2021 Nissan Altima vs 2022 Lexus ES

The 2021 Nissan Altima showcased a strong family identity with its bold V-Motion grille, available in chrome or dark chrome, adorned with the Nissan logo. Its overall shape was attractive, featuring a sloping “coupe-like” roofline that gave it a sleek, aerodynamic profile. The body had more folds than curves, lending a taut, trim essence. Despite a somewhat old-fashioned look due to its stance and short dash-to-axle distance, modern features like standard LED lighting and wheels ranging from 16-inch steel to 19-inch alloy kept it contemporary. The fit and finish were exceptional, with deep lustrous paint and rich chrome details, available in nine exterior colors with some premium options.

Inside, the Altima's dashboard was uncluttered and intelligently laid out, with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display positioned for safety and convenience. The instrument panel was shrouded by a cowl to reduce glare. While the base model felt stripped-down, higher trims offered improved interior materials, adding stitching to the dash and seats for a better hand feel. The Altima was a clear example of getting what you pay for, with higher trims offering more luxurious features.

The 2022 Lexus ES, a mainstay in the Lexus lineup since its debut in 1990, evolved over seven generations into its current form. Despite a decline in sales since its peak in 2007, it remained a respectable choice. The ES faced the challenge of appealing to an aging demographic while trying to attract younger buyers, leading to a safe and somewhat weird design. The latest generation, launched in 2018, used the Global Architecture-K (GA-K) platform, supporting a front-engine, front-wheel drive layout with optional all-wheel drive and multiple engine options.

The ES had elegant proportions and a sleek, almost fastback roofline, with a prominent Lexus "spindle" grille and assertive headlamp shapes. Standard 17-inch wheels could be upgraded to 18-inch or 19-inch wheels, with the 18-inch looking the best. The interior featured a layered, asymmetrical dashboard with precise assembly and bold two-tone leather seating in the F Sport model. The small analog chronometer in the touchscreen housing aimed to underline the ES's heritage but added to the clutter.

The 2021 Nissan Altima offered two distinct powertrains. Most configurations featured a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with direct gasoline injection, producing 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all but the base S trim. Fuel economy was rated at 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 was the VC-Turbo engine, available only in the Altima SR VC-Turbo trim with FWD. This turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine used variable compression technology to deliver 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, achieving 25 mpg city/34 mpg highway/29 mpg combined. The VC-Turbo made the Altima a livelier performer, with a sport-tuned suspension and decent feedback from the electric-powered steering.

The 2022 Lexus ES came in three models, each with distinct powertrains. The ES 250 AWD featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 203 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It achieved 25 mpg city/34 mpg highway/28 mpg combined and could go from 0-60 mph in 8.6 seconds.

The ES 350 had a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 307 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque, also with an eight-speed automatic but FWD only. It achieved 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway/26 mpg combined and could go from 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds. The F Sport trim had slightly lower fuel economy.

The ES 300h hybrid combined a 176-hp four-cylinder engine with a 39-hp electric motor for a net 215 hp, paired with an electronically controlled CVT. It achieved 43 mpg city/44 mpg highway/44 mpg combined and could go from 0-60 mph in 8.1 seconds. The ES 250 AWD's engine was unrefined under throttle, but the car handled well and drove smoothly. The ES 350's V6 offered more fun, while the ES 300h excelled in fuel economy.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan’s Zero Gravity front seats, praised for their comfort on long drives. Upper trims offered power adjustment, position memory, leather appointments, and electric heating. The front cabin had ample storage, including a big glovebox, center console storage bin, cupholders, and door pockets. The second row was roomy for two adults, with a 60/40 split-folding seat for trunk access. The trunk offered 15.4 cubic feet of space.

The 2022 Lexus ES had 13.9 cubic feet of trunk space, with a pass-through behind the center armrest for long items. The second row in the ES 250 and ES 350 folded flat for additional storage. The ES sedan offered better handling, fuel economy, and maneuverability compared to its SUV counterpart, the Lexus RX. Inside, the ES had ample storage, including big bottle pockets, cupholders, and a large glove compartment. The dash layout was functional, with a prominent volume knob for the audio system.

The 2021 Nissan Altima came standard with Nissan Intelligent Key, pushbutton start, remote engine start, Bluetooth, cruise control, HomeLink, rear-view camera, Siri Eyes Free, Google Assistant Voice Recognition, and streaming audio/hands-free phone with Bluetooth. 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 had additional USB ports, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a Bose audio system. Nissan Door to Door Navigation was standard on Platinum and optional on other trims.

The 2022 Lexus ES featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa+Lexus compatibility. A 10-speaker Pioneer sound system, USB audio input, Bluetooth, CD player, HD radio, and SiriusXM satellite radio were standard. Upper trims had a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Mark Levinson 17-speaker audio, and navigation. A 10-inch head-up display was available, along with a Panoramic View Monitor and Intuitive Parking Assist. Lexus Enform connected services included Safety Connect, Service Connect, Remote, WiFi, Dynamic Navigation, and Destination Assist.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, standard on SV and above, including 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 highway driving assistance. An Intelligent Around View Monitor was available on upper trims. The Altima received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS.

The 2022 Lexus ES received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA. Standard safety features included Lexus Safety System+ 2.5, with a pre-collision system, lane-departure warning, road-sign assist, Enhanced Lane-Tracing Assist, adaptive cruise control, and Intelligent High Beam Control. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, 10 airbags, and three years of Lexus Enform Safety Connect service.