2024 Nissan Altima vs 2024 Cadillac CT5

The 2024 Nissan Altima had a long-standing presence in the market since 1993, with its sixth-generation model being relatively unchanged since 2019. The 2023 model year brought a new grille with an open-bottomed edge, giving the car a more imposing look. Trim levels for the Altima included the S, SV, SR, and SL, with the majority of the models featuring front-wheel drive (FWD) and the option for all-wheel drive (AWD) on the SV, SR, and SL trims. The SR trim could also be equipped with Nissan’s more powerful and technologically advanced VC-Turbo engine.

For evaluation, Nissan provided us with an Altima SL with AWD. The vehicle, donned in Garnet Pearl Metallic paint and riding on 19-inch alloy wheels, had a conservative yet pleasant styling. The SL trim added chrome door handles and lower window sill trimming, while the rear badging had a gunmetal gray finish, offering a subtle contrast to the flashy metal parts.

Up front, LED projector headlights provided a modern touch, and dual exhaust pipes along with an optional rear spoiler added some vitality to the rear design. Despite some dated interior elements, the Altima’s seats were notably comfortable and supportive, with accessible cupholders and storage cubbies. However, there were some gripes, such as the underwhelming quality of the leather upholstery and the presence of cheap plastic components scattered throughout the cabin.

In contrast, the 2024 Cadillac CT5 traced its lineage back to the 2020 model year, when it succeeded the long-standing Cadillac CTS. The CT5 dialed back the bold styling of its predecessor but still featured a distinctive front fascia and a slight fastback silhouette. Its stretched wheelbase provided it with a stately appearance.

The CT5 was available in various trims including Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, CT5-V, and CT5-V Blackwing. Our test car was the Premium Luxury model. Unlike the Altima’s conservative interior, the CT5 incorporated a mix-and-match of different materials, some of which led to a less cohesive look. Still, optional massaging front seats provided a luxurious touch. The CT5 fed into the stereotype of low-quality GM interiors, failing to deliver a fully refined upscale experience, despite the semi-aniline leather and carbon-fiber trim in our test car.

The 2024 Nissan Altima featured a naturally aspirated, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. It offered sufficient power for most drivers, delivering a 0-60 mph sprint in roughly 7.5 seconds. For those seeking more power, the Altima SR VC-Turbo came equipped with a 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine that churned out an impressive 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. However, this variant lacked AWD, making it less suitable for snowy regions.

Our AWD test vehicle utilized Nissan's "intelligent" AWD system, which distributed power to the rear wheels when necessary, enhancing traction without significantly compromising fuel efficiency. The Altima achieved an EPA estimated 26 mpg city and 36 mpg highway with this setup. Despite the benefits, the car’s CVT transmission produced a droning noise under heavy acceleration, and while the steering felt light, the vehicle had minimal body roll thanks to its low center of gravity.

The 2024 Cadillac CT5 provided a range of powertrain options. The base model came with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, generating 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. An available 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 offered 335 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. Both engines paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and had the option of RWD or AWD.

The performance-focused CT5-V included a tuned version of the twin-turbo V6, producing 360 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque, while the high-performance CT5-V Blackwing boasted a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque, available with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

Our CT5 Premium Luxury test car, equipped with AWD and the twin-turbo V6, delivered a 0-60 mph time of 5.1 seconds. Handling was neutral, with minimal understeer and a hint of rear-end rotation aiding cornering. Ride quality was firm but acceptable, and interior noise levels were well-managed, with a noticeable growl from the exhaust under full throttle.

The 2024 Nissan Altima impressed with its interior space. The front seats offered more room than rivals like the Honda Accord, Subaru Legacy, and Toyota Camry, but less than the Hyundai Sonata and Kia K5. Rear-seat legroom was decent at 35.2 inches, comparable to the Kia K5 and slightly better than the Sonata, though less than the Accord, Camry, and Legacy.

The Altima provided 15.4 cubic feet of trunk space, outdoing the Legacy and Camry but trailing behind the Sonata, K5, and Accord. The large trunk opening facilitated easy loading of bulky items, and the 60/40-split folding rear seat allowed for additional cargo flexibility. Practicality extended to the cabin layout, with well-placed cubbies and cupholders.

In comparison, the 2024 Cadillac CT5 offered good passenger space relative to competitors from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. The CT5 provided more front headroom than the Audi A6 and outgoing Mercedes E-Class, and close to that of the BMW 5 Series. It had the most legroom in both rows among these rivals, although second-row headroom was the least generous.

However, the CT5’s trunk space was limited to just 11.9 cubic feet, making it the smallest among its competitors. The driving position was comfortable, offering good outward visibility and adjustable settings for the seats and steering column. Premium Luxury and Sport trims added more power adjustments and featured heated and ventilated front seats. Despite the compact trunk, the center console was well-utilized with ample storage, cupholders, and an appropriately sized wireless phone charger.

Most 2024 Nissan Altima models came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, except the base S trim with a 7-inch screen. Our test vehicle featured a premium 12.3-inch display, standard on the SL and SR VC-Turbo trims. The larger screen offered crisp graphics and practical features such as static icons and an organized tile view. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were available with the larger screen, though the nine-speaker Bose stereo system was underwhelming compared to other audio setups.

The NissanConnect suite, standard on the SL and SR VC-Turbo, offered telematics features including remote locking/unlocking, remote start, vehicle health reports, and emergency calling via the MyNissan smartphone app.

In contrast, the 2024 Cadillac CT5 had a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Premium Luxury and Sport trims could include a Technology Package with a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display. The CT5 also had three USB ports and standard wireless device charging, with an optional 15-speaker Bose Performance Series audio system.

Despite lacking the flashy multi-screen displays of some competitors, the CT5's infotainment system was user-friendly, offering intuitive controls, large icons, and a responsive digital instrument cluster. However, the screen suffered from glare under direct light, and the voice-recognition didn't measure up to BMW or Mercedes standards.

The 2024 Nissan Altima achieved a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with excellent side-impact and rollover crash performance but slightly lower ratings in frontal crash tests. Although the Altima had impressive ADAS offerings like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring, it fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation due to subpar performance in updated side-impact tests.

Conversely, the 2024 Cadillac CT5 also received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, earning perfect scores in frontal, side, and rollover crash tests. Although IIHS ratings were unavailable, the CT5 offered a range of standard safety features including forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and a rear-seat reminder. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, 360-degree camera system, and Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free driver-assist system renowned for its user-friendly controls and performance.