2021 Nissan Altima vs 2022 Kia K5

In the past, the 2021 Nissan Altima embodied a well-defined family identity that Nissan had cultivated for its sedans and crossovers. It highlighted the bold V-Motion grille that adorned its front, available in chrome or dark chrome depending on the trim, tastefully centered with the Nissan logo. The Altima’s design was sleek and alluring, featuring a “coupe-like” roofline and a body characterized more by folds than curves, presenting an aerodynamic look. However, its extended overhangs and short dash-to-axle distance lent it a mildly outdated stance, though modern features like LED lighting and wheels ranging from 16-inch steel to 19-inch alloy kept its look current.

Interior-wise, the Altima excelled in fit and finish, offering deep, lustrous paint and rich chrome details. It came in a variety of colors including White, Silver, Gray, Black, Red, Blue, Orange, Brown, and Green—with some unique names like “Super Black” and “Scarlet Ember Tintcoat.” Inside, the 8-inch touchscreen was strategically placed for optimum safety and convenience, and higher trims featured upgraded interior materials with better hand feel and added stitching to the dash and seats.

Conversely, the 2022 Kia K5 was a sight to behold, continuing Kia's tradition of creating design leaders in their segments. The K5, available in various trims like LX, LXS, GT-Line, EX, and GT, flaunted a low, long, and sleek design, projecting the image of a luxury sports sedan rather than a practical family car. The test car, an EX with FWD, boasted Glacial White Pearl paint paired with an Ash Blue synthetic leather interior accentuated by matte-finish fake wood trim and polished metallic accents, creating an upscale feel despite the common hard plastics in lower sections. The transmission shifter, door handles, and steering wheel stalks demonstrated a secure, refined sense of motion, adding to the K5’s sense of quality.

The 2021 Nissan Altima offered a split personality through its powertrains. Most configurations came with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque with front-wheel drive as standard while offering optional all-wheel drive. This setup achieved 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.

Meanwhile, the SR VC-Turbo trim level stood out with a unique 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine capable of variable compression, producing 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. This model, available only in FWD, offered a more engaging driving experience with near-similar fuel efficiency at 25 mpg city/34 mpg highway/29 mpg combined.

The 2022 Kia K5 stepped into the spotlight with its GT trim, powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine generating 290 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, delivered through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Though the GT was the most powerful and exhilarating to drive, it was also the most expensive and didn’t offer AWD.

For practicality, the K5’s standard turbocharged 1.6-liter engine provided 180 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque through a conventional eight-speed automatic, with FWD as standard and AWD available. This engine offered a balanced performance with torque available between 1,500 and 4,500 rpm and achieved an estimated 31 mpg combined. The K5 EX, during the test in Southern California, returned 29.1 mpg, proving its efficiency in various driving conditions.

Comfort was paramount in the 2021 Nissan Altima, featuring the lauded Zero Gravity front seats that promised and delivered on long-distance comfort. Higher trims added power adjustments, memory functions, and leather with heating options. The Altima’s cabin offered ample storage, including a large glovebox, a big center console, multiple cupholders, and spacious door pockets. The second-row comfortably seated two adults or three for short trips and folded in a 60/40 split to expand the already generous 15.4 cubic feet of trunk space.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia K5 focused on comfort with features like dual-zone automatic climate control, 10-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and rear air conditioning vents. While its low-slung design did make entry and exit challenging for some, the seats and SynTex synthetic leather were notably comfortable. The K5’s trunk offered slightly more cargo space at 16 cubic feet and featured a 60/40-split folding back seat for additional flexibility. Kia also provided thoughtful storage solutions, including a roomy center console bin, a dedicated smartphone slot, and hidden trays in door panel armrests.

Nissan equipped the 2021 Altima with a solid array of standard technology across its trims. Features included the Nissan Intelligent Key with pushbutton start, remote engine start, Bluetooth, cruise control, and more. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on all but the base S model, which had a 7-inch touchscreen. Other trims featured an 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen, with additional USB ports and a 7-inch Drive-Assist display.

Kia offered two infotainment systems for the 2022 K5. Base trims (LX and LXS) came with an 8-inch touchscreen featuring large volume and tuning knobs and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims like the GT-Line included a 10.25-inch touchscreen but required a cable for smartphone integration, offering features like satellite radio, navigation, and Kia Connect subscription services. The EX and above also added a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system and Active Sound Design. The K5's infotainment graphics leaned heavily on a purple theme, and while the voice recognition system lagged in performance, it included a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system.

Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 in the 2021 Altima included features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, and high-beam assist as standard on SV trim and above. ProPilot Assist provided enhanced highway driving aids, and upper trims received an Intelligent Around View Monitor. The Altima earned a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS.

The 2022 Kia K5 was packed with the Kia Drive Wise system, bundling forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The EX Premium package further added cyclist detection, Junction Turning Assist, adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view monitor. The K5 also achieved a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS and a five-star overall crash-test rating from NHTSA.