2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Toyota Camry

The 2021 Toyota Camry aimed to break away from its reputation as the unassuming, generic family sedan that many associated with driver’s ed textbooks. Designers went all out, incorporating an array of styling details. Flared wheel arches and thin headlights and taillights gave the car a broader visual stance. Yet, certain trims like the SE, XSE, and TRD added fake vents that added unnecessary visual complexity. The LE and XLE trims featured a cleaner, although still massive, grille. Sharing the TNGA-K platform with models like the Avalon sedan and RAV4 SUV, the Camry emphasized rigidity and a solid build.

For 2021, minor tweaks were made to the front fascia for various trims, but the aesthetic differences were subtle. The TRD model stood out with unique design elements like a larger rear spoiler. The Nightshade Edition, based on the SE trim, offered a blacked-out appearance with darkened exterior trim and wheels. Standard 17-inch alloy wheels adorned the base LE trim, while 18-inch and 19-inch wheels were available for other trims.

Inside, the Camry's dashboard had a disjointed feel, almost as if assembled from parts of two different cars. Materials included contrast stitching, piano black plastic, and faux carbon fiber, but without a cohesive theme. Although higher trims like the XLE and XSE benefited from leather upholstery, the overall material quality was less than premium, giving an impression of cost-cutting.

Nissan's 2021 Altima sported a sharper family identity, thanks to the prominent V-Motion grille. Available in chrome or dark chrome finishes, it carried the Nissan logo at its center and added a touch of elegance. The Altima's silhouette was sleek and aerodynamic, reminiscent of a coupe, contrasting the more upright stance of traditional sedans. Its sheet metal construction featured pronounced folds instead of curves, giving it a taut and trim essence.

While the Altima’s design placed a lot of car body before and after the wheels—an old-fashioned aesthetic in today's trend of pushing wheels to the edges—it still managed a modern look with elements like standard LED lighting and variable wheel sizes from 16-inch to 19-inch alloy wheels.

A highlight was the Altima’s fit and finish. The paint was deep and lustrous with rich chrome trims that added to its premium feel. Offered in nine distinct colors, some of which had vibrant names like “Sunset Drift ChromaFlair,” the color palette allowed for personalization, though some premium shades carried a $395 surcharge.

The interior was intelligently designed with an uncluttered dashboard. The standard 8-inch touchscreen was well positioned, making it easily accessible and reducing driver distraction. Higher trim levels offered improvements in material quality with added stitching and better tactile feedback, creating an upscale feel in the cabin.

The 2021 Toyota Camry offered a range of powertrain options starting with the base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Known as the Dynamic Force engine, it delivered 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque on FWD models, and 202 hp and 182 lb-ft with AWD. XSE models with FWD received a slight boost to 206 hp and 186 lb-ft, thanks to a dual-exhaust system. Regardless of trim or drivetrain, the engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Despite most competitors adopting smaller turbocharged engines, Toyota offered a naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V6 producing 301 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque, mated to the same eight-speed automatic. The 2021 Camry Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter engine with electric assist, offering 208 total system horsepower, though only in FWD.

Our test model, the SE Nightshade Edition, came with the base four-cylinder and AWD. Surprisingly, this combination was quite spirited, offering a lively, rev-happy character more akin to a sporty hot hatch than a family sedan. The suspension balance struck a fine line between comfort and handling, making driving both enjoyable and smooth, though it lacked the sharpness of rivals like the Honda Accord or Mazda 6.

The TRD model was the sportier sibling, offering enhancements like lower, stiffer suspension, larger brakes, and sport-tuned shocks, further amplifying the Camry’s driving appeal. AWD, reintroduced in 2020 and derived from the RAV4, could send up to 50% of torque to the rear wheels or switch to FWD to save fuel, without compromising cabin or cargo space.

The 2021 Nissan Altima offered two distinct powertrains. Most trims came with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT and offered FWD as standard, with AWD available on all but the base S trim. Fuel economy was commendable, boasting 28 mpg city/39 mpg highway/32 mpg combined with FWD and 25 mpg city/35 mpg highway/29 mpg combined with AWD.

