2020 Subaru WRX vs 2019 Nissan Altima

The 2019 Nissan Altima borrowed design elements from its larger sibling, the Maxima, to stand out in a competitive market. It featured a prominent trapezoidal grille, sharply angled headlights, and a black stripe on the C-pillar, which was a popular trend at the time. These design choices aimed to add a sense of excitement to the Altima's appearance. Inside, the Altima's interior layout was similar to other contemporary cars, with a floating center stack and familiar controls, reflecting a broader industry trend towards user-friendly and technology-integrated interiors. Nissan wisely retained traditional knobs for volume and climate control, ensuring ease of use despite the advanced infotainment system.

The Altima was available in several trims, including S, SR, SV, SL, and Platinum, each offering a range of features. The base S trim came with comfortable Zero Gravity seats, push-button start, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SR trim added sporty elements like 19-inch alloy wheels and LED headlights, while the SV trim focused on value with features like adaptive cruise control and a power moonroof. The SL trim introduced luxury touches such as leather seating and a Bose sound system, and the Platinum trim offered premium features like a 360-degree surround-view monitor and interior accent lighting. Overall, the SV trim was considered the best value for its feature set.

The 2020 Subaru WRX, originally a performance variant of the Impreza, had evolved into its own model by 2015. It retained a sporty and aggressive design, with a wider stance, lower front splitter, and functional air intake. The WRX STI version took it further with additional aerodynamic components. Despite its performance-oriented appearance, the non-STI WRX maintained a sleeper quality, surprising those unfamiliar with its capabilities. The interior, while not overly flashy, was practical and straightforward, aligning with Subaru's function-first design philosophy.

The WRX was available in Base, Premium, and Limited trims. The Base trim included 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, and a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Premium trim added 18-inch wheels, heated front seats, and a larger 7-inch touchscreen, with an optional Performance Package featuring Brembo brakes and Recaro seats. The Limited trim offered leather upholstery and a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The WRX STI, available in STI and Limited trims, featured a more powerful engine, Brembo brakes, and a stiffer suspension for enhanced performance.

The 2019 Nissan Altima offered two engine options. The standard engine across all trims was a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, producing 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, a slight improvement over the previous model. The SR and Platinum trims had an optional turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, which replaced the previous V6. This engine featured variable compression technology, allowing it to deliver V6-like power with 4-cylinder fuel efficiency. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and the Altima was the first Nissan sedan to offer all-wheel drive (AWD).

The Altima's AWD system provided confidence in snowy conditions, and the car handled well, though it wasn't as sporty as some competitors. The 2.5-liter engine offered decent power for city driving, but the wide turning radius was a drawback. Fuel economy for the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine was expected to be 25 mpg city, 34 highway, and 29 combined, while the 2.5-liter engine achieved 28 city, 39 highway, and 32 combined, with AWD reducing those numbers slightly.

The 2020 Subaru WRX was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter boxer-four engine, delivering 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Power was sent to all four wheels through a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional CVT. The CVT featured Subaru's SI-DRIVE with multiple drive modes and paddle shifters for simulated manual shifting. The AWD system varied based on transmission choice, with the manual offering a 50:50 torque split and the CVT providing a 45:55 split.

The WRX's manual transmission was praised for its precise feedback and smooth clutch pedal, making it enjoyable for both spirited driving and daily commuting. The power delivery was impressive, with minimal turbo lag, and the car excelled in cornering with precise steering and no body lean. The WRX STI version offered even more power with a 2.5-liter engine producing 310 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque, along with Brembo brakes and a stiffer suspension for enhanced handling. However, the ride was notably stiff, especially on rough roads, and road noise was significant.

The 2019 Nissan Altima's interior was highlighted by its extremely comfortable Zero Gravity seats, designed to reduce fatigue on long journeys. The seats were inspired by the natural spinal position observed in microgravity, providing a luxurious feel for both short and long trips. The Altima offered ample storage with cubbies and cupholders, though the center console was limited in depth due to the AWD and transmission tunnel.

Rear-seat passengers enjoyed sufficient space, even for taller adults, and the trunk provided 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space, competitive with other midsize sedans. While not the class leader, the Altima's trunk space was adequate for most needs.

The 2020 Subaru WRX featured a simple sedan layout with excellent visibility, thanks to its large windshield, slanted hood, and small quarter windows. The straightforward dash layout offered easy-to-use controls and ample storage compartments. The WRX provided generous first-row seating space with ample head- and legroom, and the rear seat was adequate for adults on shorter trips.

The WRX's cargo space was limited to 12 cubic feet, which was lower than other compact sedans but comparable to sports cars with similar performance. The focus on practicality and visibility made the WRX a functional choice for a performance vehicle.

The 2019 Nissan Altima came standard with NissanConnect, a user-friendly infotainment system featuring large icons and easy-to-read fonts. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, ensuring seamless connectivity. A 7-inch color Drive Assist display provided essential information, accessible via a steering-wheel-mounted directional pad.

The 2020 Subaru WRX featured a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, with an optional 7-inch screen. The Starlink infotainment system was intuitive and included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The WRX also had a digital display in the instrument panel and a digital information screen atop the dash, providing key driver information in multiple locations.

The 2019 Nissan Altima offered standard safety features such as front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a reversing camera. Higher trims included ProPilot Assist, a suite of driver-assistance systems providing partially autonomous driving functions. Forward-collision warning and driver-alertness monitoring were standard across all trims.

The 2020 Subaru WRX came with standard front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a tire-pressure monitoring system. The optional EyeSight suite included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The WRX earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, including a 2020 IIHS Top Safety Pick designation.