2021 Nissan Altima vs 2022 Hyundai Elantra

The 2021 Nissan Altima showcased a strong family identity with its bold V-Motion grille, available in chrome or dark chrome, and adorned with the Nissan logo. Its overall shape was attractive, featuring a sloping "coupe-like" roofline that lent a sleek, aerodynamic look. The body design leaned more towards folds than curves, giving it a taut essence, though its stance was somewhat ungainly due to the overhangs at the front and rear. Despite this, modern features like LED lighting and a range of wheel options kept its appearance contemporary. The Altima's fit and finish were exceptional, with deep lustrous paint and rich chrome details, available in nine exterior colors with some premium options. Inside, the dashboard was uncluttered and intelligently laid out, with an 8-inch touchscreen display positioned for safety and convenience. As you moved up the trim levels, the interior materials improved, offering a more luxurious feel.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra underwent a significant transformation with its seventh-generation redesign, featuring a longer wheelbase, wider stance, and lower roofline, resulting in a dramatic four-door-coupe silhouette. Its exterior styling was unique, with a "Z" shape created by the creases and folds on the doors, setting it apart from the Sonata and other compact sedans. The interior was much improved, with material quality slightly above the norm for its class, despite some hard plastics. The Elantra was available in four trim levels, with the N Line offering sporty styling elements. Inside, the N Line featured sport seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum pedals, enhancing its sporty look and feel. The Elantra's compact size made it easy to navigate tight spaces, and it offered excellent visibility and storage options, making it a practical choice for small families.

The 2021 Nissan Altima offered a Jekyll-and-Hyde experience with its powertrains. Most configurations featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT and available in FWD or AWD. The AWD system could send up to 50% of torque to the rear wheels when needed. Fuel economy was respectable, with 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 standout was the VC-Turbo engine in the Altima SR VC-Turbo trim, offering 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque with FWD. This engine used variable compression technology for power on demand while maintaining efficiency. The VC-Turbo was a lively performer, with fuel economy nearly matching the AWD Altima. All Altima models featured four-wheel independent suspension, with the VC-Turbo's suspension sport-tuned for enhanced driving dynamics.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered multiple powertrain options. The standard engine on SE, SEL, and Limited trims was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT and FWD. The Elantra Hybrid combined a 1.6-liter engine with an electric motor for 139 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, using a six-speed DCT for a more engaging drive. The N Line featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, available with a six-speed manual or seven-speed DCT. The N Line's DCT offered Drive Mode Select, enhancing driving dynamics with Normal, Sport, and Smart modes. The N Line also had sport-tuned suspension, steering, and larger front brake rotors, providing confident handling. Despite some clunkiness at low rpm, the DCT delivered crisp shifts, and the N Line's sporty features made it a compelling choice for driving enthusiasts.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan's Zero Gravity front seats, praised for their comfort on long drives. Upper trims offered power adjustment, memory, leather, and heating for the seats. The front cabin provided ample storage, including a large glovebox, center console storage, and door pockets. The second row was roomy for two adults, with a 60/40 split-folding design for trunk access. The trunk offered 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space, accommodating various items with ease.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra was designed for ease of use, with clear instrumentation and controls. Its compact size made it easy to navigate tight spaces, and it offered excellent visibility. The Elantra's rear seat could accommodate three children comfortably, though taller adults might find headroom limited due to the sloped roof. Cargo space was 14.2 cubic feet, adequate for most needs, though the trunk opening was narrow. The Elantra's trunk could fit a surprising amount of gear with careful arrangement. However, the power moonroof produced a droning noise when fully open, and the lack of rear USB ports and air vents was a minor inconvenience.

The 2021 Nissan Altima came equipped with standard tech features, including Nissan Intelligent Key with pushbutton start, remote engine start, Bluetooth, and more. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on all but the S model. The base touchscreen was 7 inches, with an 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen on other trims. Higher trims offered additional USB ports and a Bose audio system. Nissan Door to Door Navigation was standard on Platinum and optional on other trims, with NissanConnect Services providing various connected features.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered impressive technology for its price. The base SE featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and dual USB ports. Higher trims added more speakers, satellite radio, and Blue Link connected services. Limited trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, a Bose audio system, and a digital instrument cluster. Hyundai Digital Key was available on select trims, allowing keyless access via an Android smartphone. The infotainment system was easy to pair with smartphones, though the audio system's performance was average.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of driver-assist and safety features standard on SV and above. It included automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, and more. ProPilot Assist was available for highway driving assistance, and an Intelligent Around View Monitor was offered on upper trims. The Altima received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick + rating from IIHS.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra came with the SmartSense suite of driver-assist tech, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and more. Additional features like adaptive cruise control and Highway Drive Assist were available on higher trims. The Elantra received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and top "Good" ratings from IIHS, though lower trims with halogen headlights received a "Marginal" rating.