2023 Nissan Altima vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI, despite its claim of having all-new body panels, retained a familiar look that might not be immediately distinguishable from its predecessor unless you were a dedicated Volkswagen enthusiast. The eighth-generation GTI was longer and lower, maintaining the same wheelbase of 2,631 millimetres, which contributed to a stable silhouette while preserving the nimbleness and quickness characteristic of earlier models. The styling adhered to the classic GTI form, featuring a smooth hood, a subtle honeycomb-patterned air intake, and the signature red accent line across the front. Aerodynamic enhancements included redesigned side-view mirrors, underbody paneling, and revised wheel-arch linings. The GTI offered a range of wheel sizes and colours, with red brake calipers standard across all trims. Inside, the GTI featured plaid cloth seats on base and Autobahn trims, with Vienna leather on the Performance trim, and retained the classic golf-ball shifter knob for manual transmission models.

The 2023 Nissan Altima showcased updated front styling with a revised grille and new wheel designs, enhancing its visual presence, especially in higher trims with 19-inch wheels. The Altima continued to offer four trims in Canada: S, SR, SR Premium, and Platinum, standing out as the only mid-size sedan with standard all-wheel drive. However, the variable-compression turbocharged engine was exclusive to the U.S. market. The Altima's interior was simple and comfortable, with controls laid out logically and Zero Gravity seats providing exceptional comfort. Despite some hard plastic surfaces, the interior offered features like dual-zone climate control, a power sunroof, and heated front seats. The Altima's trunk provided 437 litres of cargo space, smaller than some competitors but usefully shaped. The rear seat comfort was good, with ample legroom and headroom, although some design choices, like the floor mats and seatbelt buckle anchor, were less than ideal.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI boasted a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, with peak torque available at a low 1,750 rpm. This power was delivered to the front wheels via a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The GTI's fuel consumption was estimated at 9.3 L/100 km in the city and 7.0 on the highway with the automatic transmission. The GTI featured a retuned suspension with a lighter front assembly and stiffer rear springs, enhancing its handling capabilities. Various drive modes and a standard electronic torque-sensing limited-slip differential contributed to its agile performance. The top-tier Performance trim offered the DCC adaptive damping system, allowing for precise adjustments to the suspension.

The 2023 Nissan Altima was equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), producing 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. The standard all-wheel-drive system could deliver up to half of the engine's output to the rear wheels. The Altima's fuel economy was rated at 9.1 L/100 km in the city and 6.5 on the highway for the base trim. The CVT was programmed to mimic a traditional automatic transmission, and the SR Premium trim included paddle shifters for added driver engagement. The Altima's performance was adequate, though the ride was firm, and the steering lacked engagement. The brakes, while feeling good underfoot, showed signs of heating up easily. The Altima's handling was commendable, with good grip and a flat cornering attitude, but it lacked the dynamic character of some rivals.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI offered 564 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 977 litres with the rear seats folded. The GTI's interior was driver-centric, with a centre stack angled toward the driver and a unique "light and sight" panel for adjusting headlights and defogging settings. Rear legroom was surprisingly generous, making the GTI suitable for transporting a family of four.

The 2023 Nissan Altima's interior was simple and comfortable, with controls laid out logically and Zero Gravity seats providing exceptional comfort. The Altima offered features like dual-zone climate control, a power sunroof, and heated front seats. However, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, making entry and exit more challenging. The Altima's trunk provided 437 litres of cargo space, smaller than some competitors but usefully shaped. Rear seat comfort was good, with ample legroom and headroom, although some design choices, like the floor mats and seatbelt buckle anchor, were less than ideal.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI featured a fully digital driver information display with customizable gauge displays and ambient lighting profiles. The infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen in the base trim and a 10-inch display with navigation in higher trims. Standard features included Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth connectivity. The Performance trim offered a 9-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system. Volkswagen's Car-Net system provided remote access features.

The 2023 Nissan Altima came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard, offering Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The SR Premium and Platinum trims featured a new 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. NissanConnect Services required a subscription and offered features like remote engine starting. The Bose nine-speaker audio system was available on higher trims, and the new infotainment system represented a significant improvement over previous versions.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI offered the IQ.Drive suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. However, IQ.Drive was only available on automatic GTIs. Park Distance Control was standard on all trims, with Park Assist available on the Performance trim. The GTI had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2023 Nissan Altima featured the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. ProPilot Assist was available on SR Premium and Platinum trims, offering adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The Altima received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS, though it received a Poor rating in the updated IIHS side-impact test.