Nissan Altima vs Nissan Sentra

The 2024 Nissan Altima, a name associated with reliability since 1993, has maintained a consistent look through its sixth generation, remaining largely unchanged since 2019. For 2023, Nissan gave it a bolder, open-bottomed grille, giving the car a slightly more aggressive presence. Yet, the Altima's styling remained familiar and somewhat conservative. It came in four trims: S, SV, SR, and SL, with most employing front-wheel drive (FWD). All-wheel drive (AWD) was an option on the SV, SR, and SL, while the SR trim could be enhanced with the powerful VC-Turbo engine.

Our examined model was an SL trim with AWD, sporting a sleek Garnet Pearl Metallic paint and 19-inch alloy wheels, complemented by chrome accents that added a touch of elegance. However, the car’s embedded gunmetal gray badging at the rear attempted to tone down the overall chrome glitz. The front of the Altima featured attractive LED projector headlights, while the rear was invigorated by dual exhaust pipes and an optional ($420) rear spoiler.

Inside, the Altima’s design philosophy felt dated, especially with its soft yellow overhead lights and wood trim. However, the seats managed to impress with their comfort, offering a good balance of soft support. The driver's area was practically designed, with well-placed cupholders and cubbies. Our model boasted a wireless phone charger, convenient twin cupholders, and a comfortably padded center console. Nevertheless, the four-way adjustable front-passenger seat and the mediocre quality of leather upholstery were slight letdowns. Although, the steering wheel and shift knob had a nice tactile feel, which helped offset the cheaper plastic elements scattered around the cabin.

Contrarily, the 2024 Nissan Sentra underwent a styling refresh since its current generation arrived in 2020. The new grille design widened the front, merging with headlights and incorporating interior black bezel elements. Vertical faux air vents created a more expansive front look, adhering to the “longer, lower, and wider” design principle.

Despite retaining familiar styling features like the black roof and pronounced rear-quarter panel shoulders, the Sentra avoided the design eccentricities of its rivals. Available trims remained the same: S, SV, and SR, with the latter two offering a Premium Package. Trim-specific elements like new alloy wheel designs refreshed the appearance, and the Electric Blue Metallic paint on the SR trim added a vibrant flare.

Inside, the Sentra featured large round air vents drawn from the Z sports car, and a plunging dashboard shape framing the central touchscreen. The SR trim's interior boasted red-orange accent stitching on standard cloth seats, with an option for leather upholstery on the SV. Its flat-bottom steering wheel added a sporty touch. Material quality reflected its entry-level stature, but the distinct styling elements added a degree of character not commonly found in this segment.

The 2024 Nissan Altima, equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, delivered adequate performance. It achieved a 0-60 mph time of approximately 7.5 seconds. For enthusiasts desiring more power, the SR trim could be fitted with the VC-Turbo engine, boasting 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This advanced engine, while sacrificing some fuel efficiency, was not available with AWD, demanding a choice between power and all-weather capability.

Our test variant, fitted with AWD, utilized a system that directed up to 50% power to the rear wheels, optimizing traction when needed. This setup allowed an EPA rating of 26 mpg city, 36 highway, and 30 combined. In contrast, the VC-Turbo achieved 25 mpg city, 34 highway, and 29 combined when paired with FWD. The Altima’s driving dynamics benefitted from its low center of gravity, providing solid cornering abilities and predictable braking. However, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) marred the experience with its droning noise under more aggressive acceleration.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Nissan Sentra followed a more straightforward path. It housed a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a mandatory CVT aiming to enhance fuel efficiency and smoothness. For 2024, the CVT was reengineered to improve fuel economy, aided by a new start-stop system.

While no longer a player in the sport-compact arena, the Sentra offered a pleasant driving experience. The steering provided notable feedback and precision without feeling overly responsive. The suspension balanced comfort and control, ensuring a relaxed yet controlled ride. An observed inconsistency in the CVT’s behavior at mid-speeds during our pre-production test could mean future versions might exhibit different characteristics.

The 2024 Nissan Altima impressed with its spacious front seats, surpassing the Honda Accord, Subaru Legacy, and Toyota Camry, though falling short of the Hyundai Sonata and Kia K5. Rear seat space, with 35.2 inches of legroom, slightly bested the Sonata and matched the K5, but lagged behind the Accord, Legacy, and Camry. The Altima offered a 15.4 cubic feet trunk space, outperforming the Legacy and Camry but trailing the Korean models and the Accord. Noteworthy was the wide trunk opening and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat that maximized cargo utility. Practical storage solutions within the cabin, such as thoughtfully placed cupholders and cubbies, invited comfort and convenience in daily use.

In comparison, the 2024 Nissan Sentra provided decent front-row space, with headroom comparable to the Kia Forte and Mazda 3, and just under the Civic and Elantra. However, rear seat legroom was the lowest among its competitors, although front legroom was best-in-class. The Sentra’s Zero Gravity front seats offered exceptional comfort, and the cabin layout facilitated a clear view for the driver. Despite being a compact car, it featured enough room for practical storage solutions and had a unique phone slot angled to prevent sliding.

The Sentra, lacking AWD but including cold-weather amenities in its SV and SR trims through the All-Weather Package, offered heated seats, steering wheel, and mirrors, along with remote start and dual-zone automatic climate control. Its 14.3 cubic feet trunk capacity just edged out the Mazda 3 and slightly surpassed the Elantra, although trailing the Forte and Civic. The 60/40 split-folding rear seats mirrored those of the Altima, enhancing cargo flexibility.

The 2024 Nissan Altima was generally well-equipped. Most trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen, with the S trim sporting a 7-inch display. Our SL trim test car had a commanding 12.3-inch display, exclusively available on higher trims, which impressed with its clarity and ease of use. Static buttons on the screen's edge and an organized home screen enhanced usability, and while a physical tuning knob was absent, a centrally placed volume knob remained.

Standard features across all trims included Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, though wireless versions were reserved for the largest screen. Disappointingly, the available nine-speaker Bose audio system didn’t meet high expectations. The NissanConnect system was standard on higher trims, providing remote car access and other conveniences via a smartphone app.

Conversely, the 2024 Nissan Sentra’s tech seemed a step behind. The base S trim contained a 7-inch touchscreen and analog gauges, with CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The higher trims upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen and a 7-inch instrument cluster display, albeit with dated graphics. While the Bose audio system and Wi-Fi were options on the SV and SR through the Premium Package, the graphics on the Sentra's screens were less impressive compared to rivals.

Both Altima and Sentra offered functional infotainment, yet the Altima, particularly in higher trims, provided a more advanced and visually pleasing experience.

The 2024 Nissan Altima achieved a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, excelling in side-impact and rollover tests, but scoring four stars in frontal and driver-side barrier crash tests. The IIHS had previously awarded it a Top Safety Pick+, though recent models didn’t meet the updated side-impact test criteria.

The Altima's Safety Shield 360 suite, standard across the range, included forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane departure warning. The SL and SR VC-Turbo trims added a 360-degree monitor and traffic-sign recognition. ProPilot Assist, combining steering assistance with adaptive cruise control, was standard on higher trims and added on the SV.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra had more mixed results. The IIHS gave it a top "Good" in the original side-impact test but only "Acceptable" in the new test. Likewise, it scored "Advanced" for daytime pedestrian front crash prevention but received a "Basic" rating at night and "Poor" for headlights. The NHTSA had not yet rated the frontal crashes for the 2024 model.

However, the Sentra matched its competitors with standard Safety Shield 360 features. Adaptive cruise control became standard on the higher trims, matching the rivals, while a 360-degree camera system was available in the Premium Package for the SV and SR.