2021 Toyota Corolla vs 2022 Nissan Altima

The 2021 Toyota Corolla, a model in its 12th generation, was recognized as one of the most attractive Corollas in recent years. The SE and XSE trims stood out particularly, boasting sport-design bumpers, a mesh grille insert, a matching diffuser panel, a subtle body kit, twin-outlet exhausts, and stylish 18-inch aluminum wheels. When painted in Celestite Gray metallic, a hue that had a striking blue undertone, the Corolla appeared genuinely appealing. However, there were some criticisms regarding its design. The hood shut line running to the headlight assembly into the jutting bumper truncated the front end, drawing attention to the substantial overbite and large grille. The most favorable angle was from the rear quarter view. Nevertheless, even here, the standard Corollas had overly styled rear bumpers, and the Apex Edition amplified the Corolla's peculiar design aspects. Buyers seeking a more understated on-road presence could opt for the Corolla L, LE, or XLE. Moreover, the Corolla Hybrid, featuring the same powertrain as the Toyota Prius, was available in LE trim and offered a cost-effective route to over 50 mpg compared to the Prius, with prices ranging from $19,925 to $24,325, excluding destination charges. The Corolla SE ($22,375) and Corolla XSE ($25,825), with their more robust engines, varied transmissions, Sport driving modes, and larger wheels and tires, catered to those desiring a sportier ride. The Apex Edition, starting at $25,070, provided an extra layer of performance tuning. Equipped with XSE trim, the optional Connectivity Package, and floor mats, our test car totaled $28,704, including the $995 destination charge. Inside, the Corolla XSE’s cabin showcased a remarkable improvement compared to previous models. With soft leatherette dashboard material, densely padded upper door panels, and durable switchgear, the interior radiated substance and quality. The design was simple and minimalist, ensuring a clean look without compromising user experience. Nonetheless, practical storage for everyday items was limited due to a center console design more focused on aesthetics than functionality. The 2022 Nissan Altima has had a considerable evolution since its 1993 debut. Over the years, its design shifted drastically, especially with the third-generation model in 2002, which sported a sharper and sportier look. By the sixth-generation iteration, Nissan retained this successful design ethos. The 2022 Altima came in five trims: S, SV, SR, SL, and Platinum. Dominating the front was Nissan's signature V-Motion grille, shared with other Nissan sedans and SUVs. The Altima had a low, wide stance, tall doors, creased body lines, and a sharply sloped "floating" roofline. While the floating roofline aesthetic aimed for innovation, it seemed unnecessary to some critics. The Midnight Edition option package added significant appeal to our test car, an SR trim with a 2.5-liter engine and AWD. Priced at $1,750, this package featured a gloss black-painted sport grille, LED fog lights, 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, a moonroof, black-painted spoiler, Midnight Edition badges, and black heated outside mirrors with LED turn signals. Heated front seats and power lumbar for the driver's seat were included. These features enhanced the Altima's already sporty aesthetics, and its Gun Metallic paint meshed well with the Midnight Package’s dynamic accents. Inside, highlights included spacious Zero Gravity front seats, an intuitive instrument panel and center stack, easy-to-read graphics, and high-quality materials that exuded a premium feel. However, it was noted that the Altima’s luxury feel diminished noticeably in lower trims.

In the 2021 Corolla SE and XSE trims, Toyota installed a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine delivering 169 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. It came paired with a Dynamic Shift CVT, paddle shifters, and a Sport driving mode. Interestingly, a six-speed manual gearbox with downshift rev-matching was available with the SE trim for an additional $200. Our XSE test car’s Dynamic Shift CVT was a standout within the CVT category, utilizing a mechanical first gear to eliminate initial drivetrain slip, an issue typical in traditional CVTs. Despite occasional droning, the 10 programmed ratios managed to mask many of the CVT's usual shortcomings. Built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), the Corolla featured electric steering, vented front, and solid rear disc brakes, and a MacPherson strut front, multi-link rear suspension system. The SE and XSE’s performance enhancements included 18-inch aluminum wheels and aggressive 225/40 all-season tires. While not a sports sedan, the XSE demonstrated predictably reliable handling traits. Its power was sufficient to be enjoyable to drive without causing trouble. The EPA estimated 34 mpg for combined driving, and in our testing, we averaged 31.1 mpg over mountainous terrains, varying between Eco, Normal, and Sport driving modes. The 2022 Altima offered a choice between two four-cylinder engines: a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter producing 188 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque, available in FWD or AWD on most trims, and a 2.0-liter variable-compression turbo (VC-Turbo) delivering 248 hp and 273 lb-ft, exclusively with FWD on the SR trim. Both engines featured direct injection and paired with Nissan's Xtronic CVT. The SR trim also included paddle shifters. The advanced VC-Turbo engine, capable of adjusting its compression ratio for performance or efficiency, was a technological marvel but was limited by its FWD-only configuration. This left some wondering how much its performance could improve with AWD. Our test car with the base 2.5-liter engine had mixed results. Although AWD helped, acceleration was modest, and the CVT struggled with engine noise during speed increases. Nevertheless, the Altima’s excellent suspension provided a smooth, composed ride. Active Ride Control enhanced comfort on various surfaces, and the cabin's quietness impressed, muting bumps, rattles, and vibrations effectively. It offered refinement akin to Infiniti, albeit with moderate performance.

