2023 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2022 Nissan Altima

The 2022 Nissan Altima showcased how much the model had evolved since its inception in 1993. Initially characterized by bland, softly rounded front and rear exterior styling, the Altima underwent a significant transformation with its third generation in 2002, adopting a more aggressive and sporty look. The 2022 Altima, part of the sixth generation, stayed true to this sporty aesthetic, further enhanced by the distinguished V-Motion grille that adorned the front of all Nissan sedans and SUVs. This grille, combined with tall doors, creased body lines, and a sharply sloped "floating" roofline, gave the Altima a quite commanding presence on the road.

The Midnight Edition, featured on the SR trim of our test vehicle, included an array of stylistic upgrades. At $1,750, the package added gloss black-painted sport grille, 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, moonroof, and other aesthetic enhancements that amplified the Altima's already sporty demeanor. The Gun Metallic paint of the test vehicle blended seamlessly with the Midnight Edition's blacked-out features, making for a visually appealing package. Inside, the Altima impressed with its Zero Gravity front seats, well-organized instrument panel, and high-quality materials, especially on the higher trims like the SR and above. However, lower trims didn’t boast the same level of refinement.

Contrastingly, the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta's appearance was more subdued. While traditionally Volkswagens have been styled conservatively, the current-generation Jetta seemed to have lost some of the simplicity and purity of previous generations. Particularly, the styling post a recent refresh still felt rather bland and didn’t appeal to those seeking something visually stimulating. However, the interior of the Jetta SEL trim attempted to elevate the driver's experience with features borrowed from VW's luxury brand, Audi, including ambient lighting, genuine leather upholstery, and larger screens for both instrumentation and infotainment.

The exterior styling of the Jetta remained inoffensive but lacked the striking elements found in competitors, making its visual appeal a personal preference. Yet, the 2023 Jetta made up some ground inside the cabin, delivering a level of luxury and a tactile feel that belied its price tag. The flat hood, thin windshield pillars, and large side mirrors offered an expansive view, though the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, leading to some discomfort for occupants.

The 2022 Nissan Altima offered two four-cylinder engines: a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated unit delivering 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.0-liter variable-compression turbo (VC-Turbo) producing 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. While the base engine could be paired with either FWD or AWD, the more powerful VC-Turbo was limited to the FWD SR trim. Both engines were mated to Nissan's Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The advanced VC-Turbo engine introduced in 2019 allowed for variable compression ratios, providing a mix of high performance and fuel efficiency. However, our test car came with the base 2.5-liter engine, which delivered mediocre zero-to-60 mph acceleration and a fair amount of engine noise, despite its AWD capability. The CVT struggled to bring urgency to the otherwise efficient and comfortable ride. Nevertheless, the Altima's suspension, smooth ride, and quiet cabin were impressive, thanks to innovations like Active Ride Control and overall excellent build quality.

In comparison, the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta came equipped with a modest 1.5-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that generated 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The SE and SEL trims featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the S and Sport trims offered a six-speed manual option. The automatic transmission included a Sport mode that, when engaged, helped address some of the powertrain's laggy behavior.

Despite some issues with turbo lag and occasional surges in power, the Jetta's lightweight and nimble character made it enjoyable to drive, especially in urban settings. The Jetta SEL handled well, thanks to accurate steering, faithful brakes, and predictable handling, offering a sense of German engineering finesse. However, the automatic’s throttle response was less satisfactory, with evident delays that sometimes led to overcorrection or unintended acceleration, particularly troubling in tight turns. Nonetheless, the car performed admirably on mountain roads, demonstrating its ability to inspire confidence in varied driving conditions.

The 2022 Nissan Altima catered to the needs of a typical midsize sedan buyer. It offered comfortable seating for four adults, with space for a fifth on shorter journeys. The trunk sized at 15.4 cubic feet was competent, though smaller than those in some rivals like the Honda Accord or Hyundai Sonata but larger than that of the Toyota Camry. With a 16.2-gallon fuel tank, it boasted the largest capacity in its class. However, a high rear shelf and sloping roofline hampered rearward visibility, making it difficult to monitor traffic behind the car. Trunk loading also had its quirks, as metal bar supports could potentially crush items when closing the trunk lid.

On the other hand, the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta bridged the gap between compact and midsize segments. Its cabin provided ample legroom and headroom for four adults, with the possibility of squeezing in a fifth for short trips. The interior was well-appointed with practical storage solutions, including a large bin under the center armrest, a sizeable glove box, and generous door storage. The trunk offered 14.1 cubic feet of space, facilitating easy loading and the ability to accommodate full-size suitcases and other large items, thanks to its practical design and 60/40-split folding rear seats.

The 2022 Nissan Altima came in various trims, each offering a progressively richer set of technologies. The base S trim had a 5-inch multi-function driver display and a 7-inch touchscreen audio system with basic features like Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, and a single USB port. Higher trims featured an 8-inch color touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and multiple USB ports. Premium trims included a nine-speaker Bose audio system, navigation, and advanced connected services. The advanced drive-assist display was handy for managing text messages, streaming audio, and navigation without taking hands off the wheel.

Advanced noise cancellation technology, available on the SR VC-Turbo, transmitted sound waves through the car's speakers to counteract unwanted noise. Higher trims also offered Nissan's ProPilot Assist, a semi-autonomous driving technology using a suite of cameras, radar, and sensors to aid with acceleration, steering, and braking under certain conditions. Though our test car lacked ProPilot Assist, the infotainment and audio systems worked seamlessly during the test drive, delivering a user-friendly and engaging experience.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta SEL featured more upscale tech, starting with a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro, designed to replace the standard 8-inch screen. The infotainment system came with an 8.0-inch touchscreen, providing a sophisticated interface with proximity sensing, and physical knobs for volume and menu functions. The wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were highlights, as was the intuitive SiriusXM 360L premium satellite radio service.

However, the infotainment had its quirks, such as requiring the display of the radio screen before changing stations and needing more inputs than expected for tuning. Voice recognition, while functional for basic commands, was less advanced than expected without subscribing to Car-Net connected service upgrades. Car-Net offered valuable features like a Wi-Fi hotspot, remote engine start, and automatic collision notification but required additional payment for enhanced functionality. The Beats Audio premium sound system provided in the SEL trim was less impressive compared to previous collaborations with Fender, leaving some room for improvement.

The 2022 Nissan Altima came well-equipped with standard driver-assist technologies, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, and forward collision warning. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights, driver attention warning, Rear View Monitor, rear door alert, and hill-start assist. From the SV trim onwards, Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 suite added rear automatic braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and a rear sonar system. The base S trim could be upgraded with a Driver Assist package for these additional safety features.

NHTSA awarded the FWD 2022 Altima a five-star rating for overall crash protection, front crash protection, side crash protection, and rollover resistance, though no separate ratings were provided for the AWD version. IIHS granted the Altima "Top Safety Pick+" status, with top ratings in all six crash tests and high marks for crash avoidance and mitigation.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta came with IQ.Drive, a bundle of advanced driving assistance systems that included Travel Assist and Emergency Assist. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist, offering a smooth semi-autonomous driving experience. Emergency Assist could bring the car to a safe stop if the driver became unresponsive, a rare feature in this segment.

While the NHTSA gave the Jetta a five-star overall rating, it received four stars for frontal-impact protection. IIHS ratings were less favorable, particularly in a moderate overlap frontal-impact crash test, and the standard and available headlights did not impress the agency.