2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Toyota Corolla

The 2021 Toyota Corolla’s 12th-generation model was arguably the most attractive Corolla in recent history. Especially in its SE and XSE trims, the Corolla featured sport-design bumpers, a mesh grille insert, a twin-outlet exhaust, a subtle body kit, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. When dipped in the Celestite Gray metallic paint, which had a beautiful blue undertone, the Corolla offered a genuinely appealing aesthetic.

However, there were some design elements that seemed off, such as the hood shut line running to the headlight assembly and into the bumper, visually truncating the front end and accentuating the Corolla's large overbite and gaping maw. The car’s rear quarter view was its best angle, but even here, the standard Corollas boasted a wildly over-styled rear bumper. The new Apex Edition amplified these stranger design choices even more.

For those seeking a more understated look, the Corolla L, LE, or XLE versions offered a lower profile. Additionally, the Corolla Hybrid, which shared its powertrain with the Toyota Prius and came only with LE trim, provided a slightly more affordable path to achieving 50+ mpg. These Corolla versions ranged from $19,925 to $24,325, not including the destination charge.

The reviewed models, Corolla SE ($22,375) and Corolla XSE ($25,825), were the sporty versions that had more powerful engines, different transmissions, a Sport driving mode, and larger wheels and tires. For more performance tuning, the Apex Edition started at $25,070. During our test, the XSE trim included an optional Connectivity Package and a set of floor mats. With the $995 destination charge, the total came to $28,704.

Toyota did an excellent job with the Corolla XSE’s interior, which was far superior to previous models in terms of materials used. The dashboard had soft leatherette, the upper door panels were densely padded, and the switchgear was robust, lending an impression of substance. Simplicity guided the design, resulting in a clean, minimalist look without compromising user experience. However, practical storage was limited due to a center console design that emphasized form over function.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Altima had a strong family identity with a bold V-Motion grille at the front, adorned with chrome or dark chrome on some trims. The Altima’s overall shape included a sloping "coupe-like" roofline that gave a sleek, aerodynamic look to its profile. The sheet metal offered more folds than curves along the body, providing a taut, trim essence. Despite a slightly old-fashioned look due to its short dash-to-axle distance, modern features like standard LED lighting and a range of wheels from 16-inch steel to 19-inch alloys kept it contemporary.

The Altima's fit and finish were exceptional, highlighted by deep lustrous paint and rich chrome details. The nine exterior colors, with funky names like "Super Black" and "Scarlet Ember Tinticoat," added to its appeal, though some carried an extra $395 premium cost.

Inside, the Altima offered an uncluttered and intelligent layout. The standard 8-inch touchscreen was mounted at the top of the center stack for safety and convenience, and the instrument panel shrouded by a cowl made it easy to read in sunlight while minimizing glare at night. The base trim felt somewhat stripped down, but higher trims improved the materials, adding stitching to the dash and seats and enhancing tactile experience all around.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla SE and XSE were equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 169 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. This engine paired with a Dynamic Shift continuously variable transmission (CVT), paddle shifters, and a Sport driving mode, a combination often promising more than it delivered. An option for the SE trim was a six-speed manual gearbox with downshift rev-matching, costing an additional $200.

The XSE’s Dynamic Shift CVT was one of the best examples of its kind, using a mechanical first gear to minimize drivetrain slip typically felt in traditional CVTs. Once transitioned to the CVT, occasional droning was present, but its ten programmed ratios successfully masked typical CVT shortcomings.

Built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), which also underpinned various other Toyota models, the Corolla benefitted from a low center of gravity and enjoyable driving dynamics. Mechanical components included electric steering, vented front and solid disc rear brakes, and a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension. The sportier SE and XSE models had 18-inch aluminum wheels and aggressive 225/40 all-season tires.

Despite initial skepticism, the Corolla XSE offered engaging driving dynamics, demonstrating predictable handling characteristics. While not a sport sedan, it was a competent compact car, with enough power to make driving enjoyable without being risky. It aimed to appeal to those seeking sportier styling, but the dynamics made it likable as well. The EPA estimated the Corolla XSE to achieve 34 mpg in combined driving, though real-world driving yielded around 31.1 mpg.

