2023 Acura TLX vs 2023 Nissan Altima

The 2023 Nissan Altima continued Nissan's long-standing tradition of offering a sizable family sedan, even as the Maxima faced discontinuation. The Altima featured updated front styling with a revised grille, new wheel designs, and two new paint colors, enhancing its visual appeal, especially in higher trims with 19-inch wheels. However, the SL trim's stylish wheels were prone to curb damage. The Altima lineup included the base S, popular SV, sporty SR, and luxurious SL trims, with the SR VC-Turbo offering a more powerful engine. The SL trim, priced at $34,755 with AWD, showcased a good-looking exterior and an appealing interior, though hard plastics reminded buyers of its lower base price. Gray leather and double-stitched seams improved the cabin's appearance, but the simulated wood dashboard trim was less convincing.

The 2023 Acura TLX faced challenges due to the shift to SUVs, pandemic-related supply constraints, and rising interest rates. Despite these hurdles, the TLX stood out with its rarity on the road, especially in Southern California. The TLX Type S, with its eye-catching Tiger Eye Pearl paint and performance upgrades, had an MSRP of $59,100. Based on a concept vehicle, the TLX featured a long, low, and lean design with a rear-wheel-drive look, though this impacted rear-seat room and cargo space. Inside, the TLX had a layered dashboard design prioritizing style over practicality, with a control layout requiring adaptation. The Type S model, equipped with a turbocharged V6 engine and SH-AWD, was the most expensive TLX variant, while the base model offered a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with FWD.

The 2023 Nissan Altima, except for the SR VC-Turbo, featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a CVT, producing 188 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque in FWD models, and slightly less in AWD versions. AWD was available with SV, SR, and SL trims, distributing up to half of the engine's output to the rear wheels. The CVT was programmed to mimic a traditional automatic transmission, and the SR trim included paddle shifters for added engagement. Fuel economy ranged from 30 to 32 mpg, but the SL AWD averaged 27.4 mpg. The SR VC-Turbo offered a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 236 hp on regular gas and 248 hp on premium, with an EPA estimate of 29 mpg. The Altima's ride was firm, with poor rear visibility and some noise issues at highway speeds. In the mountains, it displayed good grip and cornering but had lifeless steering and brake concerns.

The 2023 Acura TLX featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy ranged from 24 to 25 mpg. The TLX offered multiple driving modes, including Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Individual, with the Type S adding Sport+. The SH-AWD system, available on certain trims, provided mechanical torque vectoring. The Type S model had a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine with 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, along with performance enhancements like adaptive dampers and Brembo brakes. The Type S could accelerate to 60 mph in five seconds, with an EPA estimate of 21 mpg. The TLX's brakes, based on a brake-by-wire system, were less satisfying in spirited driving. Despite this, the Type S was enjoyable to drive, with excellent grip and handling, though it had some minor issues with suspension and road noise.

The 2023 Nissan Altima offered a simple and comfortable interior with logical controls and clear analog gauges. The Zero Gravity seats were exceptionally comfortable, though the leather upholstery was somewhat sticky. The Altima SL had dual-zone climate control, a power sunroof, heated front seats, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, but the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. Rear seat comfort was good, with ample legroom and headroom, though rear air vents were only available in higher trims. Interior storage was reasonable, but the trunk, at 15.4 cubic feet, was smaller than some competitors. The trunk lacked a handle for easy closing.

The 2023 Acura TLX Type S featured premium Milano leather with artificial suede inserts and contrast stitching. The flat-bottom sport steering wheel had analog gauges with low-contrast markings. The front sport seats were 16-way power-adjustable with heating and ventilation. Rear seat comfort was limited due to narrow doors and a small back seat, primarily lacking legroom. The TLX's trunk held 13.5 cubic feet of cargo, more akin to a compact car, but it had a flat floor and enclosed hinges for better usability.

The 2023 Nissan Altima's base S trim had a basic infotainment system with a 5-inch display and Bluetooth. The SV and SR trims upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM. A new 12.3-inch touchscreen was available, offering navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Bose nine-speaker audio system was available in higher trims. The 12.3-inch system was a significant improvement, with a better user interface and voice recognition, though climate control adjustments weren't possible via voice commands.

The 2023 Acura TLX's True Touchpad Interface (TTI) infotainment system was a source of frustration, with a 10.2-inch display controlled by a touchpad, steering wheel controls, and voice recognition. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM, with upgrades for wireless charging and premium audio. The TLX lacked Alexa Built-In, relying on AcuraLink for Alexa compatibility. The 17-speaker ELS Studio 3D audio system sounded excellent, but the lack of wireless smartphone integration was a drawback.

The 2023 Nissan Altima came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and more. ProPilot Assist, available on higher trims, added adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The Altima received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS, though it had a Poor rating in the updated side-impact test.

The 2023 Acura TLX featured AcuraWatch, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and more. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors. The TLX had an ACE body structure and eight airbags. It received a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, with a four-star rating for front passenger frontal impact safety.