2021 Nissan Altima vs 2022 Hyundai Elantra

The 2021 Nissan Altima presented a strong family identity with its bold V-Motion grille, available in chrome or dark chrome, tastefully adorned with the Nissan logo. Its overall shape was attractive, featuring a sloping “coupe-like” roofline that gave it a sleek, aerodynamic profile. The body design leaned more towards folds than curves, providing a taut and trim essence. Despite a slightly old-fashioned look due to its stance, modern features like standard LED lighting and alloy wheels kept it contemporary. The Altima boasted exceptional fit and finish, with deep lustrous paint and rich chrome details, available in six exterior colours with premium options. Inside, the dashboard was uncluttered and intelligently laid out, with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display. As you moved up the trim levels, interior materials improved, offering a better hand feel and added stitching to the dash and seats.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra underwent a significant transformation with its 2021 redesign, shedding its previous rental-car looks for a striking new appearance. The seventh-generation Elantra featured a longer wheelbase, wider stance, and lower roofline, resulting in a dramatic four-door-coupe silhouette. Its exterior styling, reminiscent of the midsize Sonata sedan, had its own unique personality, with creases and folds creating a distinctive "Z" shape on the sides. The interior was much improved, with material quality slightly above the norm for the compact car class, despite some hard plastics. The Elantra was available in four trim levels in Canada, with the N Line offering sporty styling elements. Inside, the N Line featured sport seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum pedals, enhancing its sporty look and feel.

The 2021 Nissan Altima in Canada was equipped with a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT. Notably, all-wheel drive was standard, a rarity among mid-size sedans in Canada, with the ability to send up to 50% of torque to the rear wheels when needed. Fuel consumption ratings were 9.1 L/100 km city, 6.5 highway, and 7.9 combined for the base model, with slightly higher ratings for the SR and Platinum grades. The Altima featured four-wheel independent suspension and electric-powered steering, providing decent feedback and feel.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered multiple powertrain options. The standard 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine produced 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, with a six-speed manual transmission standard on Essential and a CVT optional. The Elantra Hybrid featured a 1.6-litre Atkinson-cycle engine with a 32-kilowatt electric motor, delivering 139 hp and up to 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The N Line offered a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, equipped with a seven-speed DCT. The N Line's sport-tuned suspension, steering, and revised powertrain mounts enhanced its ride and handling dynamics, providing a more engaging driving experience.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan’s Zero Gravity front seats, praised for their comfort on long drives. Power adjustment and front seat heating were standard, with additional features like position memory and leather appointments on the Platinum grade. The front cabin offered ample storage, including a big glovebox, centre console storage bin, and door pockets. The rear seats were roomy, with headroom and legroom for two adults, and the trunk offered 436 litres of cargo space.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra was designed for ease of use, with clearly marked instrumentation and controls. Despite its compact size, it offered excellent outward visibility and ample storage options. The rear seats accommodated three children comfortably, though taller adults might find the sloped roof pinching headroom. The trunk provided 402 litres of cargo space, with a narrow opening due to the sloping roofline. The Elantra's power tilt-and-slide moonroof had a noticeable droning noise when fully open, and the lack of USB ports and air conditioning vents in the rear were minor inconveniences.

The 2021 Nissan Altima came with standard tech features like Nissan Intelligent Key keyless entry, remote engine start, Bluetooth, and an 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen infotainment system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a 7-inch advanced Drive-Assist display and multiple USB ports. Higher trims included features like SiriusXM satellite radio, a Bose audio system, and Nissan Door to Door Navigation.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered a surprising level of technology for its price. The base Essential trim included an 8-inch display audio touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims added features like a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, an eight-speaker Bose audio system, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. The N Line trim tested had the 8-inch display audio system, which was easy to pair with a smartphone, though the six-speaker audio system was only adequate.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, a comprehensive suite of driver-assist and safety features, standard on all models. It included automatic emergency braking, rear automatic braking, blind-spot warning, and more. The Platinum grade offered ProPilot Assist for highway driving assistance. The Altima received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick + rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered a value-focused approach to safety, with features like automatic emergency braking standard across all trims. Other driver-assist technologies were optional on the Essential grade and standard on higher trims. The Elantra received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings in all six IIHS crash tests.