2021 Nissan Altima vs 2022 Lexus ES

The 2021 Nissan Altima presented a strong family identity with its bold V-Motion grille, which was tastefully adorned with the Nissan logo. The Altima's design was sleek and aerodynamic, featuring a sloping "coupe-like" roofline and taut body lines. Despite its mildly ungainly stance due to the overhangs, the Altima maintained a contemporary look with modern features like LED lighting and alloy wheels. The fit and finish were exceptional, with deep lustrous paint and rich chrome details. Inside, the Altima's dashboard was uncluttered and intelligently laid out, with an 8-inch touchscreen display positioned for safety and convenience. As one moved up the trim levels, the interior materials improved, offering a better hand feel and added stitching to the dash and seats.

The 2022 Lexus ES, a mainstay in the Lexus lineup, evolved over seven generations into an attractive sedan with elegant proportions and a sleek roofline. The prominent spindle grille and assertive headlamp shapes were a matter of taste. The ES offered standard 17-inch wheels, with larger options available. Inside, the dashboard was asymmetrical, giving the driver's side a cockpit feel, though it appeared jumbled. The F Sport package added bold two-tone leather seating, which was sporty and attractive. The ES also featured a small analog chronometer in the touchscreen housing, which added to the dash's clutter. Despite these quirks, the ES was precisely assembled with crisp, even gaps, maintaining the brand's reputation for quality.

The 2021 Nissan Altima in Canada was equipped with a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. It featured Nissan’s Xtronic CVT and standard all-wheel drive, which was a significant advantage over many competitors that offered only front-wheel drive. The AWD system was front-biased but could send up to 50% of the 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 Lexus ES offered three models with distinct powertrains. The ES 250 AWD had a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, achieving 9.5 L/100 km city, 7.0 highway, and 8.4 combined. The ES 350 featured a 3.5-litre V6 engine with 307 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, with ratings of 10.7 L/100 km city, 7.3 highway, and 9.2 combined. The ES 300h hybrid combined a 176-hp engine with a 39-hp electric motor for a net 215 hp, excelling in fuel economy with 5.5 L/100 km city, 5.2 highway, and 5.3 combined. The ES 250 AWD was noted for its smooth handling, though it felt slow compared to its luxury sedan peers.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan’s Zero Gravity front seats, praised for their comfort on long drives. Standard features included power adjustment and front seat heating, with additional options like position memory and leather appointments on higher trims. The Altima's cabin offered ample storage, including a large glovebox, centre console storage bin, and door pockets. The rear seats were roomy, accommodating two adults comfortably, and the trunk provided 436 litres of cargo space.

The 2022 Lexus ES offered 394 litres of cargo space, with a pass-through for long items and fold-flat rear seats in the ES 250 and ES 350. The sedan's lower centre of gravity contributed to better handling compared to SUVs. Inside, the ES featured heated, ventilated, and power-adjustable front seats, dual-zone climate control, and available semi-aniline leather upholstery. Storage options included big bottle pockets, cupholders, and a spacious glove compartment. The ES's dash layout was functional, despite its aesthetic shortcomings.

The 2021 Nissan Altima came standard with an 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. It included features like keyless entry, remote engine start, Bluetooth, and a rear-view camera. Higher trims offered a Bose audio system and Nissan Door to Door Navigation. NissanConnect Services provided additional connectivity options, including a WiFi hotspot and emergency crash notification.

The 2022 Lexus ES featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10-speaker Pioneer sound system, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Upper trims offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Mark Levinson audio, and navigation. The ES included a touchpad interface for infotainment, a 10-inch head-up display, and a Panoramic View Monitor with Intuitive Parking Assist. Lexus Enform connected services provided safety and convenience features, including emergency alerts and remote vehicle control.

The 2021 Nissan Altima was equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360, offering features like automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot warning. ProPilot Assist on the Platinum grade enhanced highway driving safety. The Altima received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS.

The 2022 Lexus ES also received top safety ratings, with a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS and a five-star rating from NHTSA. The Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 included a pre-collision system, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, 10 airbags, and Lexus Enform Safety Connect service.