2023 Nissan Altima vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class boasted an exterior styling that elegantly fused elements from various Mercedes models into a unified and stylish design. Its front end exhibited the distinct droop reminiscent of the CLA-Class, while the squared-off rear end and slender taillights channeled the luxurious S-Class. The result was a sedan easily recognizable as a Mercedes from any angle. The front grille, featuring a massive Mercedes three-pointed star logo surrounded by smaller versions, further reinforced this brand identity.

Mercedes designers endowed the C-Class with cab-rearward proportions, characterized by a long hood and a short rear deck, underscoring its rear-wheel-drive (RWD) platform. This design choice distinguished it from the CLA-Class and A-Class, both of which shared a front-wheel-drive (FWD) platform, leading to noticeably different proportions.

Standard across all trim levels were LED headlights and taillights, with an upgrade option to the innovative Mercedes Digital Light system, which enabled headlights to follow curves and project warning icons. For instance, the headlights could highlight lane markings to alert drivers drifting out of their lanes or illuminate construction zones or pedestrians without causing glare.

Inside, the C-Class aimed to emulate the luxurious ambiance of the flagship S-Class. Its features included a freestanding touchscreen, an intricate instrument cluster, prominent air vents, and intricate speaker grilles for the optional Burmester audio system. The 64-color ambient lighting system, another hallmark of recent Mercedes interiors, added to the vehicle's upscale feel.

Despite its luxury billing, the standard MBTex synthetic leather upholstery might have seemed a slight letdown. However, Nappa leather seats were available on higher trim levels, enhancing the sense of luxury within the vehicle.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Nissan Altima, taking after its predecessors like the Datsun 510 and the Nissan Stanza, showed Nissan's commitment to delivering a stylish midsize sedan. The 2023 model introduced a refreshed front with a revised grille, new wheel designs, and two new paint colors. Higher trims sported 19-inch wheels, which gave the Altima a heightened visual presence, although the wheel designs on the SL trim appeared susceptible to curb damage.

The departure of the previous Platinum trim made the SL one of the top-tier trims for 2023, joined by the S, SV, SR, and SR VC-Turbo trims. SL trim, paired with optional all-wheel-drive (AWD), displayed strong visual appeal, though interior touches like new simulated wood dashboard trim were less convincing in their luxury attempt.

Inside, the Altima offered practical and comfortable amenities, like Nissan's Zero Gravity seats, despite leaning heavily on hard plastics. The interior also featured dual-zone climate control, a power sunroof, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. However, the limited four-way power adjustment for the front passenger seat evidenced some cost-cutting measures.

In summary, while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class dazzled with its premium materials and cohesive design, the Nissan Altima struck a balance between updated styling and practical comfort, more in line with its lower price point.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C300 model was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. This engine worked harmoniously with a nine-speed automatic transmission and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which provided an additional boost of up to 20 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque in short bursts. Mercedes claimed the C300 could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph.

Additionally, the C-Class had a sportier sibling in the Mercedes-AMG C43, featuring a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine borrowed from the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class sports car. This engine generated 402 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, which shaved the 0-60 mph time down to 4.6 seconds and increased the top speed to 155 mph, or 165 mph with optional 19-inch or 20-inch wheels.

Our test ride in the C300 4Matic demonstrated sufficient power, but the delivery wasn't always smooth. Despite the electric assist, "turbo lag" was noticeable and caused a delay between pressing the accelerator and actual acceleration. The nine-speed automatic transmission provided fairly quick shifts but occasionally hung onto gears for too long in automatic mode, which could be rectified by using the steering-wheel paddle shifters.

In terms of ride quality, the C-Class upheld its luxury-car reputation by effectively muting impacts from bumps and potholes, though some juddering and vibration were noted. During spirited driving on twisty roads, the chassis displayed good body control and precise steering, requiring deliberate handling to navigate curves, unlike top sports sedans that do so with finesse.

The 2023 Nissan Altima offered two main engine options. Most trims, except for the SR VC-Turbo, were equipped 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 (FWD) models, and a slightly lower 182 hp and 178 lb-ft with all-wheel drive (AWD). The engine delivered adequate power, with peak torque arriving at 3,600 rpm. Nissan's programming of the CVT made it mimic the feel of a traditional automatic transmission, with paddle shifters available on the SR trim for added driver engagement. Official fuel economy ratings for the standard engine ranged from 30 to 32 mpg, depending on wheel size and drivetrain, with our SL AWD achieving an average of 27.4 mpg.

For those seeking more performance, the Altima SR VC-Turbo featured an exclusive 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a variable compression ratio, producing up to 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque with premium fuel. It offered a sportier driving experience, aided by a sport-tuned suspension.

