2021 Nissan Altima vs 2022 Hyundai Sonata

The 2021 Nissan Altima showcased Nissan's strong family identity with its signature V-Motion grille, seen prominently at the front of the vehicle. This distinctive grille came in either chrome or dark chrome depending on the trim level and proudly displayed the Nissan logo at the center. The Altima's overall aesthetic was appealing, featuring a sloping, coupe-like roofline that gave it a sleek, aerodynamic profile. Its body design leaned more towards folded sheet metal rather than curves, giving it a taut and trim appearance. However, the large overhangs in the front and rear, combined with a short dash-to-axle distance, made it look slightly old-fashioned compared to more modern designs where wheels are pushed to vehicle corners. Nonetheless, modern features like standard LED lighting and wheel options ranging from 16-inch steel to 19-inch alloy wheels kept the Altima looking contemporary. The vehicle was available in nine exterior colors, including some with premium pricing.

Inside the Altima, the dashboard was intelligently laid out with minimal clutter. The standard 8-inch touchscreen display was ideally positioned for accessibility and safety. The instrument panel, crowned by a cowl, was easy to read in all lighting conditions. While the base model felt somewhat stripped down, higher trims offered more comfort with better materials, additional stitching, and overall enhanced feel. The interior, thus, ensured that buyers got what they paid for.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Hyundai Sonata had evolved significantly from its earlier generations, moving away from copying the Honda Accord to establishing its unique identity. Redesigned for the 2020 model year, the seventh-generation Sonata featured a wide grille, rounded front fascia, and a distinct sloped rear roofline. This look made it stand out, although it sparked polarizing opinions. Some found it beautiful, while others did not.

Once inside, the Sonata offered a spacious and functional cabin. The gauges and dials were clearly marked, ensuring ease of use. The material quality was about average for the segment, with the Limited trim sporting comfortable leather seats. However, the tan upholstery of the test car was not universally appealing. The Sonata N Line, with its sporty appearance thanks to revised fascias, black accents, rear spoiler, and customized badging, catered to those seeking a bolder design. Inside, the N Line featured dark chrome trim, red stitching, sport seats, and additional touches to enhance its sporty character.

The performance of the 2021 Nissan Altima was defined by its two distinct powertrains. The majority of the models came with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that delivered 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with Nissan’s Xtronic continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Front-wheel drive was standard, while all-wheel drive was available on all trims except the base S. This engine offered a balance of power and fuel efficiency with ratings of 28 mpg city/39 mpg highway/32 mpg combined in FWD configuration, and 25 mpg city/35 mpg highway/29 mpg combined with AWD.

The SR VC-Turbo trim level featured the innovative VC-Turbo engine—a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that generated 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This variable compression engine could dynamically change its compression ratio, balancing power and efficiency as needed. Paired with FWD, it achieved nearly the same fuel economy as the AWD configuration of the 2.5-liter engine. While separated by just about 200 pounds, the VC-Turbo model provided a much livelier driving experience. Both the engines benefitted from the four-wheel independent suspension, although the VC-Turbo's sport-tuned suspension did not drastically alter the ride feel.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata, like the Altima, featured a mix of engines catering to different personalities. The base SE and SEL trims had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. It was adequate and unremarkable in performance, akin to Dr. Jekyll. The SEL Plus and Limited trims housed a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque—suitable enough for everyday driving. Both engines were mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The N Line trim, however, was the equivalent of Mr. Hyde thanks to its turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that churned out 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. It came paired with an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission, sport suspension, and tuned exhaust, transforming the Sonata into an aggressively spirited midsize sedan. Although AWD was not available, the N Line's FWD configuration still offered a thrilling experience for the right driver.

The 2021 Nissan Altima excelled in comfort and functionality. Its much-acclaimed Zero Gravity front seats lived up to their reputation, providing long-lasting comfort even during extended drives. Higher trims featured power adjustments, memory positions, leather upholstery, and heated seats. The front cabin had ample storage, including a sizeable glovebox, a large center console, multiple cupholders, and generously sized door pockets. The rear seats were spacious enough for two adults, or three for short trips, and folded down in a 60/40 split to extend the trunk’s capacity. The Altima’s trunk, offering 15.4 cubic feet of storage space, was more than sufficient for everyday needs.

In comparison, the 2022 Hyundai Sonata featured an even more spacious cabin with 104.4 cubic feet of passenger space, qualifying it as a “Large Car” by EPA standards. Front-row headroom and legroom were among the best in the segment, while rear-seat space was adequate, albeit not exceptional. Two adults could sit comfortably in the back, but a third might find it cramped. Notably, the absence of a driveshaft tunnel offered slightly more comfort for the middle seat passenger. The Sonata’s trunk was larger than the Altima’s, providing 16 cubic feet of space, just shy of the Honda Accord’s 16.7 cubic feet.

The Sonata also featured intriguing technologies like the Remote Smart Parking Assist, which allowed the vehicle to park itself or exit tight spaces with the press of a button on the key fob. While practical use might be limited, it certainly added a wow factor.

The 2021 Nissan Altima came standard with essential tech features. All models included the Nissan Intelligent Key with pushbutton start, remote engine start, Bluetooth, cruise control, and voice recognition through Siri Eyes Free and Google Assistant. The base S model had a 7-inch touchscreen display, while other trims featured an 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen. The S model was equipped with a 5-inch multifunction display in the instrument panel, whereas higher trims had a 7-inch advanced Drive-Assist display. Connectivity options included USB ports and auxiliary inputs. Higher trims also received SiriusXM satellite radio and a Bose audio system on SL and Platinum trims. Active Noise Cancellation came with the VC-Turbo engine, providing a quieter cabin experience. The Nissan Door to Door Navigation was available on higher trims, adding real-time traffic updates.

For the 2022 Hyundai Sonata, infotainment technology correlated closely with the trim level. The base SE offered an 8-inch touchscreen, six speakers, HD Radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a rearview camera. The SEL added SiriusXM and Blue Link connected services. Higher trims, including the SEL Plus, Limited, and N Line, were equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, wireless device charging, and dynamic voice recognition. Hyundai also made the Tech package standard on the SEL, adding features like Highway Driving Assist and a panoramic sunroof. Bluetooth pairing was seamless, and Apple CarPlay functioned flawlessly, making the tech experience smooth and user-friendly.

Safety was a significant focus for both manufacturers. The 2021 Nissan Altima came with the Nissan Safety Shield 360, which was standard on the SV trim and above. This 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 enhanced highway driving, combining adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The Altima also offered an Intelligent Around View Monitor on higher trims, providing a 360-degree view to aid parking.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata matched this with a comprehensive suite of modern safety features. All trims came with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, driver-attention warning, and a rear occupant alert system. Higher trims added blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-centering assistance, and safe exit assist. The Limited trim featured a blind-spot view monitor, rear park assist, and a surround-view monitor. Both cars received excellent safety ratings, with the Altima earning a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The Sonata achieved similar accolades, securing a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top ratings from the IIHS for the structurally similar 2021 model.