2023 Nissan Altima vs 2023 Cadillac CT5

The 2023 Cadillac CT5-V was a rare sight on Canadian roads, often turning heads and drawing attention, particularly from male onlookers. The test vehicle's unique light grey metallic colour, known as Rift, and its 19-inch aluminum wheels with a Pearl Nickel finish, stood out in a market dominated by Asian and German luxury cars. Cadillac's attention to detail in the CT5-V's design was evident, with a harmonious blend of black, body colour, chrome, and wheel-like finishes. The CT5-V, positioned between the standard CT5 and the high-performance CT5-V Blackwing, offered a sporty yet luxurious appeal, though its interior quality left room for improvement with a mix of high-end materials and less impressive plastic elements.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Altima aimed to continue its legacy in the family car segment, even as the Maxima faced discontinuation. The Altima's updated front styling, revised grille, and new wheel designs enhanced its visual appeal, especially in higher trims with 19-inch wheels. However, the wheels' flush design made them susceptible to damage. The Altima's interior, while comfortable and straightforward, featured hard plastics and simulated wood trim that detracted from its overall appeal. Despite these drawbacks, the Altima remained a practical choice with its standard all-wheel drive in Canada, though it lacked the variable-compression turbocharged engine available in the U.S.

The 2023 Cadillac CT5-V was powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 engine, delivering 360 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. This output surpassed the base engines of its German competitors like the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, though it fell short of the BMW M340i and Mercedes-AMG C 43. The CT5-V could accelerate to 100 km/h in about five seconds, though it felt slower than it sounded. The car's fuel economy was rated at 11.2 L/100 km in combined driving, with our test achieving 12.1 L/100 km on a mountainous route. The 10-speed automatic transmission, paired with rear-wheel drive, offered several driving modes, including Tour, Sport, Track, My Mode, and V-Mode, allowing for personalized driving experiences. Despite its performance capabilities, the CT5-V's steering lacked feedback, and the car's overall refinement was lacking, with noticeable road noise and suspension issues on imperfect surfaces.

The 2023 Nissan Altima, equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), produced 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. The standard all-wheel drive system could distribute up to half of the engine's output to the rear wheels. The Altima's performance was adequate, with torque arriving at 3,600 rpm, and the CVT mimicking a traditional automatic transmission. Fuel economy ratings were 9.1 L/100 km in the city, 6.5 on the highway, and 7.9 combined for the base trim, with our test averaging 8.6 L/100 km. The Altima's ride was firm, and its steering lacked engagement, though it offered commendable grip and cornering in mountainous terrain. However, the brakes heated up easily, and the car's dynamic character was less engaging compared to its rivals.

The 2023 Cadillac CT5-V offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with standard artificial leather on 18-way power-adjustable front seats. Genuine leather and ventilated front seats were optional, while heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard in Canada. The front seats provided good comfort and support, though the rear seats were less accessible due to the door frame design. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed a slightly reclined backrest and decent knee clearance, though the plastic front seatback panels detracted from the overall quality. The CT5-V's trunk offered just 337 litres of cargo space, with a narrow and small design, though hidden storage and a foldable rear seat added some versatility.

The 2023 Nissan Altima featured a straightforward and comfortable interior, with controls laid out logically and clear analog gauges. Nissan's Zero Gravity seats, designed for comfort, were wrapped in somewhat sticky leather upholstery. The Altima included dual-zone automatic climate control, a power sunroof, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, making entry and exit more challenging. Rear seat comfort was good, with ample legroom and headroom, though the seatbelt buckle anchor could cause discomfort. The Altima's trunk offered 437 litres of cargo space, smaller than some competitors but usefully shaped, though it lacked a handle for easy closure.

The 2023 Cadillac CT5-V featured a user-friendly Cadillac User Experience (CUE) infotainment system with a 10-inch touchscreen and a 12-inch digital instrumentation display. Standard features included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a Bose 15-speaker audio system. The system's simplicity was a highlight, with intuitive controls and easy pairing with smartphones. An optional navigation system, head-up display, and surround-view camera added to the CT5-V's tech offerings, though the lack of embedded navigation in the test car limited voice recognition capabilities.

The 2023 Nissan Altima came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. Higher trims featured a new 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a wireless charging pad. The Altima's infotainment system was a significant improvement, with a better user interface and graphics. The Bose nine-speaker audio system, available on higher trims, performed well for some music genres. The Altima's voice recognition technology was effective, though it couldn't adjust the climate system.

The 2023 Cadillac CT5 included the Cadillac Smart System, offering forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and more. The CT5-V added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and front parking sensors. The optional Super Cruise 1 Package provided hands-free driving assistance on approved highways, with features like automated lane changes and a driver monitoring camera. While Super Cruise was impressive, it required driver attention and had occasional issues with lane changes and highway lane markings.

The 2023 Nissan Altima featured the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. ProPilot Assist, available on higher trims, added adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist. While ProPilot Assist worked well, it needed refinement for smoother operation. The Altima received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, though it had a four-star rating for front passenger frontal impact safety.