Our test drive in the SL AWD revealed that while the Altima provided a comfortable and compliant ride in urban settings, it struggled with rear visibility and exhibited firm ride quality over rough patches. On highways and twisty roads, the Altima showed commendable grip and a flat cornering attitude but was hampered by lifeless steering and brakes that heated up quickly under moderate use.

Overall, while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class underscored refined power and sporty potential, the Nissan Altima provided competent and efficient performance with some exciting options in higher trims.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class retained only the sedan body style, at least for its initial release, while earlier generations offered coupe and convertible options. The new C-Class sedan gained both in length and width over its predecessor, translating to more interior space. Front headroom increased by 0.1 inch and rear headroom by 0.4 inch, rear-seat legroom saw an increase of 0.8 inches, making the C-Class particularly spacious in its segment.

The C-Class's interior layout featured comfortable seats with sufficient bolstering for spirited driving. Visibility issues arose from thick rear pillars, leading to blind spots mitigated by Mercedes' extensive driver assistance features. The dashboard trim could produce distracting glare in direct sunlight, and the placement of the wireless charging pad under the cupholders affected accessibility.

Cargo space was generous for a luxury sedan, with a trunk measuring 17.9 cubic feet, surpassing many rivals. The wide trunk opening facilitated easy loading and unloading, and the 40/20/40 split-folding rear bench allowed for accommodating longer items, although Mercedes did not specify the cargo space with seats folded down.

The 2023 Nissan Altima's interior, despite leaning on hard plastics, was easy to understand and use, featuring well-laid-out controls with matte black surfaces enhancing readability. Nissan's Zero Gravity seats provided exceptional comfort, even wrapped in somewhat sticky leather upholstery.

The Altima SL included features like dual-zone automatic climate control, a power sunroof, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, though the passenger seat had limited four-way adjustments. The low ground clearance of the Altima made ingress and egress slightly challenging, but rear seat comfort was notable, thanks to a tall cushion and plenty of legroom, foot room, and headroom.

Storage options were practical, with tray and bin space in the door panels and a sizable bin under the center armrest, though its plastic lining might contribute to interior noise. The trunk measured 15.4 cubic feet, smaller than some competitors, and lacked a closing grip or handle, potentially leading to dirty fingers.

In comparison, the C-Class excelled in cargo space, while the Altima focused on passenger comfort and practical storage.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class came equipped with a high-end infotainment system, akin to the setup found in the S-Class. The base C300 Premium model sported a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an 11.9-inch touchscreen angled towards the driver for ease of use. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added luxuries such as a Burmester 3D surround-sound system, a head-up display, and an augmented-reality navigation system.

The MBUX infotainment interface, common in other Mercedes models, provided a zero-layer layout, allowing multiple items to appear on-screen simultaneously. Functions like audio and phone connectivity appeared as tiles, with the navigation map in the background. The voice recognition system was robust, making interactions smooth and effective. The test car's augmented-reality navigation system proved advantageous, overlaying arrows onto a front-camera feed to highlight turns, easing navigation challenges.

By contrast, the 2023 Nissan Altima's base S trim had a minimalistic infotainment offering, with only a radio, Bluetooth, and hands-free messaging assistant. Upgrading to the SV or SR trim added an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio.

A new 12.3-inch touchscreen for 2023, standard on SL and SR VC-Turbo trims and optional for SV and SR, brought a more modern interface, wireless Apple CarPlay, and other advanced features like a navigation system and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The system supported NissanConnect Services, accessible via a SiriusXM subscription, offering conveniences such as remote engine starting and Amazon Alexa compatibility.

The SL and SR VC-Turbo trims included a Bose nine-speaker premium audio system, which provided mixed performance during testing. However, the 12.3-inch infotainment system was a significant improvement over previous iterations, offering better graphics and user interface, along with effective voice recognition technology.

In essence, while the Mercedes C-Class offered a more luxurious and advanced infotainment experience straight out of the gate, the Altima's new 12.3-inch system brought substantial improvements to its technological offerings, albeit reserved for higher trims.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, at the time of its release, had not yet been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). However, the 2021 model was a Top Safety Pick+, indicating a strong safety pedigree that the new model likely continued.

Standard safety features in the 2022 C-Class included automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with safe exit assist, driver-attention monitoring, and the Pre-Safe suite, which prepared the car for imminent collisions. Optional features like lane-keep assist, evasive steering assist, a 360-degree camera, and adaptive cruise control were also available. The innovative Car-to-X communication allowed vehicles to share information, providing warnings about road hazards detected by other networked vehicles.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Altima came equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360 as standard on all trims, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver monitoring system. Additional features like rear automatic braking and ProPilot Assist, which included adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, were available on higher trims.

The Altima was rated highly by safety organizations, earning a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS, despite receiving a lower rating in the updated side-impact test. ProPilot Assist, while generally effective, needed refinements for smoother operation, particularly in transferring control back to the driver and reacting to traffic changes.