2021 Nissan Altima vs 2022 Volkswagen Jetta

The 2021 Nissan Altima showcased a strong family identity with its bold V-Motion grille, available in chrome or dark chrome, and adorned with the Nissan logo. Its overall shape was attractive, featuring a sloping "coupe-like" roofline that contributed to a sleek, aerodynamic profile. The body design leaned more towards folds than curves, giving it a taut and trim essence. However, the Altima's stance appeared mildly ungainly due to its extended overhangs and short dash-to-axle distance, which lent it a slightly old-fashioned look. Despite this, modern features like standard LED lighting and a range of wheel options from 16-inch steel to 19-inch alloy wheels kept its appearance contemporary. The Altima boasted exceptional fit and finish, with deep lustrous paint and rich chrome details, available in nine exterior colors with some premium options. Inside, the dashboard was uncluttered and intelligently laid out, with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display positioned for optimal safety and convenience. The interior materials improved with higher trim levels, offering a more luxurious feel.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, a long-standing best-seller for the automaker, received a mild makeover that included an engine update, exterior styling tweaks, and improved infotainment. The Jetta's design changes were subtle, requiring a keen eye to notice, and maintained its purposeful yet bland suitcase-like design. The front fascia, bumper, and grille were updated with more chrome, aligning with the standard LED headlights and daytime running lights. The rear bumper was redesigned to be less squatty and more square, with a full-length chrome feature. The Jetta's interior updates were equally subtle but appealing, with new rhombus-patterned cloth seats and contrast stitching for a premium look. The cabin was driver-centric, with buttons for quick access to essential controls. The Jetta offered ample passenger space for four adults, with comfortable seats and ergonomic design. Storage options included door pockets, a center console bin, and a sunglass holder, though the center storage bin lacked a latch.

The 2021 Nissan Altima offered a Jekyll-and-Hyde experience with its powertrains. Most configurations featured a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 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 most trims. The AWD system could send up to 50% of torque to the rear wheels when needed. Fuel economy for the FWD model was rated at 28 mpg city, 39 mpg highway, and 32 mpg combined, while the AWD model achieved 25 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined. The standout was the VC-Turbo engine, exclusive to the Altima SR VC-Turbo trim, offering 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. This turbocharged 2.0-liter engine featured variable compression technology, providing power on demand while maintaining efficiency. The VC-Turbo model, only available with FWD, achieved 25 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined. The Altima's suspension and steering provided decent feedback and feel, with the VC-Turbo's sport-tuned suspension offering a more engaging drive.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta was powered by a single 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. This engine replaced the previous 1.4-liter turbo-four, offering a slight increase in horsepower. Transmission options included a standard six-speed manual or an optional eight-speed automatic. The Jetta's fuel economy was impressive, with the manual version rated at 29 mpg city, 43 mpg highway, and 34 mpg combined. Automatic models varied slightly, with S and Sport trims achieving 31 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined, while SE and SEL trims were rated at 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined. On a long road trip, the Jetta averaged 46.9 mpg on the highway. The Jetta's ride quality was comfortable, though the powertrain exhibited some turbo lag and surge. The vehicle offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom drive modes, with Sport mode providing a slight improvement in dynamics. The steering was accurate but lacked feedback, and the overall driving experience was somewhat jumpy in stop-and-go traffic.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan's acclaimed Zero Gravity front seats, providing exceptional comfort on long drives. Upper trim levels offered power adjustment, position memory, leather appointments, and electric heating for the seats. The front cabin included ample storage options, such as a large glovebox, center console storage bin, cupholders, and door pockets. The second row was spacious enough for two adults, with a 60/40 split-folding design for trunk access. The trunk offered 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, despite its compact size, provided ample passenger space for four adults, with the option to accommodate five. The seats were comfortable, though the front seat cushions had a slight incline that might not suit shorter passengers. The cabin was driver-centric, with buttons for essential controls conveniently located. Storage options included door pockets, a center console bin, and a sunglass holder. The center storage bin lacked a latch, which was unusual but not problematic.

The 2021 Nissan Altima came equipped with a range of standard tech features, including Nissan Intelligent Key with pushbutton start, remote engine start, Bluetooth, and more. The base model featured a 7-inch touchscreen display, while other trims had an 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on all but the base S model. Higher trims offered additional features like a Bose audio system and Nissan Door to Door Navigation. The VC-Turbo model included Active Noise Cancellation for a quieter cabin.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received a technology upgrade with the Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster. S, Sport, and SE models featured an 8-inch display, while the SEL trim had a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro. The infotainment system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen with App-Connect for Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and MirrorLink integration. The SEL trim offered an 8-inch MIB3 system with navigation, wireless connectivity, and premium audio. The voice activation system was not intuitive, requiring specific prompts for accurate responses.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, a comprehensive suite of driver-assist and safety features standard on SV trims and above. This included automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, and more. ProPilot Assist was available for highway driving assistance. The Altima received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta came standard with IQ.Drive, Volkswagen's driver-assistance tech suite. S and Sport trims included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward-collision warning. The Driver Assistance package added adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and more. The Jetta's safety ratings for 2022 were not yet available, but the 2021 model received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and mostly "Good" grades from the IIHS, with some shortcomings in headlight tests.