2022 Hyundai Elantra vs 2022 Nissan Altima

Back in the day, the Hyundai Elantra’s looks could be best described as polite yet unremarkable. It soldiered on year after year, blending into its environment, neither offending nor impressing. With the 2021 redesign for the seventh generation, Hyundai transformed the Elantra into a striking beauty. This new Elantra flaunted a longer wheelbase, wider stance, and lower roofline, generating a dramatic four-door-coupe silhouette that caught eyes.

The Elantra’s exterior styling drew inspiration from the midsize Sonata but managed to carve out a unique presence with features like a low-slung coupe-like look and distinctive “Z” creases along the sides. The interior followed suit with noteworthy improvements. Material quality and aesthetics were generally above the compact car class norm, though some hard plastic elements were present. The tradeoff for these minor downsides was a car loaded with tech, starting around $20,000.

In 2022, the Hyundai Elantra was available in SE, SEL, N Line, and Limited trims, with the sporty N Line featuring unique design elements like chrome twin-tip exhausts and 18-inch alloy wheels. Our test car, a Scarlet Red Pearl 2022 Elantra N Line, sported an interior imbued with a black headliner, aluminum pedals, and embossed sport seats. Despite these sporty touches, the overall look and feel were practical and user-friendly.

Conversely, the Nissan Altima had a storied evolution since its 1993 inception. Initially featuring unassuming, rounded styling, this changed with the third generation's sportier look in 2002. The 2022 Altima, part of the sixth generation, continued this trend with five trim levels: S, SV, SR, SL, and Platinum.

At the forefront of the Altima’s aesthetics was Nissan’s signature V-Motion grille, combined with a wide stance, tall doors, creased body lines, and a floating roofline. While the floating roofline felt a bit gimmicky, the Midnight Edition on our SR trim, painted Gun Metallic, truly enhanced the car’s appearance. With gloss black accents and 19-inch wheels, the package provided a strong, sporty visual impact.

The Altima’s interior boasted high-quality material use in higher trims, with the Zero Gravity front seats, instrument panel layout, and center stack praised for their comfort and usability. Despite its practical benefits, the Altima didn’t particularly stand out in a crowded segment dominated by competitors like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra provided various powertrain options. The standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine on SE, SEL, and Limited trims produced 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque paired with a CVT. Its fuel economy was a highlight, although the engine's buzz could become apparent during aggressive driving.

The Elantra Hybrid combined a 1.6-liter engine with a 32-kW electric motor, generating 139 hp and up to 195 lb-ft of torque, mated to a six-speed DCT for a better driving experience. The performance-focused N Line offered a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine producing 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, available with either a manual or a seven-speed DCT with manual shift mode. This sporty variant impressed with its sport-tuned suspension, larger brake rotors, and multi-link rear suspension, though the sport seats could be tiring over long distances.

The 2022 Nissan Altima also offered diverse engine choices. It featured a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 188 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque, as well as a 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine delivering 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. The former was available with both FWD and AWD, while the more powerful VC-Turbo came only with FWD. Both were equipped with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT.

Our test model with the 2.5-liter engine and AWD offered mediocre acceleration but excelled in ride quality and cabin quietness. The more advanced VC-Turbo engine demonstrated impressive power adjustments for performance and efficiency, yet was exclusive to the SR trim and unavailable with AWD. The Altima’s performance highlighted a balanced ride but lacked the verve of a sportier machine like the Elantra N Line.

The Hyundai Elantra’s compact size made it ideal for tight urban spaces, with generous storage options and user-friendly instrumentation. The interior provided good outward visibility, although taller adults might find the rear seat headroom limited due to the sloped roof. Despite a smallish cargo space of 14.2 cubic feet, it efficiently handled a family’s luggage. There were a few drawbacks, like a noisy moonroof when fully open and lack of USB ports and air vents for the rear passengers.

In comparison, the Nissan Altima offered balanced dimensions in the midsize sedan category. It provided comfortable seating for up to five, though it was more suited for four. The Altima came with a sizable 15.4 cubic feet of trunk space, more than the Elantra but smaller compared to the Accord and Sonata. The high rear shelf compromised rear visibility, but the rear camera offered a remedy. Additionally, the trunk’s metal support bars posed a risk of crushing items when closing the lid.

Technology was a strong suit for the 2022 Hyundai Elantra. Even the base SE came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and dual USB ports. Higher trims like Limited and Hybrid Limited boasted a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, an eight-speaker Bose audio system, and a fully digital instrument cluster. The availability of Hyundai Digital Key on higher trims allowed smartphone-based vehicle access, albeit exclusively for Android users.

The 2022 Nissan Altima's tech started with a basic 7-inch touchscreen in the S trim but expanded to an 8-inch display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on higher trims. Many trims included a nine-speaker Bose audio system, navigation, and advanced connected services. Active noise cancellation was a notable feature in the VC-Turbo trim. The ProPilot Assist system, available on higher trims, offered advanced driver aids like adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and automated braking.

Hyundai packed the Elantra with its standard SmartSense suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and lane-keeping assistance. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and Highway Drive Assist. The Elantra earned five stars for overall crash protection from the NHTSA and top “Good” ratings in all IIHS crash tests, though lower trims received lower ratings for headlights.

The 2022 Nissan Altima also offered robust safety features. Standard across the range were automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and driver-attention warning. Higher trims included Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 with rear automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring. It garnered five stars for overall safety from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.