2021 Nissan Altima vs 2022 Hyundai Sonata

The 2021 Nissan Altima showcased a strong family identity with its bold V-Motion grille, which was tastefully adorned with the Nissan logo. Its overall shape and styling were attractive, featuring a sloping "coupe-like" roofline that provided a sleek, aerodynamic profile. The body design leaned more towards folds than curves, giving it a taut and trim essence. Despite a mildly ungainly stance due to the overhangs, the Altima maintained a contemporary look with modern features like standard LED lighting and alloy wheels. The fit and finish were exceptional, with deep lustrous paint and rich chrome details, available in six exterior colours with premium options.

Inside, the Altima's dashboard was uncluttered and intelligently laid out, featuring a standard 8-inch touchscreen display for safety and convenience. The base model felt a bit stripped-down, but higher trims offered improved interior materials, adding stitching to the dash and seats. The Altima provided a real example of getting what you paid for, with a focus on comfort and functionality.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata, in its seventh generation, had evolved from its early days of mimicking competitors to establishing its own distinctive flair. The Sonata featured a wide grille, rounded front fascia, and a sloped rear roofline, offering a design that was subjective to personal taste. Inside, the Sonata boasted a functional and spacious cabin with seating for five, with gauges and dials that were clearly marked and easy to read. The Limited trim offered leather seats, though the tan upholstery colour was not to everyone's taste. The Sonata N Line added sporty touches, transforming its look with a body kit, gloss black accents, and N badging, while the cabin featured dark chrome trim and red stitching for added personality.

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. It featured Nissan’s Xtronic CVT and came standard with all-wheel drive, a rarity among mid-size sedans in Canada. The AWD system was front-wheel biased but could 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. The Altima's suspension setup included four-wheel independent suspension with stabilizer bars, providing decent feedback and feel.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata offered a split personality in performance. The base engine was a 2.5-litre four-cylinder producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. A turbocharged 1.6-litre engine was available on higher trims, offering 180 hp and 195 lb-ft. The Sonata N Line, however, was the performance standout with a 290-hp turbocharged 2.5-litre engine, eight-speed wet dual-clutch transmission, and sport suspension. All Sonatas were front-wheel drive, and the ride was smooth and competent, with a serene cabin offering near luxury levels of quiet.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan’s Zero Gravity front seats, praised for their comfort on long drives. The front cabin offered ample storage and convenience features, including a large glovebox, centre console storage, and door pockets. The rear seats were roomy, with headroom and legroom for two adults, and the trunk offered 436 litres of space.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata provided 2,956 litres of passenger space, classifying it as a "Full-size Car" by Natural Resources Canada. Front-seat headroom and legroom were top-notch, while rear-seat space was adequate for two adults. The Sonata's 453-litre trunk was spacious, accommodating a complete set of rolling luggage. The Remote Smart Parking Assist was a notable feature, allowing the car to park itself with the press of a button on the key fob.

The 2021 Nissan Altima came with standard tech features like Nissan Intelligent Key, remote engine start, Bluetooth, and an 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen infotainment system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and higher trims offered a Bose audio system and Nissan Door to Door Navigation.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's infotainment technology varied with trim levels. Base models featured an 8-inch touchscreen, while higher trims like the N Line and Ultimate Hybrid offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The Bose system was praised for its power and clarity, providing excellent value.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of active and passive safety features, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and lane-departure warning. ProPilot Assist was available on the Platinum grade, offering 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 Sonata came with a comprehensive package of safety features, including forward collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot collision-avoidance assist. The Sonata received five stars from the NHTSA for overall crash protection and top "Good" ratings from the IIHS in all crash tests. The Sonata's child-seat anchors received an "Acceptable" rating.