2021 Nissan Altima vs 2022 Subaru WRX

The 2021 Nissan Altima showcased a strong family identity with its bold V-Motion grille, available in chrome or dark chrome, tastefully 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, giving it a taut, trim essence, although the extended overhangs and short dash-to-axle distance made it look slightly old-fashioned. Modern features like standard LED lighting and wheels ranging from 16-inch steel to 19-inch alloy helped keep its appearance 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, featuring a standard 8-inch touchscreen display. The instrument panel was shrouded by a cowl, making it easy to read in sunlight and reducing glare at night. While the base model felt a bit stripped-down, higher trims offered improved interior materials, adding stitching to the dash and seats for a better hand feel. The Altima was a real example of getting what you pay for, with higher trims offering more luxurious features.

The 2022 Subaru WRX, on the other hand, had a more subtle front end despite being two inches wider than its predecessor. It retained its signature hood scoop and featured a small hexagonal grille with sharp-looking LED headlights. The side profile was less busy, with black plastic cladding that improved airflow and aerodynamics. The rear fenders flared dramatically, and the rear featured a large plastic bumper and multifaceted taillights designed to look like magma when illuminated. Quad tailpipes and a subtle trunk-mounted lip spoiler added to its sporty look. The Premium-trim tester included LED fog lights and 18-inch alloy wheels painted dark gray.

Inside, the WRX saw significant improvements with better fit and finish. It featured a D-shaped, flat-bottom steering wheel, aluminum-alloy pedal covers, carbon-fiber-pattern trim accents, and black cloth seats with red contrast stitching. These elements set the WRX apart from more pedestrian Subaru models, making it look more modern and sporty.

The 2021 Nissan Altima offered a Jekyll-and-Hyde nature with its powertrains. Most configurations came with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine 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. The AWD system could send up to 50% of the torque to the rear wheels when needed. 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 SR VC-Turbo trim featured a unique VC-Turbo engine, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with variable compression, producing 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. This engine was only available with FWD and had fuel economy ratings of 25 mpg city/34 mpg highway/29 mpg combined. The VC-Turbo made the Altima a much livelier performer, with a sport-tuned suspension that provided a more engaging driving experience.

The 2022 Subaru WRX featured a new 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer engine, producing 271 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine replaced the previous 2.0-liter turbo and was shared with the Outback and Legacy XT models. The WRX came standard with all-wheel drive and offered a choice between a six-speed manual transmission and a CVT, dubbed the Subaru Performance Transmission.

The manual transmission provided a satisfying driving experience, with notchy and precise shifts and a clutch pedal that was easy to manage. The CVT, on the other hand, was programmed with eight shift points and offered faster upshifts and downshifts compared to the previous generation. The new WRX also featured a suspension with longer strokes, mounted stabilizer bars, and a more forgiving ride quality, making it a capable performer on various road conditions.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan’s Zero Gravity front seats, which were comfortable and supportive even on long drives. Upper trims offered power adjustment, position memory, leather appointments, and electric heating for the seats. The front cabin had ample storage, including a big glovebox, center console storage bin, cupholders, and door pockets. The second row was roomy enough for two adults and could accommodate three for short rides. The rear seats folded flat in a 60/40 split, providing access to the 15.4 cubic feet trunk.

The 2022 Subaru WRX, despite not offering a hatchback option, had a cargo capacity of 12.5 cubic feet, up from the previous 12 cubic feet. The rear seats also featured a 60/40 split-fold function for additional cargo space. The sport seats were comfortable and supportive, with premium cloth materials in the base and Premium trims, and Ultrasuede in the Limited and GT trims. The seats provided ample bolstering without feeling too tight, making the WRX a viable commuter vehicle. The standard AWD added to its practicality, making it a strong contender in its price range.

The 2021 Nissan Altima came well-equipped with standard tech features, including Nissan Intelligent Key with pushbutton start, remote engine start, Bluetooth, cruise control, HomeLink, rear-view camera, Siri Eyes Free, Google Assistant Voice Recognition, and more. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on all but the base S model. The base touchscreen was 7 inches, while other models featured an 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen. Higher trims also included a 7-inch advanced Drive-Assist display, multiple USB ports, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The SL and Platinum trims came with a Bose audio system and Active Noise Cancellation with the VC-Turbo engine. Nissan Door to Door Navigation was standard on Platinum and optional on other trims.

The 2022 Subaru WRX featured an 11.6-inch, tablet-style touchscreen display in premium trims and higher, offering a visually impressive and easy-to-use interface. Physical controls for climate, power, volume, tuning, and defrost functions made it user-friendly. However, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration was not seamless, with Android Auto only displaying on the top half of the screen. The base trim had a unique setup with two 7-inch displays stacked vertically. An 11-speaker Harmon Kardon stereo system was available, providing excellent audio quality.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, a comprehensive suite of active and passive driver-assist and safety features, standard on every Altima SV 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 highway driving assistance, including intelligent forward collision warning, intelligent lane intervention, traffic sign recognition, intelligent driver alertness, and adaptive cruise control. The Altima received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick + rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Subaru WRX offered Subaru’s EyeSight suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) on CVT-equipped models. EyeSight included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-tracing assist, along with an electronic brake booster and automatic steering assist. However, EyeSight was not available on manual transmission models. Blind-spot monitoring with lane-change assist and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on the Limited and GT trims. The WRX’s new platform absorbed more energy in a crash, and it came equipped with seven airbags, including a driver’s-side knee airbag.