2021 Nissan Altima vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

For the 2021 Nissan Altima, Nissan had established a strong family identity for its sedans and crossovers, particularly highlighted by the bold V-Motion grille on the front of each model. This grille was either chromed or dark chromed, depending on the trim level, and was tastefully adorned with the Nissan logo at the center. The Altima’s overall shape was quite attractive, featuring a sloping “coupe-like” roofline that gave it a sleek, aerodynamic profile. The body showcased more folds than curves, giving it a taut and trim essence. Despite this, there was a lot of body hanging out ahead of the front wheels and behind the rear wheels, leading to a somewhat ungainly stance. The short dash-to-axle distance gave it a mildly old-fashioned look, though this wasn’t overly noticeable. Modern features like standard LED lighting and a range of wheels from 16-inch steel to 19-inch alloy helped maintain a contemporary look. Fit and finish were exceptional, highlighted by deep lustrous paint and rich chrome details. The Altima was available in nine exterior colors, each with creative names like “Super Black” and “Sunset Drift ChromaFlair,” with some colors costing an extra $395. Inside, the dashboard was uncluttered and intelligently laid out, with an 8-inch touchscreen display mounted atop the center stack for convenience. As you moved up the trim levels, interior materials improved significantly with better stitching and hand feel. Conversely, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class incorporated design elements from other Mercedes models into a cohesive whole. The front end featured a characteristic droop akin to the CLA-Class, while the squared-off rear end and thin taillights were reminiscent of the S-Class. Every angle of the C-Class embodied a recognizable Mercedes styling, largely due to the grille sporting a prominent three-pointed star logo surrounded by smaller versions. The cab-rearward proportions of the C-Class, with its long hood and short rear deck, emphasized its RWD platform, distinguishing it from the FWD CLA-Class and A-Class. Standard LED headlights and taillights could be upgraded to Mercedes’ Digital Light system, which adapted to road curves and projected warning icons. The interior strived to be a mini S-Class, featuring a freestanding touchscreen and instrument cluster, prominent air vents, and intricate speaker grilles for the optional Burmester audio system. Distinctive nightclub-style ambient lighting with 64 colors further enhanced the luxurious feel. Despite the luxury billing, the standard upholstery was synthetic MBTex, with Nappa leather available on higher trims.

Performance-wise, the 2021 Nissan Altima presented a Jekyll-and-Hyde nature with its available powertrains. Most of the lineup (eight out of nine configurations) were equipped 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 CVT. Drivers could choose between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD), except on the base S trim. The AWD system could redirect up to 50% of the torque to the rear wheels as needed. Fuel economy for the FWD variants was rated at 28 mpg city/39 mpg highway/32 mpg combined, while the AWD versions managed 25 mpg city/35 mpg highway/29 mpg combined. The standout, however, was the Altima SR VC-Turbo trim featuring a unique variable compression turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. This engine, delivering 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque on premium gas, offered dynamic compression ratio adjustments for power on demand. This trim, only available as FWD, achieved commendable fuel economy at 25 mpg city/34 mpg highway/29 mpg combined. Despite weighing slightly more, the VC-Turbo offered a much more engaging drive and featured a sport-tuned suspension, although the difference was hardly noticeable compared to standard trims. The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class’ standard C300 model featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, churning out 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system for occasional power boosts of up to 20 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. Mercedes claimed a 0 to 60 mph time of 5.9 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph. The sportier AMG C43 variant, confirmed at the time, utilized a more powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing 402 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, capable of a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.6 seconds and top speeds of 155 mph or 165 mph with optional larger wheels. Despite turbo lag and occasional rough shifts from the nine-speed transmission, the ride quality was superior, muting most road imperfections. Handling on twisty roads was confident, but required more deliberate effort than rival sports sedans.

Interior space in the 2021 Nissan Altima was a high point, particularly with its well-regarded Zero Gravity front seats, which provided comfort on long drives. The Altima’s front cabin featured ample storage, including a large glovebox, center console storage bin, and multiple cupholders and cubbies. Rear seating was spacious, accommodating two adults comfortably, and even three for shorter trips. The 60/40 split-folding rear seats allowed access to the 15.4 cubic feet trunk, offering substantial cargo room for a midsize sedan. The redesigned 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, available only as a sedan, saw improvements in interior space compared to its predecessor, being longer and wider. This translated to marginally increased headroom and rear-seat legroom, leading its class in these measurements. Front-seat headroom increased by 0.1 inch and rear-seat legroom by 0.8 inch, providing ample comfort. However, front legroom was near the bottom of the segment. The seats were extremely comfortable and supportive, appropriate for both luxury cruising and spirited driving. The trunk space, at 17.9 cubic feet, surpassed that of its rivals, making it easy to load and unload items. The 40/20/40 split-rear bench could accommodate longer items when needed.

The 2021 Nissan Altima delivered solid tech features even at the base level. Standard across the board were features like Nissan Intelligent Key with pushbutton start, remote engine start, Bluetooth, cruise control, and more. Most trims offered a standard 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen and a 7-inch advanced Drive-Assist display. Across different trim levels, the availability of two USB ports, two USB-C ports, and an auxiliary input added to the convenience. Features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a Bose audio system on higher trims enhanced the in-cabin tech experience. On the other hand, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class flaunted an infotainment setup modeled after the S-Class, featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 11.9-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen for the base model, both slightly angled towards the driver. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. The Premium variant included a Burmester 3D surround-sound system, while the Pinnacle trim level boasted a head-up display and an augmented-reality navigation system. The MBUX infotainment system featured the “Zero Layer” interface, with multiple functions accessible in one tap. Voice recognition and touch controls on the steering wheel helped maneuver the system, while the augmented-reality navigation provided real-time guidance through on-screen arrows.

Safety was a strong suit for the 2021 Nissan Altima with Nissan Safety Shield 360 available on all SV and higher trims. This suite 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 an optional suite for enhanced highway driving assistance, featuring adaptive cruise control, intelligent forward collision warning, and more. The Altima garnered a five-star safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS. The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, although not rated at the time, came with an impressive range of standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with safe exit assist, driver-attention monitor, Pre-Safe, and Pre-Safe Sound. Optional features included lane-keep assist, evasive steering assist, a 360-degree camera system, park assist, and advanced versions of Distronic adaptive cruise control. The Car-to-X communication system alerted drivers to potential hazards based on data from other vehicles, showcasing forward-thinking safety technology.