2019 Nissan Altima vs 2020 Toyota Corolla

The 2019 Nissan Altima borrowed design cues from its larger sibling, the Maxima, featuring 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 vents and dials. The interior was designed to balance evolving technology with user-friendly controls, including volume, tuning, and climate-control knobs. The Altima came in various trims, each adding more features, from the base S with Zero Gravity seats and an 8-inch touchscreen to the luxurious Platinum with 19-inch wheels and a 360-degree surround-view monitor.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla, while not winning beauty contests, looked better in SE or XSE trims with Celestite paint. The XSE trim improved the perceived quality inside, replacing cheap plastics with soft-touch surfaces. However, the transmission shifter reminded drivers of the Corolla's economy car roots. The Corolla started at $19,600, with higher trims offering more power and features. The XSE trim, in particular, provided a sportier experience with a 169-hp engine and 18-inch wheels, though it struggled with acceleration and power delivery.

The 2019 Nissan Altima offered two engines: a base 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder available in SR and Platinum trims. The latter replaced the previous V6, featuring variable compression technology for better power and fuel economy. Both engines paired with a CVT, with power routed to the front wheels or available AWD. The AWD system provided confidence in snowy conditions, though the Altima's wide turning radius was a drawback. Fuel economy for the 2.5-liter engine was 28 city, 39 highway, 32 combined, while the AWD version dropped to 25, 35, 29. The turbocharged engine was expected to return 25 city, 34 highway, 29 combined.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla offered a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with 139 horsepower for L, LE, and XLE trims, paired with a CVT. The SE and XSE trims featured a more powerful 169-hp, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, a sophisticated CVT with paddle shifters, and 18-inch wheels. The XSE trim provided a smooth and stable ride with independent rear suspension, though it lacked adequate sound insulation and struggled with acceleration. Fuel economy for the XSE was rated at 31 city, 38 highway, 34 combined, with observed fuel economy at 29.8 mpg.

The 2019 Nissan Altima featured extremely comfortable Zero Gravity seats, designed to reduce fatigue over long distances. The interior had plenty of cubbies and cupholders, though the center console was not very deep. The back seat offered enough space for tall adults, and the trunk provided 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space, competitive with other midsize sedans.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla, rated as a midsize car by the EPA, offered a roomy interior for a compact car. However, the XSE trim lacked rear air-conditioning vents and USB charging ports, making it uncomfortable for rear passengers in hot weather. The front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, and the low seating position made entry and exit difficult. The back seat was comfortable with decent legroom, though taller passengers might struggle with headroom. Trunk space measured 13.1 cubic feet, enough for a couple of suitcases and additional bags.

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

The 2020 Toyota Corolla featured the Entune 3.0 infotainment system, with Apple CarPlay but not Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, with a high-mounted touchscreen, volume and tuning knobs, and main menu buttons. It included Amazon Alexa compatibility, Siri Eyes Free, and various trial services. Higher trims offered additional features like advanced voice recognition, HD Radio, and a JBL premium sound system.

The 2019 Nissan Altima included standard safety features like front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a reversing camera. Higher trims featured ProPilot Assist, offering partially autonomous driving functions, including adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance. Forward-collision warning and driver-alertness monitoring were standard across all trims.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla came with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0, including low-light pedestrian detection, daytime cyclist detection, road-sign recognition, and Lane Tracing Assist. The system operated with impressive refinement, though the lane-departure warning alert was irritating. The Corolla also had a blind-spot monitoring system, standard on higher trims. The NHTSA gave the Corolla a 5-star rating for frontal-impact protection, and the IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick for 2019.