2022 Hyundai Sonata vs 2023 Nissan Altima

In the early years, the Hyundai Sonata closely mimicked the Honda Accord, even down to the badge, which led to criticisms of a lack of originality and quality. However, Hyundai learned from this imitation, gradually improving the Sonata's design and quality while maintaining a competitive price. By the seventh generation, redesigned for the 2020 model year, the Sonata had developed a distinctive look with a wide grille, rounded front fascia, and sloped rear roofline. Inside, the 2022 Sonata offered a spacious cabin with clear gauges and average material quality. The Limited trim featured comfortable leather seats, though the tan upholstery was not universally liked. The Sonata N Line added sporty touches like a body kit, dark chrome trim, and unique N-brand sport seats, transforming its look from mild to wild.

The 2023 Nissan Altima, with over 50 years of heritage, received updates including a revised grille, new wheel designs, and two new paint colors. The higher trims, especially with 19-inch wheels, improved the Altima's visual presence, though the SL trim's wheels were prone to damage. The Altima SL, one of the upscale trims, featured a comfortable interior with Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats, dual-zone climate control, and a power sunroof. However, the interior had plenty of hard plastic, and the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, making entry and exit challenging. The rear seat offered good comfort and space, but the trunk, at 15.4 cubic feet, was smaller than some competitors.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata offered a range of engines, starting with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. A turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, making 180 hp and 195 lb-ft, was available on the SEL Plus and Limited trims. The standout was the Sonata N Line, featuring a 290-hp, turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission, and sport suspension. All Sonatas were front-wheel drive, and the ride was smooth and quiet, offering competent handling and noise abatement.

The 2023 Nissan Altima, except for the SR VC-Turbo, came with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). This engine produced 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque in front-wheel-drive models, and 182 hp and 178 lb-ft with all-wheel drive. The SR VC-Turbo trim featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 236 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque on regular gas, or 248 hp and 273 lb-ft on premium fuel. The Altima's CVT mimicked a traditional automatic transmission, and the SR trim included paddle shifters for added engagement. The Altima's ride was firm, with some noise at highway speeds, and the steering was lifeless. The brakes also showed signs of heating up under stress.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata offered 104.4 cubic feet of passenger space, classifying it as a "Large Car" by the EPA. Front-seat headroom and legroom were top-notch, while rear-seat space was adequate for two adults. The 16-cubic-foot trunk was spacious, and the Remote Smart Parking Assist feature was a highlight, allowing the car to park itself with the press of a button on the key fob.

The 2023 Nissan Altima had a simple, easy-to-use interior with comfortable Zero Gravity seats. The SL trim included dual-zone climate control, a power sunroof, and heated front seats. However, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, and the floor mats were difficult to remove. The rear seat offered good comfort and space, but the trunk, at 15.4 cubic feet, was smaller than some competitors. Interior storage was reasonable, with various bins and trays, though the wireless charging pad took up valuable space.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's infotainment system varied by trim. The base SE had an 8-inch touchscreen, while higher trims like the SEL Plus and Limited featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, and wireless device charging. The SEL trim included last year's Tech package as standard, adding features like Highway Driving Assist and a panoramic sunroof. Pairing an iPhone via Bluetooth was easy, and the Bose audio system was impressive.

The 2023 Nissan Altima's base S trim had a basic radio with a 5-inch display. The SV and SR trims upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The new 12.3-inch touchscreen, available on higher trims, included navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a wireless charging pad. The SL and SR VC-Turbo trims also featured a Bose nine-speaker audio system, which performed well for some music types. The new infotainment system was a significant improvement, with a better user interface and graphics.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata came with a comprehensive safety package, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and a rearview monitor. Higher trims added features like blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view monitor. The NHTSA gave the Sonata five stars for overall crash protection, while the IIHS rated the 2021 model, structurally similar to the 2022, with top "Good" ratings in all crash tests.

The 2023 Nissan Altima included Nissan Safety Shield 360 as standard, with features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trims added ProPilot Assist, which included adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The Altima received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though the front passenger frontal impact safety rating was four stars. The IIHS awarded the Altima a Top Safety Pick+ for the 2022 calendar year, though it received a Poor rating in the updated side-impact test.