2023 Toyota Prius vs 2024 Nissan Altima

The 2023 Toyota Prius underwent a significant transformation, shedding its previous utilitarian image for a more stylish and modern appearance. This redesign was a response to the growing competition from electric vehicles and other hybrids, prompting Toyota to create a car that was both efficient and visually appealing. The new Prius featured a sleek exterior with a blend of curves and edges, giving it a futuristic look while maintaining appeal for traditional buyers. The wheels were pushed to the corners, enhancing both handling and the car's athletic stance. Despite its longer, lower, and wider dimensions, the Prius retained a solid and robust feel, with high-quality materials and a well-finished interior. The cabin, though more functional than decorative, offered comfort and practicality, with a new driver-focused instrument panel and infotainment screen setup.

The 2024 Nissan Altima, while maintaining its familiar design, received a few updates to keep it competitive. The Altima was available in four trim levels, with most models featuring front-wheel drive, though all-wheel drive was an option for some trims. The SL trim, which was tested, came with a conservative yet appealing design, featuring chrome accents and LED projector headlights. Inside, the Altima's cabin felt somewhat outdated, but it offered comfortable seating and practical features like a wireless phone charger and well-placed cupholders. The interior space was generous, with ample legroom and a spacious trunk, making it a practical choice for families. However, the quality of materials, particularly the leather upholstery, left room for improvement, and the presence of cheap plastic parts detracted from the overall experience.

The 2023 Toyota Prius featured a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, an upgrade from the previous 1.8-liter unit. This engine, combined with a more powerful electric motor and lithium-ion battery, delivered 194 horsepower in front-wheel-drive models and 196 horsepower in all-wheel-drive versions. This was a significant improvement over the previous model's 121 horsepower. The Prius felt more athletic and responsive, with a 0-60 mph time of 7.1 seconds, a notable improvement from the older model's 10.5 seconds. The car's handling was agile, thanks to a revised suspension and longer wheelbase, while road and wind noise were well-contained. The brakes, though slightly squishy, were effective, making the Prius a comfortable and engaging daily driver.

The 2024 Nissan Altima was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. This provided adequate performance, with a 0-60 mph time of approximately 7.5 seconds. For those seeking more power, the Altima SR VC-Turbo offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. However, this engine was only available with front-wheel drive. The Altima's intelligent all-wheel-drive system, tested in winter conditions, provided good traction and fuel efficiency, with an EPA rating of 26 mpg city, 36 highway, and 30 combined. The car's steering was light, but it handled corners well, and the brakes were predictable. The continuously variable transmission managed power output effectively, though it could be noisy under heavy acceleration.

The 2023 Toyota Prius, despite its larger exterior dimensions, had a slightly smaller interior compared to its predecessor. Headroom was reduced, but legroom increased, allowing taller passengers to fit comfortably in the rear seats. The optional fixed glass roof on the XLE and Limited trims helped open up the cabin, though it did not provide airflow. Cargo space was reduced to 20 cubic feet on XLE and Limited models and 24 cubic feet on the LE. The cabin featured practical touches like multiple cupholders, a wireless charging pocket, and USB-C ports. The cargo area included small underfloor storage cubbies and a flexible cargo cover.

The 2024 Nissan Altima offered impressive interior space, with front seats providing more room than some competitors. The rear seat had 35.2 inches of legroom, matching the Kia K5 but falling short of others like the Accord. The trunk offered 15.4 cubic feet of space, with a wide opening for easy loading and 60/40-split folding rear seats for additional cargo capacity. The Altima's interior was designed for comfort and practicality, with well-placed cupholders and cubbies.

The 2023 Toyota Prius came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the base LE and XLE models, with an optional 12.3-inch screen available on the XLE and standard on the Limited trim. The larger screen was recommended for its responsiveness and intuitive menus. The navigation system required a subscription to Toyota's Drive Connect for real-time updates. All models featured a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, though it was criticized for being too busy. The Prius offered six USB-C ports, wireless smartphone charging on higher trims, and an AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot. Subscription-based connectivity bundles included Remote Connect, Safety Connect, and Drive Connect.

The 2024 Nissan Altima featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system on most trims, with a 12.3-inch display available on the SL and SR VC-Turbo trims. The larger screen offered crisp graphics and an organized interface, though it lacked a physical tuning knob. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard, with wireless versions available on the larger screen. The available nine-speaker Bose stereo was underwhelming. NissanConnect, standard on higher trims, allowed remote access to the car via a smartphone app, offering features like remote start and emergency calling.

The 2023 Toyota Prius was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which included adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane-departure alerts, and Proactive Driving Assist. These features were standard across all trims. The Prius also had stability control, traction control, eight airbags, and blind-spot monitoring. The Limited trim offered an optional hands-free automatic parking feature. The 2023 Prius had not yet been crash-tested by IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2024 Nissan Altima received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, though it scored four stars in frontal crash tests. It did not receive the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation due to poor side-impact test results. The Altima came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear automatic braking, and lane-departure warning. Higher trims offered a 360-degree surround-view monitor and traffic-sign recognition. ProPilot Assist, available on higher trims, provided semi-autonomous driving capabilities.