2023 Nissan Altima vs 2024 Hyundai Elantra

The 2023 Nissan Altima continued Nissan's long-standing tradition in the family car segment, offering a sizable four-door option even as the Maxima faced discontinuation. The Altima's updated front styling, new wheel designs, and fresh paint colors enhanced its visual appeal, particularly 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, featured an appealing interior with Gray leather options, though hard plastics and simulated wood trim detracted from its overall feel.

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra showcased Hyundai's bold design approach, with dramatic exterior styling that sometimes took risks. The Elantra's side featured numerous creases, creating a dented appearance, though darker colors helped conceal these lines. The N Line trim, with its Exotic Green paint and aggressive design elements, stood out. The 2024 refresh introduced a cleaner front end with a lower grille and integrated headlights. The Elantra's proportions mimicked a rear-wheel-drive sports sedan, with a low, elongated body and a fastback-like rear. The interior offered a driver-focused design with a thin center stack and classy silver trim, though the materials felt plasticky. The Elantra's interior was inviting, with good build quality and a range of upholstery options.

The 2023 Nissan Altima featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a CVT, delivering 188 horsepower in FWD models and 182 hp with AWD. The AWD system distributed power to the rear wheels as needed. The Altima's power was adequate, with torque arriving at 3,600 rpm. The CVT mimicked a traditional automatic, and the SR trim included paddle shifters for added engagement. Fuel economy ranged from 30 to 32 mpg combined, with the SL AWD averaging 27.4 mpg. The SR VC-Turbo offered a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with up to 248 hp on premium fuel, providing a more spirited driving experience. The Altima's ride was firm, with some noise at highway speeds, and rear visibility was limited. In the mountains, the Altima displayed good grip but lacked steering feedback.

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra offered four engines and five transmissions, all FWD with four cylinders. The common trims had a 2.0-liter engine with 147 hp and a CVT, providing adequate performance for city driving but lacking on highways. The N Line's 1.6-liter turbo-four delivered 201 hp and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, offering a lively driving experience. The Elantra N featured a more powerful 276 hp engine with an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox, providing thrilling performance. The Elantra Hybrid combined a 1.6-liter engine with an electric motor, achieving nearly 60 mpg on the highway. Non-hybrid trims offered impressive fuel efficiency, while the N Line balanced comfort and response with its multi-link rear suspension.

The 2023 Nissan Altima's interior was straightforward and comfortable, with controls laid out logically. The Zero Gravity seats provided exceptional comfort, though the leather upholstery was somewhat sticky. The Altima SL featured dual-zone climate control, a power sunroof, and heated front seats, 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, with various trays and bins, but the trunk, at 15.4 cubic feet, was smaller than some competitors.

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra offered a mix of analog and digital controls, with a mechanical parking brake and conventional shifter. The interior provided good visibility and headroom, with a sunroof standard on N Line and Limited trims. Rear passengers enjoyed ample legroom and USB-C ports, though air vents were absent. The trunk held 14.2 cubic feet of cargo, with 60/40 folding rear seats standard. The N trim's X-brace limited seat pass-through.

The 2023 Nissan Altima's base S trim had limited infotainment features, while SV and SR trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A new 12.3-inch touchscreen was available, providing navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Bose nine-speaker audio system was available on higher trims, though performance varied. The 12.3-inch system improved user experience with a better interface and voice recognition.

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen on SEL-and-above trims, with an 8-inch screen on the SE. The infotainment system lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but offered customization options. A Wi-Fi hotspot and digital key function were new for 2024. The N Line and Limited trims included an eight-speaker Bose stereo and wireless charging pad. Highway Driving Assist was standard on the Limited trim.

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 safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS, though it scored poorly in the updated side-impact test.

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra earned a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick from IIHS, though some tests were not performed. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trims added cyclist detection, front cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Limited trim included rear emergency braking and a 360-degree camera system.