2021 Nissan Altima vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The 2021 Nissan Altima showcased a strong family identity with its bold V-Motion grille, adorned with the Nissan logo. Its overall design was sleek and aerodynamic, featuring a sloping roofline that gave it a modern, coupe-like appearance. The body had a taut essence with more folds than curves, although its stance appeared slightly old-fashioned due to the short dash-to-axle distance. Despite this, the Altima maintained a contemporary look with standard LED lighting and alloy wheels ranging from 17 to 19 inches. The fit and finish were exceptional, with deep lustrous paint and rich chrome details available in six exterior colours, each with unique names.

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 somewhat stripped-down, but higher trims offered improved interior materials, including stitching on the dash and seats. The Altima provided a comfortable and practical interior, with features improving as one moved up the trim levels.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class integrated elements from other Mercedes models into a cohesive and stylish design. Its front end resembled the CLA-Class, while the rear end and taillights were reminiscent of the S-Class. The cab-rearward proportions, with a long hood and short rear deck, emphasized its rear-wheel-drive platform, distinguishing it from the front-wheel-drive CLA-Class and A-Class. Standard LED headlights and taillights could be upgraded to the Mercedes Digital Light system, which adjusted to curves and projected warning icons.

Inside, the C-Class aimed to emulate the luxury of the S-Class, with a freestanding touchscreen and instrument cluster, prominent air vents, and intricate speaker grilles. The ambient lighting with 64 colours added to the luxurious feel. Despite the standard MBTex synthetic leather upholstery, the interior felt special, making a strong case for choosing a luxury car over a mainstream brand. Nappa leather seats were available for those seeking an even more premium experience.

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. This engine was paired with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT and came with standard 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 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, with slightly higher figures for the SR and Platinum grades. The Altima featured a four-wheel independent suspension and electric-powered steering, providing decent feedback and feel.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C300 featured a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which added up to 20 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque in short bursts. The C300 could accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 6.0 seconds, with a top speed of 210 km/h. A sportier AMG C43 version offered 402 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, reducing the zero to 100 km/h time to 4.5 seconds and increasing the top speed to 250 km/h.

The C300 4Matic provided sufficient power, though it experienced some turbo lag and rough shifts. The ride quality was luxurious, muting impacts with bumps and potholes, although there was some juddering and vibration. The C-Class was entertaining on twisty roads, with good body control and precise steering, but required a more deliberate approach to cornering.

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 position memory and leather appointments available on the Platinum grade. The front 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 space, with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat for additional cargo capacity.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, available only as a sedan, was longer and wider than its predecessor, offering more interior space. Headroom increased by 2.5 mm in front and 10 mm in back, with rear-seat legroom increasing by 20 mm. The C-Class led its segment in front-seat headroom and rear-seat legroom, though front legroom was less competitive. The seats were comfortable with enough bolstering for spirited driving, and the trunk offered 455 litres of space with a wide opening for easy loading. A 40/20/40 split-folding rear bench accommodated longer items, and a power trunk release was available.

The 2021 Nissan Altima came with standard tech features, including Nissan Intelligent Key keyless entry, pushbutton start, remote engine start, Bluetooth, and a rear-view camera. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with an 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen infotainment system and a 7-inch advanced Drive-Assist display. Higher trims included SiriusXM satellite radio, a Bose audio system, and Nissan Door to Door Navigation with a five-year trial to Premium Traffic.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class featured an infotainment setup inspired by the S-Class, with a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 11.9-inch touchscreen angled toward the driver. Standard features included keyless entry, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the MBUX infotainment system with a “Zero Layer” setup. Optional features included a Burmester 3D surround-sound system, head-up display, in-car Wi-Fi hotspot, and augmented-reality navigation system. The voice recognition system and touch controls on the steering wheel were user-friendly, and the augmented-reality navigation system provided helpful turn-by-turn guidance.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, a comprehensive suite of active and passive safety features, standard on all models. This included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, and high-beam assist. The Platinum grade offered ProPilot Assist for highway driving, and an Intelligent Around View Monitor was available. The Altima received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. It came with standard advanced driver-assistance systems, including automatic emergency brake assist, blind-spot monitoring, driver-attention monitor, park assist, and Pre-Safe features. Optional features included lane-keep assist, evasive steering assist, a 360-degree camera system, and Distronic adaptive cruise control. The C-Class also offered Car-to-X communication, which provided real-time information sharing between vehicles.