2021 Toyota Corolla vs 2021 Nissan Altima
CarGurus highlights
According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2021 Toyota Corolla is 7.8 out of 10, while the 2021 Nissan Altima scores 7.2 out of 10. Given these ratings, the Toyota Corolla emerges as the slightly better choice, offering excellent efficiency, advanced safety features, and a well-designed interior. However, for those needing more power and interior space, the Nissan Altima stands as a strong alternative with its advanced driver assistance technologies and comfortable cabin. Based on expert ratings, we recommend the 2021 Toyota Corolla as the preferred option in this comparison.
Choose the 2021 Nissan Altima if:
Shop Now- You value a spacious interior with exceptionally comfortable Zero Gravity seats, suitable for long drives.
- You desire more powerful engine options like the VC-Turbo for a livelier driving experience.
- You require an impressive suite of safety features and driver aids, with top-tier safety ratings.
Choose the 2021 Toyota Corolla if:
Shop Now- You prefer a high-quality, minimalist interior with superior materials and thoughtful design.
- You're seeking strong fuel efficiency and a reliable driving experience from the TNGA platform.
- Safety features and a robust suite of standard driver assistance technologies are a priority.
Overview | |
MSRP$20,025 | MSRP$24,550 |
Average price$19,493 | Average price$20,328 |
Listings3155 | Listings2530 |
Ratings & Reviews | |
User Reviews | User Reviews |
Expert reviews7.8 out of 10 | Expert reviews7.2 out of 10 |
Pros
| Pros
|
2021 Toyota Corolla Reviews SummaryEverybody knows somebody who owns or has owned a Toyota Corolla. Thanks to a deserved reputation for affordability, reliability, and efficiency, the Corolla is what comes to mind when all you want is a cheap, dependable, and thrifty set of wheels. Over the nameplate’s 55-year history, Toyota built a handful of Corollas that were anything but rolling appliances. But those fun-to-drive gems were relative rarities. Under the tenure of Akio Toyoda, the automaker’s current president and a man who loves to drive, the Corolla has become something more than a bore. It’s a car that makes you want to cruise instead of snooze. We’re talking about the Corolla SE and XSE, of course. Toyota still makes dull and duller versions of its compact car, but the SE and XSE trim levels add some spice to the basic commuter-car recipe. This year, the 2021 Toyota Corolla SE and XSE are available in a new limited-production Apex Edition flavor. It’s got a track-tuned sport suspension, a lowered ride height, revised steering calibration, a sport exhaust system, and lightweight 18-inch gloss black aluminum wheels that you can wrap in optional summer performance tires. Unfortunately, it also comes with a “Lookit me, Officer, I like to go fast!” body kit. Fearing this would be the example Toyota sent to us for review, we instead happily accepted the key fob to a Barcelona Red Corolla XSE and discovered that you don’t need the Apex Edition treatment to enjoy driving this car. | |
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. | |
No video found | |
Popular Features & Specs | |
Engine1.8L 139 hp I4 | Engine2.5L 182 hp I4 |
Drive TrainFWD | Drive TrainFWD |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Horsepower | Horsepower182 hp @ 6000 rpm |
MPG City30 | MPG City28 |
MPG Highway38 | MPG Highway39 |
Engine | |
Engine Name1.8L 139 hp I4 | Engine Name2.5L 182 hp I4 |
Torque | Torque178 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm |
Horsepower | Horsepower182 hp @ 6000 rpm |
DrivetrainFWD | DrivetrainFWD |
Fuel Economy | |
MPG City30 | MPG City28 |
MPG Highway38 | MPG Highway39 |
Interior | |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Safety | |
Front Crash Overall5 | Front Crash Overall4 |
Side Crash Overall5 | Side Crash Overall5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | |
Cargo Space13.1 cu ft | Cargo Space15.4 cu ft |
Curb Weight2910 lbs | Curb Weight3207 lbs |
Height56.5 in | Height56.7 in |
Length182.3 in | Length192.9 in |
Width70.1 in | Width72.9 in |
Wheelbase106.3 in | Wheelbase111.2 in |
Maximum Payload825 lbs | Maximum Payload1121 lbs |
Number of doors4 | Number of doors4 |
CarGurus highlights
According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2021 Toyota Corolla is 7.8 out of 10, while the 2021 Nissan Altima scores 7.2 out of 10. Given these ratings, the Toyota Corolla emerges as the slightly better choice, offering excellent efficiency, advanced safety features, and a well-designed interior. However, for those needing more power and interior space, the Nissan Altima stands as a strong alternative with its advanced driver assistance technologies and comfortable cabin. Based on expert ratings, we recommend the 2021 Toyota Corolla as the preferred option in this comparison.
