2023 Nissan Altima vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class retained its fantastic look from the previous year’s complete makeover. Despite the growing popularity of SUVs, the S-Class sedan continued to impress with its sleek design and elegant proportions, particularly the long distance between the front axle and the dashboard. The car’s exterior, characterized by a proud Mercedes-Benz grille and star hood ornament, exuded a sense of luxury and lineage.

Inside, the S-Class offered a waterfall of open-pore wood trim and a 12.8-inch touchscreen in the center stack, complemented by a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. The cabin was dressed in high-quality materials, meticulously fitted and assembled, providing a luxurious and comfortable environment for both driver and passengers.

The 2023 Nissan Altima, building on over 50 years of family car heritage, introduced updated front styling, new wheel designs, and two new paint colors. The higher trim levels, especially with 19-inch wheels, enhanced the Altima’s visual presence, though the stylish wheels on the SL trim appeared vulnerable to damage. The Altima SL, one of the upscale trims, offered a more luxurious experience, while the SR VC-Turbo trim provided a more powerful turbocharged engine.

The Altima’s interior, though featuring some hard plastic, was comfortable and functional. The Gray leather option added a high-contrast two-tone appearance, and the new double-stitched seams improved the overall look. However, the simulated wood dashboard trim was less convincing. The Altima SL’s MSRP was $34,755 with the destination charge, making it a more affordable option compared to luxury sedans.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was designed for both serene weekday commuting and weekend pleasure driving. The S500 model featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid engine with EQ Boost, providing up to 21 additional horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, supplementing the engine’s 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. The S580 model came with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine, also benefiting from the EQ Boost system. Both models used a nine-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and standard 4Matic AWD. The S500 accelerated from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds, while the S580 did it in 4.4 seconds. Fuel economy for the S500 was 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/24 mpg combined, and the S580 was rated at 16 mpg city/25 mpg highway/19 mpg combined.

The 2023 Nissan Altima, except for the SR VC-Turbo, came with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a CVT, producing 188 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque in FWD models and 182 hp and 178 lb-ft with AWD. The SR VC-Turbo trim featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 236 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque on regular gas, and 248 hp and 273 lb-ft on premium fuel. The Altima’s fuel economy ranged from 30 mpg to 32 mpg combined, with the SL AWD averaging 27.4 mpg. The SR VC-Turbo offered a sport-tuned suspension and additional driving aids, but the Altima’s performance was generally adequate, with some issues in urban and highway driving conditions.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class excelled as an executive sedan, offering a roomy and comfortable cabin with ample storage and cargo space. Second-row passengers enjoyed powered sun blinds and a Panorama Sunroof, while the 13.8-cubic-foot trunk provided plenty of storage. The cabin featured six USB-C ports and a 115-volt power supply in the second row. The driver and front passenger benefited from heated and ventilated active multicontour seats with massage and memory functions. The Luxury Line added a heated steering wheel, heated armrests, and rear-seat heating, while the Executive Line (exclusive to the S580) upgraded the rear seats and included a high-end rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2023 Nissan Altima’s interior was simple, easy to use, and comfortable, despite some inexpensive fittings. The controls were logically laid out, and the Zero Gravity seats provided exceptional comfort. The Altima SL featured dual-zone automatic climate control, a power sunroof, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. However, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, making it harder to get in and out. Rear seat comfort was good, with plenty of legroom and headroom, but rear air conditioning vents were only available in higher trims. The Altima’s trunk measured 15.4 cubic feet, smaller than some competitors but usefully shaped.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was packed with advanced technology, including a 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen for the MBUX infotainment system and a 12.3-inch LED virtual instrument panel. The optional 3D instrument cluster and augmented video for navigation added depth and clarity to the driving experience. The available augmented reality head-up display provided supplemental instructions in the driver’s view. The standard Burmester 3D Surround sound system and optional Burmester 4D Surround system offered high-fidelity audio. The EQ Boost system and rear-axle steering enhanced the driving experience, making the S-Class a technological marvel.

The 2023 Nissan Altima offered a modern infotainment system starting with the SV trim, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, available with SV and SR trims and standard with SL and SR VC-Turbo trims, included navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. NissanConnect Services, available with the 12.3-inch system, offered remote engine starting, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility, and an SOS calling button. The Bose nine-speaker premium audio system, available with SL and SR VC-Turbo trims, provided a mixed audio experience.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was loaded with standard and available safety features, including Magic Vision Control, active distance assist Distronic adaptive cruise control, active stop-and-go assist, active steering assist, active brake assist, active speed limit assist, active blind-spot assist, active lane-keeping assist, active parking assist, Pre-Safe Plus, and car-to-x communication. The S-Class also offered rear-passenger airbags and rear-seat belt bag for added safety.

The 2023 Nissan Altima came with standard Nissan Safety Shield 360, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver monitoring system. The Altima SV added rear automatic braking, while the SR included automatic high-beam headlights. ProPilot Assist, available with SV trim and standard on SL and SR VC-Turbo, provided adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Altima received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS for the 2022 calendar year.