2023 Subaru WRX vs 2023 Nissan Altima

The 2023 Nissan Altima continued Nissan's legacy in the family car segment, offering a sizable four-door sedan even as the Maxima faced discontinuation. The Altima featured updated front styling with a revised grille and new wheel designs, enhancing its visual presence, especially in higher trims with 19-inch wheels. However, the stylish wheels were prone to curb damage due to their flush design. In Canada, the Altima was available in four trims: S, SR, SR Premium, and Platinum, and stood out as the only mid-size sedan with standard all-wheel drive. Despite its appealing interior, the Altima's use of hard plastics and simulated wood trim reminded drivers of its mainstream status.

The 2023 Subaru WRX, no longer sharing its design with the Impreza, presented a distinct compact sedan look with a wide-body style and signature hood scoop. Its design linked it visually to the Subaru Crosstrek and Outback, maintaining the tuner aesthetic associated with Japanese performance cars. The WRX's interior was basic but durable, with the top Sport-Tech trim offering Ultrasuede upholstery and adjustable seats. While the WRX's exterior styling clearly conveyed its performance capabilities, the interior lacked some ergonomic conveniences, such as adequate phone storage.

The 2023 Nissan Altima in Canada was equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT. The AWD system could deliver 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 city, 6.5 highway, and 7.9 combined for the base trim. The Altima's ride was firm, with poor rear visibility and some noise at highway speeds. In mountainous areas, it showed commendable grip but lacked engaging dynamics.

The 2023 Subaru WRX featured a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. It offered more power than a Volkswagen Golf GTI but less than a Golf R. The WRX's AWD system and standard summer tires provided excellent grip, and it came with a 6-speed manual or optional CVT. The CVT, branded as Subaru Performance Transmission, offered quick throttle responses but included fake shift shocks. The WRX was quiet and comfortable for daily driving, with a muted driving experience that lacked the exuberance of some competitors.

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 offered dual-zone climate control, a power sunroof, and heated front seats, but the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. Rear seat comfort was good, with ample legroom and headroom. The trunk offered 437 litres of cargo space, smaller than some competitors, and lacked a handle for easy closing.

The 2023 Subaru WRX, as a compact sedan, offered practicality with slightly more front headroom and legroom than a Honda Civic Si. Its trunk space was 354 litres, less than the Civic Si but more than the Volkswagen Jetta GLI. The WRX maintained good outward visibility with low window-sill lines and thin roof pillars. However, it lacked adequate phone storage, with the typical spot under the touchscreen being too small for modern smartphones.

The 2023 Nissan Altima in Canada came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. A new 12.3-inch touchscreen was available on higher trims, featuring navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a wireless charging pad. The Bose nine-speaker audio system was available on SR Premium and Platinum trims, performing well for some music types. The new infotainment system was a significant improvement, with a superior user interface and voice recognition technology.

The 2023 Subaru WRX's Starlink infotainment system included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Base models had dual 7-inch touchscreens, while higher trims featured an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen. The larger screen was easy to read, but physical buttons were missed. The interface for SiriusXM required multiple steps, and the system took time to load on startup. The top Sport-Tech trim included an 11-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

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 was available on higher trims, offering adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The Altima received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS, though it received a Poor rating in the updated side-impact test.

The 2023 Subaru WRX offered EyeSight driver assist technology with the CVT, including adaptive cruise control, lane-centring, and forward collision warning. Other safety features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The WRX received top "Good" scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.