2021 Nissan Altima vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI

The 2021 Nissan Altima showcased a strong family identity with its bold V-Motion grille, available in chrome or dark chrome, and 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 had more folds than curves, lending it a taut, trim essence, although the extended overhangs and short dash-to-axle distance made it appear slightly old-fashioned. Modern touches like standard LED lighting and wheel options ranging from 16-inch steel to 19-inch alloy kept the look contemporary. The Altima's fit and finish were exceptional, with deep lustrous paint and rich chrome details, available in nine exterior colors with some premium options.

Inside, the Altima's dashboard was uncluttered and intelligently laid out, featuring a standard 8-inch touchscreen display positioned for optimal safety and convenience. The instrument panel was shrouded to reduce glare, making it easy to read in various lighting conditions. While the base model felt a bit stripped-down, higher trims offered improved interior materials, including stitching on the dash and seats, enhancing the overall hand feel. The Altima was a prime example of getting what you pay for, with higher trims offering more luxurious features.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI, although featuring all-new body panels, retained a familiar look that might not be immediately distinguishable from its predecessor to the untrained eye. The new GTI was longer and lower, maintaining a 103.6-inch wheelbase, which contributed to a stable silhouette while preserving its nimble and quick handling. The styling followed the classic GTI form, with a smoothly cascading hood and a subtle honeycomb-patterned air intake below the VW emblem. The signature red accent line now ran the full length between the LED headlights, with an optional light bar adding drama to the front end. Standard LED fog lights and extensive aerodynamic work, including redesigned side-view mirrors and underbody paneling, enhanced its sleek appearance.

Every GTI came with red brake calipers, with wheel sizes varying by trim: 18-inch alloys on S and SE trims, and 19-inch wheels on the Autobahn trim. The GTI was available in staple colors like silver, black, and white, with fun additions like Atlantic Blue Metallic, Kings Red Metallic, and Moonstone Gray. The Autobahn trim offered Pomelo Yellow Metallic as a launch option, with limited availability. Inside, the GTI featured plaid cloth seats as standard on S and SE trims, with Vienna leather available on SE and standard on Autobahn. The classic golf-ball shifter knob was retained for manual transmission models, and all trims included stainless steel pedals.

The 2021 Nissan Altima offered a dual personality with its powertrains. Most configurations featured a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all but the base S trim. The AWD system could send up to 50% of torque to the rear wheels when needed. Fuel economy for the FWD model was rated at 28 mpg city, 39 highway, and 32 combined, while the AWD model achieved 25 mpg city, 35 highway, and 29 combined.

The standout was the VC-Turbo engine, exclusive to the Altima SR VC-Turbo trim. This turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine used variable compression technology to dynamically adjust the compression ratio, delivering 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. Available only with FWD, the VC-Turbo achieved 25 mpg city, 34 highway, and 29 combined. Despite a slight weight difference, the VC-Turbo provided a much livelier driving experience. All Altima models featured four-wheel independent suspension, with the VC-Turbo’s suspension being sport-tuned, although the difference was subtle. The electric-powered steering offered decent feedback and feel.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI, powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivered 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This updated EA888 engine featured integrated exhaust headers for better heat management and quicker warm-up. The torque peak at 1,750 rpm made the GTI exceptionally fun to drive, especially on curving roads. Power was sent to the front wheels via a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (DSG) with paddle shifters. The GTI’s fuel economy was rated at 24 mpg city, 34 highway, and 28 combined with the manual, and 25/34/28 with the automatic.

The Mk8 GTI featured a retuned suspension, with a lighter front assembly and stiffer rear springs. Various drive modes allowed for Eco, Comfort, or Sport settings, and a standard electronic torque-sensing limited-slip differential worked with the electronic stability control to reduce understeer. The GTI handled corners smoothly and accelerated with minimal traction loss. The top-tier Autobahn trim included the DCC adaptive damping system, capable of 200 adjustments per second, enhancing the driving experience further.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan’s Zero Gravity front seats, praised for their comfort on long drives. Upper trims offered power adjustment, position memory, leather appointments, and electric heating. The front cabin included ample storage, with a large glovebox, center console storage bin, cupholders, and door pockets. The second row was roomy enough for two adults or three for short rides, with a 60/40 split-folding seat for trunk access. The trunk offered 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI balanced performance and practicality, with 19.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 34.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The GTI’s center stack was angled toward the driver, featuring a “light and sight” panel for easy adjustment of headlights and defogging settings. Rear legroom was surprisingly generous, making the GTI suitable for a family of four.

The 2021 Nissan Altima came standard with Nissan Intelligent Key, pushbutton start, remote engine start, Bluetooth, cruise control, HomeLink, rear-view camera, Siri Eyes Free, Google Assistant Voice Recognition, and streaming audio/hands-free phone with Bluetooth. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on all but the S model. The base touchscreen was 7 inches, with an 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen on higher trims. A 5-inch multi-function display was standard on the S, while other models had a 7-inch advanced Drive-Assist display. Higher trims included additional USB ports, SiriusXM satellite radio, a Bose audio system, and Active Noise Cancellation with the VC-Turbo engine. Nissan Door to Door Navigation and NissanConnect Services were available on higher trims.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI featured a fully digital 10.25-inch driver information display, customizable with various gauge displays and ambient lighting profiles. The infotainment system included an 8.25-inch touchscreen on the S trim and a 10-inch display with navigation on SE and Autobahn trims. Standard features included Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth connectivity. The SE and Autobahn trims offered a 9-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system. Volkswagen’s Car-Net system provided various services, some at additional costs, including Remote Access, Safe and Secure, Hotspot, Plus Nav, Plus Speech, and Plus Online Radio.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, standard on SV and above, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, and high-beam assist. ProPilot Assist, available on higher trims, offered semi-autonomous driving capabilities, including intelligent forward collision warning, intelligent lane intervention, traffic sign recognition, intelligent driver alertness, and adaptive cruise control. The Intelligent Around View Monitor was available on upper trims. The Altima received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick + rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI featured IQ.Drive, offering adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear traffic alert, available only on automatic models. Park Distance Control was standard on all trims, with Park Assist available on the Autobahn trim. The GTI had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.