2022 Hyundai Sonata vs 2022 Nissan Altima

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata had evolved significantly from its early days when it closely mimicked the Honda Accord. Initially criticized for its lack of originality and quality, Hyundai gradually improved the Sonata by learning from its competitors. By the seventh generation, redesigned for the 2020 model year, the Sonata showcased a distinctive wide grille, rounded front fascia, and a sloped rear roofline. Inside, the Sonata offered a functional and spacious cabin with seating for five, featuring clear gauges and average material quality. The Limited trim boasted comfortable leather seats, though the tan upholstery color was not universally appealing. For those seeking a sportier look, the Sonata N Line added aggressive styling elements and unique interior touches, transforming the car's appearance and personality.

The 2022 Nissan Altima, introduced in 1993, had undergone significant changes over the years, particularly with the third-generation model in 2002, which introduced a sportier look. The sixth-generation Altima featured a low, wide stance, tall doors, creased body lines, and a sharply sloped "floating" roofline. The Midnight Edition package on the SR trim added gloss black accents, LED fog lights, and 19-inch wheels, enhancing the Altima's sporty appearance. Inside, the Altima offered comfortable Zero Gravity front seats, a well-laid-out instrument panel, and high-quality materials, though lower trims lacked the same premium feel. The Altima's interior was functional and comfortable, but it didn't stand out significantly from its competitors.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata offered a range of engine options, starting with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, standard on the SE and SEL trims. A turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, making 180 hp and 195 lb-ft, powered the SEL Plus and Limited trims. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with paddle shifters standard on the 1.6-liter turbo engine. The Sonata N Line featured a 290-hp, turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission, sport suspension, and tuned exhaust, offering a more aggressive driving experience. All Sonatas were front-wheel drive, with no all-wheel drive option available. The Sonata provided a smooth ride, competent handling, and a quiet cabin, making it a comfortable choice for daily driving.

The 2022 Nissan Altima came with two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.0-liter variable-compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engine making 248 hp and 273 lb-ft. The base engine was available with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the VC-Turbo was only available on the SR trim with front-wheel drive. All Altimas featured Nissan's Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT). The VC-Turbo engine, which debuted in 2019, could actively change its compression ratio for high performance or high efficiency. The base 2.5-liter engine provided adequate performance, though acceleration was mediocre, and engine noise was noticeable. The Altima's suspension offered a smooth and composed ride, with a quiet cabin and refined road manners.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's cabin offered 104.4 cubic feet of passenger space, classifying it as a "Large Car" by the EPA. Front-seat headroom and legroom were among the best in the class, while rear-seat space was adequate for two adults. The Sonata's 16-cubic-foot trunk was spacious, accommodating a complete three-piece set of rolling luggage. The Remote Smart Parking Assist feature, standard on the Limited trim, allowed the Sonata to drive itself forward or backward with the press of a button on the key fob, making it easier to get in and out of tight parking spots.

The 2022 Nissan Altima provided comfortable seating for four, with the ability to accommodate five for short distances. The Altima's dimensions fell in the middle of its main competitors, offering a balanced amount of passenger space and trunk capacity. The 15.4-cubic-foot trunk was smaller than the Accord and Sonata but larger than the Camry. The Altima's high rear shelf and sloping roofline compromised rear visibility, making it challenging to see out the back. The trunk's metal bar supports could crush items when closing the lid, requiring careful packing.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's infotainment technology varied by trim level. The base SE came with an 8-inch touchscreen display, six speakers, HD Radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a USB port, a 12-volt outlet, and a rearview camera. The SEL added SiriusXM satellite radio and Blue Link connected services. Higher trims, including the SEL Plus, Limited, and N Line, upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, wireless device charging, and dynamic voice recognition. The SEL trim also included features from the previous year's Tech package, such as Highway Driving Assist and a panoramic sunroof. The Bose audio system provided excellent sound quality, and pairing an iPhone via Bluetooth was quick and easy.

The 2022 Nissan Altima's entry-level S trim featured a 5-inch multi-function information display, a 7-inch color touchscreen audio display, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, voice recognition, Siri Eyes Free, a hands-free text-messaging assistant, an AM/FM radio with six speakers, and a single USB port. Higher trims included a 7-inch advanced drive-assist display and an 8-inch color touchscreen infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and two USB ports. The SL trim added a nine-speaker Bose premium audio system, navigation, connected services powered by SiriusXM, and remote engine start with intelligent climate control. The advanced drive-assist display allowed for convenient handling of text messages, audio streaming, and navigation without removing hands from the steering wheel. Active noise cancellation and ProPilot Assist were available on higher trims, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata came equipped with a comprehensive safety package, even on the base trim. Standard features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, driver-attention warning, automatic high-beam headlights, a rearview monitor, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. The SEL trim added blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-centering assistance, and Safe Exit Assist. The Limited trim included a blind-spot view monitor, rear park assist, and a surround-view monitor. The NHTSA awarded the 2022 Sonata five stars for overall crash protection, while the IIHS gave the structurally similar 2021 Sonata top "Good" ratings in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front crash prevention.

The 2022 Nissan Altima also featured a robust suite of standard safety technologies. All trims included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, automatic high-beam headlights, driver-attention warning, a Rear View Monitor, rear door alert, and hill-start assist. The SV trim and above added Nissan's Safety Shield 360, which included rear automatic braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and a rear sonar system. The NHTSA awarded the FWD version of the 2022 Altima five stars for overall crash protection, while the IIHS gave the Altima its "Top Safety Pick+" designation, with top ratings in all crash tests and high marks for crash avoidance and mitigation.