2019 Volvo S60 vs 2019 Nissan Altima

The 2019 Nissan Altima borrowed design cues from its larger sibling, the Maxima, to stand out in a competitive market. It featured a big, trapezoidal grille, sharply raked headlights, and a black stripe in the C-pillar. Inside, the Altima's layout was similar to other new cars, with a floating center stack and familiar controls. The interior was designed to balance evolving technology with user-friendly features, avoiding the cluttered dashboards of the past. The Altima came in various trims, from the base S with comfortable Zero Gravity seats to the luxurious Platinum with 19-inch wheels and a 360-degree surround-view monitor.

The 2019 Volvo S60, on the other hand, transformed Volvo's image from quirky to sexy. It scaled down the design of the flagship S90 to fit a small luxury platform, resulting in a more athletic stance. The S60's design was visually appealing, with straight lines and precise angles. The interior featured sensible steering-wheel-mounted controls and plenty of storage space, but some controls, like the starter and drive-mode selector, were awkwardly placed. The S60 offered decent backseat space and 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space, which was average for its class.

The 2019 Nissan Altima offered two engine options. The base 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine produced 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, a slight improvement over the previous model. The SR and Platinum trims were available with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, which replaced the V6 from the previous year. This new engine featured variable compression technology, aiming to deliver V6 power with 4-cylinder fuel economy. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and offered front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (AWD). The AWD system was a first for Nissan sedans and performed well in snowy conditions. The 2.5-liter engine returned fuel economy of 28 city, 39 highway, 32 combined, while the AWD version achieved 25 city, 35 highway, 29 combined.

The 2019 Volvo S60 offered three powertrain options: T5, T6, and T8. The T5 was a turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, sent to front-wheel drive. The T6, which we drove, featured a twin-charged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine with 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, sent to all-wheel drive. The T8 was a plug-in hybrid with a combined output of 400 horsepower and 495 pound-feet of torque, offering a 21-mile all-electric range. All engines were paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The T6 provided instant throttle and transmission responses, and the car felt firmly planted through corners. The T6's fuel economy was estimated at 21 city, 32 highway, 25 combined, and we observed 23.2 mpg in mixed driving.

The 2019 Nissan Altima's interior featured extremely comfortable Zero Gravity seats, designed to reduce fatigue on long trips. The car had plenty of storage compartments, but the center console was not very deep due to the AWD and transmission tunnel. The back seat offered enough space for tall adults, and the trunk provided 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space, which was competitive but not class-leading.

The 2019 Volvo S60's interior focused on aesthetics, with sensible steering-wheel-mounted controls and ample storage space. However, some controls, like the starter and drive-mode selector, were awkwardly placed. The S60 featured a conventional shifter, which was a smart choice. The backseat space was decent, and the trunk offered 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space, which was average for the class.

The 2019 Nissan Altima came standard with NissanConnect, a user-friendly infotainment system with large icons and easy-to-read fonts. It also featured Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The car had a 7-inch color Drive Assist display between the tachometer and speedometer, allowing drivers to monitor various systems and features.

The 2019 Volvo S60 featured the Sensus touchscreen infotainment system, which took a tablet-like approach to menu navigation. While visually appealing, the system required multiple touches for simple tasks, like adjusting the climate control. The system occasionally lagged or froze, which could be frustrating. However, it had a Volume dial, Play/Pause button, and a Home button for easier navigation.

The 2019 Nissan Altima came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, vehicle dynamics control, and a reversing camera. Higher trims included ProPilot Assist, a suite of driver-assistance systems offering partially autonomous driving functions. Forward-collision warning and driver-alertness monitoring were standard across all trims.

The 2019 Volvo S60 came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system. It also included driver-assistance systems like forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and traffic-sign recognition. The Advance Package added a head-up display, headlight washers, a 360-degree camera, and active bending headlights, along with Pilot Assist for semi-autonomous driving.