The 2021 Corolla XSE had numerous upgrades, including SofTex leatherette seats with stylish striped fabric inserts, heated front seats, and eight-way power driver’s seat adjustment. This feature enhanced comfort and enabled an optimal driving position with clear sightlines. Although the front passenger seat lacked height adjustability, it still provided good thigh support. Rear seat comfort saw mixed reactions with adequate support and high positioning off the floor. However, headroom and legroom were limited, making the back seat suitable for shorter journeys. The absence of rear air conditioning vents was also a drawback. The Corolla’s trunk offered 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, a figure that fell between competitors. The 2022 Nissan Altima was designed to be a capable commuter car and family vehicle, offering comfortable seating for four (five on short trips), intuitive controls, and an accessible back seat. It shared dimensions comparable to main competitors like the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Hyundai Sonata, typically occupying a middle ground in size and weight. The trunk offered 15.4 cubic feet of space, larger than the Camry's but smaller than the Accord's and Sonata's. But, it claimed the largest fuel tank among these sedans at 16.2 gallons. Some criticisms included a high rear shelf that reduced rear visibility, compounded by the sloping roofline and elevated trunk. Closing the trunk required caution since the support bars could crush items. This highlighted a need to balance loading efficiently during trips.

The 2021 Corolla came equipped with impressive infotainment technology. Standard features included Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM satellite radio, Safety Connect services for a year, and free Wi-Fi hotspot access for three months or up to 2GB. The SE featured an 8-inch touchscreen, with the XSE getting Service Connect and Remote Connect. Remote Connect, free for a year, provided features like remote engine starting, Guest Driver alerts, and vehicle finder functions. Optional for the SE and XSE was a nine-speaker JBL premium sound system. Exclusive to the XSE were dynamic voice recognition, navigation, and Destination Assist. User-friendly controls, physical knobs for volume and tuning, and reasonable functionality made the infotainment system commendable, though the radio knobs could be easier to handle, and the JBL system lacked clarity. The Altima S started with a 5-inch driver information display and a 7-inch color touchscreen with Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, voice recognition, AM/FM radio, six speakers, and a USB port. Higher trims featured a 7-inch advanced drive-assist display and an 8-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and two USB ports. SL trims added a nine-speaker Bose audio system, navigation, and connected services. Innovative features like active noise cancellation on the SR VC-Turbo and traffic sign recognition demonstrated Nissan’s advanced tech capabilities. ProPilot Assist, an available technology, assisted with acceleration, steering, and braking under specific conditions. Our test car, with the 7-inch display and 8-inch infotainment system, performed flawlessly, handling voice commands accurately and integrating well with Apple CarPlay, while delivering adequate sound quality.

The 2021 Corolla was equipped with the comprehensive Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping and lane-centering assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. New for this model were standard rear side-impact airbags and an enhanced blind-spot warning system. Performance-wise, these features generally operated smoothly, though adaptive cruise control displayed uneven braking occasionally, and lane-centering assistance sometimes required driver intervention. Previous safety ratings included a "Top Safety Pick" from the IIHS, given only to models with curve adaptive headlights deemed Acceptable. The NHTSA awarded the 2020 Corolla a top 5-star rating. The 2022 Altima came well-equipped with standard driver aids such as automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, automatic high-beam headlights, driver-attention warning, Rear View Monitor, rear door alert, and hill-start assist. The SV trim and higher included Safety Shield 360, adding rear automatic braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and a rear sonar system. The Altima earned top five-star ratings from the NHTSA for overall crash protection, including front crash, side crash, and rollover resistance. The IIHS also awarded it a "Top Safety Pick+" designation, with the highest ratings in all crash tests and high marks in crash avoidance, vehicle-to-vehicle, and vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention, as well as excellent child-seat anchor ratings.