2023 Nissan Altima vs 2023 Nissan Versa

The 2023 Nissan Altima continued Nissan's legacy in the family car segment, building on over 50 years of experience. With the Maxima's impending discontinuation, the Altima aimed to fill the gap with its updated front styling, featuring a revised grille and new wheel designs. The higher trim levels, equipped with 19-inch wheels, enhanced the Altima's visual appeal, although the wheels' flush design made them susceptible to damage. In Canada, the Altima was available in four trims: S, SR, SR Premium, and Platinum, and stood out as the only mid-size sedan offering standard all-wheel drive. However, the variable-compression turbocharged engine was exclusive to the U.S. market. Prices ranged from $31,198 to $37,398, excluding a destination charge. The interior, while stylish, was marred by hard plastics, though the new double-stitched seams added a touch of sophistication.

The 2023 Nissan Versa borrowed design elements from its larger siblings, the Sentra and Altima, giving it a more upscale appearance. The V-Motion grille and floating roof design contributed to its modern look. The Versa's sleek profile and wide stance, along with its well-sized wheels, made it appear more like a traditional sedan than an economy car. For 2023, the Versa received styling updates, including a more elaborate grille and new wheel designs for the SR model. The interior showcased creativity, with large round air vents and an elaborate dashboard. Despite being a budget model, the fit and finish were commendable. The SR trim added red stitching and upholstery inserts, reminiscent of the early 2000s Sentra SE-R. The SV and SR trims offered additional convenience features, such as heated front seats and automatic climate control.

The 2023 Nissan Altima in Canada featured 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 CVT was programmed to mimic a traditional automatic transmission, and the SR Premium trim included paddle shifters for added driver engagement. 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 slightly higher figures for the SR, SR Premium, and Platinum trims. The Altima's performance was adequate, though the ride was firm, and road noise was noticeable at highway speeds. Rear visibility was poor, necessitating reliance on the reversing camera and rear cross-traffic alert system. In mountainous terrain, the Altima displayed commendable grip, but the steering felt lifeless, and the brakes heated up easily.

The 2023 Nissan Versa featured a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with front-wheel drive, producing 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. The CVT was standard, as the five-speed manual transmission was discontinued. The Versa's performance was satisfactory, with the CVT being fairly responsive. Handling was characterized by body roll in corners, but the car maintained remarkable grip. The steering was responsive, enhancing the nimbleness of the sedan. The Versa offered a comfortable ride, with the suspension effectively cushioning impacts. Cabin noise levels were lower than expected for an entry-level model. Overall, the Versa felt more substantial than typical subcompact cars, with handling and refinement that exceeded expectations.

The 2023 Nissan Altima's interior was simple and comfortable, with controls laid out logically. The Zero Gravity seats were exceptionally comfortable, though the leather upholstery was somewhat sticky. The Altima featured 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 challenging. The floor mats were difficult to release, posing a potential safety hazard. Rear seat comfort was good, with ample legroom and headroom. The trunk offered 437 litres of cargo space, though smaller than some competitors. The lack of a handle to close the trunk lid was a minor inconvenience.

The 2023 Nissan Versa, available only as a four-door sedan, offered 416 litres of trunk space in the base S trim and 425 litres in the SV and SR trims. The Versa provided more cargo space than the Kia Rio sedan. Front-seat occupants enjoyed more headroom and legroom than the Kia, though rear-seat space was slightly less. The front row felt spacious, with good outward visibility. However, the centre console bin was small, and the shifter's raised platform wasn't the best use of space. The optional wireless charging pad was conveniently tucked away.

The 2023 Nissan Altima in Canada came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. A new 12.3-inch touchscreen was available with SR Premium and Platinum trims, offering wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. The 12.3-inch system represented a significant improvement, with a superior user interface and appealing graphics. The Bose nine-speaker audio system was available with higher trims, though performance varied. The Altima also featured a power/volume knob and tuning buttons for convenience.

The 2023 Nissan Versa's base S trim included a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, three USB ports, and keyless entry. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available with the SV and SR trims. The SV added a 7-inch driver-information display and a wireless phone charging pad, while the SR featured an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, and a six-speaker audio system. The touchscreens were small by current standards, and the graphics appeared outdated. However, the digital instrument cluster display added a touch of sophistication, and the phone charging indicator was a practical feature.

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

The 2023 Nissan Versa exceeded expectations with standard driver-assist tech, including automatic emergency braking, rear automatic braking, lane-departure warning, and high beam assist. The SV trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The NHTSA gave the Versa a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in side-impact crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover categories. The IIHS hadn't published updated safety ratings for the 2023 Versa, but previous versions received Good ratings in older crash tests.