2022 Nissan Altima vs 2023 Nissan Altima

The 2022 Nissan Altima continued the brand's tradition of sporty styling, featuring a low, wide stance, tall doors, creased body lines, and a sharply sloped "floating" roofline. The Midnight Edition package added a gloss black sport grille, 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, and other blacked-out elements, enhancing its sporty appeal. Inside, the Altima offered comfortable Zero Gravity front seats, a well-laid-out instrument panel, and high-quality materials, especially in higher trims.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Altima introduced updated front styling with a revised grille design, new wheel designs, and two new paint colors. The SL trim, replacing the previous Platinum trim, featured 19-inch wheels that improved its visual presence but were prone to curb damage. The interior maintained comfort with Zero Gravity seats and added a high-contrast two-tone appearance with Gray leather. However, the new simulated wood dashboard trim and hard plastics reminded drivers of the car's lower base price.

The 2022 Nissan Altima offered two four-cylinder engine options: a 2.5-liter unit producing 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.0-liter variable-compression turbo (VC-Turbo) making 248 hp and 273 lb-ft. The base engine was available with FWD or AWD, while the VC-Turbo was only available on the SR trim with FWD. All models featured Nissan's Xtronic CVT. The VC-Turbo engine could change its compression ratio for high performance or high efficiency, offering power comparable to V6 engines with four-cylinder efficiency. However, the base engine's performance was mediocre, with uninspiring acceleration and engine noise, though the ride quality and cabin quietness were impressive.

The 2023 Nissan Altima retained the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 188 hp and 180 lb-ft in FWD models and 182 hp and 178 lb-ft with AWD. The SR VC-Turbo trim featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with 236 hp and 267 lb-ft on regular gas, or 248 hp and 273 lb-ft on premium fuel. The CVT mimicked a traditional automatic transmission, and the SR trim included paddle shifters. Fuel economy ranged from 30 to 32 mpg in combined driving, with the SL AWD averaging 27.4 mpg. The Altima's ride was firm, with some noise on rough roads, and rear visibility was poor. The brakes showed signs of heating up under moderate driving conditions.

The 2022 Nissan Altima provided comfortable seating for four, easy-to-use controls, an accessible back seat, and a 15.4 cubic-foot trunk. Its dimensions were average among competitors, with a large 16.2-gallon fuel tank. However, the high rear shelf compromised rear visibility, and the trunk's metal bar supports could crush items when closing the lid.

The 2023 Nissan Altima featured a simple, easy-to-use interior with comfortable Zero Gravity seats. The SL trim included dual-zone automatic climate control, a power sunroof, heated front seats, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat. However, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, and the leather upholstery was sticky. Rear seat comfort was good, with ample legroom and headroom, but lower trims lacked rear air conditioning vents. Interior storage was reasonable, and the 15.4 cubic-foot trunk was usefully shaped, though it lacked a handle for easy closing.

The 2022 Nissan Altima's base S trim had a 5-inch multi-function display and a 7-inch color touchscreen audio system with Bluetooth, voice recognition, and a single USB port. Higher trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and a nine-speaker Bose audio system. Available technologies included active noise cancellation, traffic sign recognition, and ProPilot Assist, which offered advanced driver assistance features.

The 2023 Nissan Altima's base S trim had a 5-inch display with Bluetooth and streaming audio. The SV and SR trims included an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM. New for 2023 was an available 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a wireless charging pad. The SL and SR VC-Turbo trims featured a Bose nine-speaker audio system. The 12.3-inch system offered a superior user interface and voice recognition, though climate control adjustments were not voice-activated.

The 2022 Nissan Altima came with standard driver-assist features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision warning. The SV trim added Safety Shield 360, which included rear automatic braking, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Altima received five-star ratings from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS.

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. The SV trim added rear automatic braking, and the SR trim included automatic high-beam headlights. ProPilot Assist was optional on the SV and standard on the SL and SR VC-Turbo trims. The Altima received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS, though it received a Poor rating in the updated IIHS side-impact test.