However, the real highlight was the optional VC-Turbo engine, available exclusively on the SR VC-Turbo trim. This 2.0-liter turbocharged engine featured a unique variable compression system, delivering an impressive 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque on premium gas. This setup combined power and efficiency, achieving almost identical fuel economy figures to the AWD models (25 mpg city/34 mpg highway/29 mpg combined).

The Altima’s driving dynamics were solid. The regular models provided a balanced ride with commendable handling, while the VC-Turbo added more excitement thanks to its increased power. The sport-tuned suspension of the VC-Turbo trim, though not significantly different from the standard setup, offered enough to make the VC-Turbo a better performer overall.

Compared to its midsize sedan competitors, the 2021 Toyota Camry excelled in rear-seat headroom and legroom, though this came at a slight cost to front-seat space. Despite that, the front seats were highly adjustable, comfortable, and supportive, ensuring a good driving position. Outward visibility was also excellent.

With a trunk capacity of 15.1 cubic feet, the Camry offered average cargo space, falling short compared to the Honda Accord’s 16.7 cubic feet. In-cabin storage was limited, with small cupholders and door bins that sometimes trapped items in crevices. The dashboard layout included practical analog controls, such as large, rubber-gripped knobs for audio volume and tuning. Despite their convenience, their placement on the center stack made some controls hard to reach from the driver’s seat. Higher trims offered dual-zone automatic climate control for added comfort.

Nissan's 2021 Altima featured highly praised Zero Gravity front seats that delivered exceptional comfort, even on long trips. Higher trims added power adjustments, memory settings, leather upholstery, and seat heaters.

The Altima’s cabin provided ample storage solutions, including a spacious glovebox, a large center console storage bin, two console cupholders, and sizeable door pockets. The rear seats offered good comfort and room for two adults, three if necessary for short journeys. A 60/40 split allowed the rear seats to fold almost flat, enhancing the trunk space which offered 15.4 cubic feet, marginally more than the Camry’s capacity.

In the 2021 Toyota Camry, the standard infotainment system featured a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Alexa compatibility, Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free voice control, and a three-month trial of SiriusXM satellite radio. Higher trims upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen, built-in navigation, WiFi for up to five devices, and a nine-speaker JBL audio system. Additionally, a 10-inch head-up display was available on the XSE and XLE trims.

Standard USB and 12-volt outlets were provided, all located conveniently ahead of the shifter. While the touchscreen interface was easy to navigate, the graphics were somewhat plain, emphasizing function over aesthetics.

Nissan equipped the 2021 Altima with a robust set of tech features, even at the base level. Every model came with Nissan Intelligent Key and pushbutton start, remote engine start, Bluetooth, cruise control, HomeLink, rear-view camera, Siri Eyes Free, and Google Assistant Voice Recognition. Most trims except the base S included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 7-inch advanced Drive-Assist display came standard on all but the S trim, which featured a 5-inch display.

The Altima's tech setup also featured two USB ports, two USB-C ports, and an auxiliary input on all but the S trim. Upper trims added a Bose audio system and Active Noise Cancellation with the VC-Turbo engine. Additionally, Nissan Door to Door Navigation with traffic updates and NissanConnect services were standard or optional on higher trims, providing advanced connectivity and convenience.

The 2021 Toyota Camry received top-tier safety ratings, including a “Top Safety Pick+” from the IIHS and the highest five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard across all models was the TSS 2.5+ suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and traffic-sign recognition. Enhancements for 2021 included more intuitive adaptive cruise control and improved forward-collision warning capabilities.

New for 2021, Toyota introduced a Rear Seat Reminder as standard to prevent leaving children or pets unattended in the back seats. Additionally, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available as standalone options, standard on the XLE and XSE trims, and optional on the LE and SE grades.

The 2021 Nissan Altima also prioritized safety with its Safety Shield 360 suite, standard on every SV trim and above. This package included features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, and high-beam assist.

Nissan’s ProPilot Assist, available on higher trims, enhanced highway driving ease with adaptive cruise control, intelligent forward collision warning, lane intervention, traffic sign recognition, and driver alertness monitoring. An Intelligent Around View Monitor was also available, offering a composite 360-degree overhead view to simplify parking.

The 2021 Altima earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.