly configured, with many small nooks rather than large trays. The trunk space measured 13.9 cubic feet, slightly larger than a Toyota Corolla, with a hands-free power trunk kicking feature for ease.

Nissan’s 2021 Altima featured Zero Gravity front seats, praised for comfort even on long drives, with upper trims adding power adjustments, memory settings, leather, and heated seats. The front cabin provided ample storage including a large glovebox, center console bin, and door pockets. The rear seats were roomy for two adults or even three for shorter trips, with the trunk boasting a more spacious 15.4 cubic feet, allowing for larger loads.

The ES’s infotainment system had its downsides, particularly the touchpad interface, which required keeping an eye on the screen and was easy to overshoot. Fortunately, essential controls were separate from the touchpad, and the ES supported dynamic voice commands to bypass it mostly.

The optional 12.3-inch display looked impressive, replacing the standard 8-inch, and added dynamic navigation and connected services. Standard features included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a CD player. Connectivity trials ranged from three months to ten years for different services. The base ES came with a 10-speaker system, while a 17-speaker Mark Levinson system was available.

Nissan’s Altima came well-equipped with tech features starting with the Nissan Intelligent Key and pushbutton start standard across all trims, along with remote start, Bluetooth, and several connectivity options. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on all but the base S trim. Display sizes varied between a standard 7-inch on the S and an 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen on others, complemented by a 5-inch multifaceted driver display in the lower trims and a 7-inch display in others.

SiriusXM was included on all but S models with a Bose audio system standard on SL and Platinum trims. Active noise cancellation was featured with the VC-Turbo engine. NissanConnect Services included a WiFi hotspot and a range of emergency services with varied trial periods.

Every 2021 Lexus ES featured the Lexus Safety System 2.0 (LSS 2.0), bundling forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, road-sign recognition, and automatic high-beams. For 2021, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert became standard on all but the base trim.

In practicality, LSS 2.0 proved effective though imperfect during real-world testing, occasionally braking harder than necessary. While capable, turning off certain assists made the Lexus more enjoyable to drive. The Lexus ES scored a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and earned a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS in 2021.

The Altima’s Nissan Safety Shield 360 package featured automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, and high-beam assist, standard from the SV trim up. ProPilot Assist added highway driving aids like intelligent forward collision warning, lane intervention, traffic sign recognition, driver alertness, and adaptive cruise control.

An Intelligent Around View Monitor was available on upper trims, aiding in parking with a composite 360-degree view and sonar object detection. The 2021 Altima also received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS.