2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2022 Nissan Altima

In the past, the 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI built upon a legacy that began with the 1983 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI. It established the hot hatch genre with its compact yet sporty design, featuring enhancements like souped-up engines, stiffer springs, sporty suspension bits, and stylish body kits. The seventh-generation GTI, which ended with the 2021 model, showcased subtle yet significant performance tweaks that transformed the regular Golf into a more exhilarating machine. Notable exterior design features included small red GTI badges, a red horizontal strip connecting the headlights across the grille, red-painted brake calipers, and stylish 18-inch alloy wheels. The lowered stance and stainless-steel exhaust tips completed the look.

Inside, the GTI carried over sophistication from the Golf with sporty enhancements. It had red ambient lighting, illuminated door sills, a race-inspired flat-bottomed steering wheel, shiny aluminum-look pedals, and heated front sport seats. Interior materials were high-quality, and the fit and finish were impeccable, giving the GTI a high-end feel.

Conversely, the 2022 Nissan Altima evolved from its 1993 beginnings to become a staple among midsize sedans. It featured Nissan's V-Motion grille, tall doors, creased body lines, and a sharply sloped floating roofline. The Midnight Edition package added a gloss black sport grille, 19-inch alloy wheels, single-panel moonroof, and various other blacked-out elements that enhanced its sporty appeal.

Inside, the Altima boasted comfortable Zero Gravity front seats, a well-laid-out instrument panel, and high-quality materials that created a premium ambiance, especially in higher trims. Despite these refinements, the lower trims didn't feel as luxurious.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI underscored its hot hatch persona with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It featured front-wheel drive with four-wheel independent suspension, including a strut front and multilink rear, all bolstered by anti-roll bars. Our Autobahn model test car included DCC adaptive damping and variable-ratio steering for superior handling. It was exhilarating on the right roads but offered a rough ride on less ideal surfaces. The 2.0-liter engine, paired with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, offered spirited driving with decent fuel economy, achieving 23-24 mpg city and 30-32 mpg highway.

In contrast, the 2022 Nissan Altima offered two four-cylinder engine options: a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine with 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.0-liter variable-compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engine providing 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The VC-Turbo, available only in the SR trim with front-wheel drive, actively adjusted its compression ratio for performance or efficiency. Both engines came with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). While the 2.5-liter engine offered a smooth, quiet ride, its acceleration was unremarkable, and engine noise was noticeable during heavy revving. The Altima achieved excellent ride comfort thanks to its suspension and Active Ride Control.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI's compact hatchback form balanced passenger and cargo capacity, making it incredibly versatile for its size. With a 103.6-inch wheelbase, the GTI measured 168.0 inches long and 70.8 inches wide, standing 57.8 inches tall. Its hatchback design allowed for 17.4 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seats, expandable to 24.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The GTI’s tight turning circle and excellent visibility made it a breeze to navigate in urban settings.

The 2022 Nissan Altima, as a midsize sedan, served as a competent commuter or family car. It seated four comfortably, offered accessible rear seats, and had a 15.4 cubic foot trunk, smaller than the Accord or Sonata but larger than the Camry. The Altima’s dimensions were middle-of-the-road in the segment, providing neither the most nor the least space in key areas. However, its rear visibility was compromised by a high rear shelf and sloping roofline, and the trunk lid’s metal bar supports could crush items if not carefully packed.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI included a mix of old and new technologies. It maintained standard analog gauges supplemented by a digital driver information screen. The GTI featured VW’s MIB touchscreen infotainment system with SE and Autobahn trims getting an 8-inch screen, navigation, and advanced features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink. Volkswagen Car-Net provided a suite of connected services, and the GTI came with various standard amenities like LED lights, keyless access, and heated exterior mirrors.

The 2022 Nissan Altima’s base S trim included a 5-inch display for driver information and a 7-inch color touchscreen with Bluetooth and limited connectivity options. Higher trims featured a 7-inch advanced drive-assist display and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM. Starting with the SL trim, the Altima added a Bose premium audio system, navigation, and connected services. The SR VC-Turbo trim offered active noise cancellation, and ProPilot Assist provided advanced driver aids on higher trims.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and high marks from the IIHS, except for a few areas. It came equipped with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and several airbags. The Autobahn trim added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, park assist, and high-beam control. The GTI’s nimble handling also contributed to avoiding potential collisions.

The 2022 Nissan Altima excelled in safety, achieving a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" designation from the IIHS. Standard features included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision warning. Higher trims included Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 with additional features like blind-spot monitoring and rear automatic braking.