2021 Nissan Altima vs 2022 Lexus IS
Overview | |
MSRP$24,550 | MSRP$39,125 |
Listings186 | Listings90 |
Ratings & Reviews | |
User Reviews | User Reviews |
Expert reviews7.2 out of 10 | Expert reviews8.2 out of 10 |
Pros
Cons
| Pros
Cons
|
2021 Nissan Altima Reviews SummaryThe 2021 Nissan Altima is a popular midsize sedan now in the third year of its sixth generation of production. The Altima debuted as a 1993 model and has spent the decades nudged from the spotlight by the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, despite continuous evolution and improvement over the years. Don’t feel bad for the Altima—it has a lot of fans, and some innovative features it hopes will allow it to take center stage someday. | |
2022 Lexus IS Reviews SummaryAfter a substantial refresh for the 2021 model year, the 2022 Lexus IS lineup returns with a handful of minor updates and a significant improvement in performance. The new 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance also debuts this year, packing a normally-aspirated 5.0-liter V8 and laugh-riot driving dynamics. We sampled the new 2022 IS 500 in the suburbs and outskirts of Phoenix, and if you’re among the driving enthusiasts who miss the discontinued Lexus GS F, this is a credible substitute. | |
No video found | |
Popular Features & Specs | |
Engine2.5L 182 hp I4 | Engine2.0L 241 hp I4 |
Drive TrainFWD | Drive TrainRWD |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Horsepower182 hp @ 6000 rpm | Horsepower241 hp @ 5800 rpm |
MPG City28 | MPG City21 |
MPG Highway39 | MPG Highway31 |
Engine | |
Engine Name2.5L 182 hp I4 | Engine Name2.0L 241 hp I4 |
Torque178 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm | Torque258 lb-ft @ 1650 rpm |
Horsepower182 hp @ 6000 rpm | Horsepower241 hp @ 5800 rpm |
DrivetrainFWD | DrivetrainRWD |
Fuel Economy | |
MPG City28 | MPG City21 |
MPG Highway39 | MPG Highway31 |
Interior | |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Safety | |
Front Crash Overall4 | Front Crash Overall4 |
Side Crash Overall5 | Side Crash Overall5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | |
Cargo Space15.4 cu ft | Cargo Space10.8 cu ft |
Curb Weight3207 lbs | Curb Weight3715 lbs |
Height56.7 in | Height56.5 in |
Length192.9 in | Length185.4 in |
Width72.9 in | Width72.4 in |
Wheelbase111.2 in | Wheelbase110.2 in |
Maximum Payload1121 lbs | Maximum Payload825 lbs |
Number of doors4 | Number of doors4 |
Overview | ||
MSRP | $24,550 | $39,125 |
Listings | ||
Ratings & Reviews | ||
User reviews | ||
Expert reviews | 7.2 out of 10Read full review | 8.2 out of 10Read full review |
Pros & cons | Pros
Cons
| Pros
Cons
|
Summary | The 2021 Nissan Altima is a popular midsize sedan now in the third year of its sixth generation of production. The Altima debuted as a 1993 model and has spent the decades nudged from the spotlight by the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, despite continuous evolution and improvement over the years. Don’t feel bad for the Altima—it has a lot of fans, and some innovative features it hopes will allow it to take center stage someday. | After a substantial refresh for the 2021 model year, the 2022 Lexus IS lineup returns with a handful of minor updates and a significant improvement in performance. The new 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance also debuts this year, packing a normally-aspirated 5.0-liter V8 and laugh-riot driving dynamics. We sampled the new 2022 IS 500 in the suburbs and outskirts of Phoenix, and if you’re among the driving enthusiasts who miss the discontinued Lexus GS F, this is a credible substitute. |
Video | No video found | |
Popular Features & Specs | ||
Engine | 2.5L 182 hp I4 | 2.0L 241 hp I4 |
Drive Train | FWD | RWD |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Horsepower | 182 hp @ 6000 rpm | 241 hp @ 5800 rpm |
MPG City | 28 | 21 |
MPG Highway | 39 | 31 |
Engine | ||
Engine Name | 2.5L 182 hp I4 | 2.0L 241 hp I4 |
Torque | 178 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm | 258 lb-ft @ 1650 rpm |
Horsepower | 182 hp @ 6000 rpm | 241 hp @ 5800 rpm |
Drivetrain | FWD | RWD |
Fuel Economy | ||
MPG City | 28 | 21 |
MPG Highway | 39 | 31 |
Interior | ||
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Safety | ||
Front Crash Overall | 4 | 4 |
Side Crash Overall | 5 | 5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | ||
Cargo Space | 15.4 cu ft | 10.8 cu ft |
Curb Weight | 3207 lbs | 3715 lbs |
Height | 56.7 in | 56.5 in |
Length | 192.9 in | 185.4 in |
Width | 72.9 in | 72.4 in |
Wheelbase | 111.2 in | 110.2 in |
Maximum Payload | 1121 lbs | 825 lbs |
Number of doors | 4 | 4 |















CarGurus highlights

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for 2021 Nissan Altima is 7.2 out of 10, while the 2022 Lexus IS scores 8.2 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the 2022 Lexus IS emerges as the top choice, offering a compelling blend of performance, luxury, and advanced technology. If you're in the market for a high-performance sports sedan with a focus on driving dynamics and premium features, the 2022 Lexus IS is the clear winner in this comparison.
Choose the 2021 Nissan Altima if:
- You prioritize a well-balanced mix of power and efficiency.
- You seek a practical and spacious midsize sedan for everyday use.
- You value a comprehensive suite of standard safety and tech features.
Choose the 2022 Lexus IS if:
- You desire a high-performance compact sports sedan with a potent V8 engine.
- You appreciate a luxurious and well-appointed interior with advanced tech features.
- You prioritize driving dynamics and handling in a sports sedan.
CarGurus highlights

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for 2021 Nissan Altima is 7.2 out of 10, while the 2022 Lexus IS scores 8.2 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the 2022 Lexus IS emerges as the top choice, offering a compelling blend of performance, luxury, and advanced technology. If you're in the market for a high-performance sports sedan with a focus on driving dynamics and premium features, the 2022 Lexus IS is the clear winner in this comparison.
Choose the 2021 Nissan Altima if:
Shop Now- You prioritize a well-balanced mix of power and efficiency.
- You seek a practical and spacious midsize sedan for everyday use.
- You value a comprehensive suite of standard safety and tech features.
Choose the 2022 Lexus IS if:
Shop Now- You desire a high-performance compact sports sedan with a potent V8 engine.
- You appreciate a luxurious and well-appointed interior with advanced tech features.
- You prioritize driving dynamics and handling in a sports sedan.

By: CarGurus + AI
At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.








