The 2021 Nissan Altima offered an intriguing Jekyll-and-Hyde experience with its powertrains. Most of the lineup used a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with direct injection, providing 182 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, paired with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, with available all-wheel drive (AWD) on certain trims. This AWD system was front-biased but could send up to 50% of torque to the rear wheels when needed. Fuel economy for this setup 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.

More excitingly, the Altima SR VC-Turbo trim featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with variable compression technology, producing 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque with premium gas. This trim was FWD only and offered a sporty performance boost, albeit at a fuel efficiency of 25 mpg city/34 mpg highway/29 mpg combined.

Weight differences between the VC-Turbo and other Altima models were minimal, making the VC-Turbo a livelier and more engaging ride. All Altima variants came with four-wheel independent suspension and electric-powered steering, with the VC-Turbo boasting a so-called “sport-tuned” suspension.

The XSE trim of the 2021 Toyota Corolla came with numerous interior upgrades, including SofTex leatherette seats with striped fabric inserts, front-seat heating, and an eight-way power driver's seat adjustment. This allowed for added comfort, clear sightlines, and easier entry and exit. Although the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, it provided adequate thigh support.

Rear seat comfort was reasonable, though space was tight in terms of headroom and legroom, and rear passengers missed out on air conditioning vents. The Corolla sedan offered 13.1 cubic feet of trunk space—less than some competitors but more than others—whereas the hatchback version provided 17.8 cubic feet behind the rear seat. Notably, the sedan's trunk lid did not include an interior handle for easy closing.

The 2021 Nissan Altima impressed with its praised Zero Gravity front seats, offering comfort on long drives and preventing fatigue. Higher trims featured power adjustments, memory settings, leather appointments, and heated seats. The front cabin design included ample storage with a sizable glovebox, center console bin, dashboard cubby, and door pockets. The second row could comfortably accommodate two adults or three for shorter journeys, featuring door pockets, seatback map pockets, and cupholders integrated into the center armrest.

The 60/40 split-folding rear seats provided trunk access to extend the 15.4 cubic feet of trunk space, which was notably larger than the Corolla’s.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla SE and XSE came standard with an impressive array of infotainment features, notably adding Android Auto for 2021. Alongside Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio, the Corolla also offered a free year of Safety Connect services and a three-month Wi-Fi hotspot trial.

With an 8-inch touchscreen in SE models and additional services like Remote Connect and nine-speaker JBL premium audio in XSE trims, the Corolla’s infotainment system was user-friendly, featuring physical knobs and shortcut buttons for ease of use. Dynamic voice recognition was particularly responsive, making the system reliable and straightforward despite minor drawbacks like shallow radio knobs and the JBL system's lack of clarity.

The 2021 Nissan Altima encompassed essential tech features across all trims, including the Nissan Intelligent Key with pushbutton start, Bluetooth, cruise control, HomeLink, and more. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on all but base S models.

Upper trims included an 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen, additional USB and USB-C ports, and advanced displays. SiriusXM satellite radio, available on all but the S model, provided a three-month trial, while a Bose audio system was standard on higher trims. Active Noise Cancellation, Door-to-Door Navigation, and NissanConnect Services further enhanced offerings in select trims.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla boasted an extensive array of advanced safety features with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and more. Newly added rear side-impact airbags and an improved blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert also boosted the safety profile.

The previous year’s Corolla received top ratings from both the IIHS (Top Safety Pick) and NHTSA (five-star overall rating), pending re-evaluation for 2021 due to new airbag additions.

The 2021 Nissan Altima excelled with its Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, standard on SV trims and above. This included automatic emergency braking, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, lane departure warning, and high-beam assist. ProPilot Assist, available on higher trims, added features like intelligent forward collision warning, lane intervention, traffic sign recognition, and adaptive cruise control, making highway driving less stressful and safer.

The Intelligent Around View Monitor on upper trims facilitated parking with a virtual 360-degree view and sonar detection for obstacle avoidance. Safety ratings were equally impressive, with a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick + from IIHS.