Choose the 2021 Nissan Altima if:
Shop Now- You value a spacious interior with exceptionally comfortable Zero Gravity seats, suitable for long drives.
- You desire more powerful engine options like the VC-Turbo for a livelier driving experience.
- You require an impressive suite of safety features and driver aids, with top-tier safety ratings.
Choose the 2021 Toyota Corolla if:
Shop Now- You prefer a high-quality, minimalist interior with superior materials and thoughtful design.
- You're seeking strong fuel efficiency and a reliable driving experience from the TNGA platform.
- Safety features and a robust suite of standard driver assistance technologies are a priority.
Overview | ||
MSRP | $20,025 | $24,550 |
Average price | $19,493 | $20,328 |
Listings | ||
Ratings & Reviews | ||
User reviews | 4.3 | 4.8 |
Expert reviews | 7.8 out of 10Read full review | 7.2 out of 10Read full review |
Pros & cons | Pros
| Pros
|
Summary | Everybody knows somebody who owns or has owned a Toyota Corolla. Thanks to a deserved reputation for affordability, reliability, and efficiency, the Corolla is what comes to mind when all you want is a cheap, dependable, and thrifty set of wheels. Over the nameplate’s 55-year history, Toyota built a handful of Corollas that were anything but rolling appliances. But those fun-to-drive gems were relative rarities. Under the tenure of Akio Toyoda, the automaker’s current president and a man who loves to drive, the Corolla has become something more than a bore. It’s a car that makes you want to cruise instead of snooze. We’re talking about the Corolla SE and XSE, of course. Toyota still makes dull and duller versions of its compact car, but the SE and XSE trim levels add some spice to the basic commuter-car recipe. This year, the 2021 Toyota Corolla SE and XSE are available in a new limited-production Apex Edition flavor. It’s got a track-tuned sport suspension, a lowered ride height, revised steering calibration, a sport exhaust system, and lightweight 18-inch gloss black aluminum wheels that you can wrap in optional summer performance tires. Unfortunately, it also comes with a “Lookit me, Officer, I like to go fast!” body kit. Fearing this would be the example Toyota sent to us for review, we instead happily accepted the key fob to a Barcelona Red Corolla XSE and discovered that you don’t need the Apex Edition treatment to enjoy driving this car. | 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. |
Video | No video found | |
Popular Features & Specs | ||
Engine | 1.8L 139 hp I4 | 2.5L 182 hp I4 |
Drive Train | FWD | FWD |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Horsepower | 182 hp @ 6000 rpm | |
MPG City | 30 | 28 |
MPG Highway | 38 | 39 |
Engine | ||
Engine Name | 1.8L 139 hp I4 | 2.5L 182 hp I4 |
Torque | 178 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm | |
Horsepower | 182 hp @ 6000 rpm | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD |
Fuel Economy | ||
MPG City | 30 | 28 |
MPG Highway | 38 | 39 |
Interior | ||
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Safety | ||
Front Crash Overall | 5 | 4 |
Side Crash Overall | 5 | 5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | ||
Cargo Space | 13.1 cu ft | 15.4 cu ft |
Curb Weight | 2910 lbs | 3207 lbs |
Height | 56.5 in | 56.7 in |
Length | 182.3 in | 192.9 in |
Width | 70.1 in | 72.9 in |
Wheelbase | 106.3 in | 111.2 in |
Maximum Payload | 825 lbs | 1121 lbs |
Number of doors | 4 | 4 |
By: CarGurus + AI
This car comparison has been created with using generative AI. It is based entirely on CarGurus expert review content, ratings and data, and leverages our extensive library of hands-on product tests to create thousands of unique comparisons to help shoppers choose the right car.