Compare the2022 Toyota Camry HybridVS 2021 Nissan Altima

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Chassis
Passenger Space
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Camry Hybrid has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats (WIL), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WIL system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Altima doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Camry Hybrid has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Altima doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Camry Hybrid and the Altima have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Camry Hybrid is safer than the Nissan Altima:

	Camry Hybrid	Altima
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	140	171
Neck Injury Risk	20%	30%
Neck Stress	262 lbs.	343 lbs.
Neck Compression	13 lbs.	78 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21%	54%
Neck Stress	136 lbs.	280 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	110 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Camry Hybrid is safer than the Nissan Altima:

	Camry Hybrid	Altima
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	134	187
Chest Movement	.7 inches	1.4 inches
Abdominal Force	136 G’s	164 G’s
Hip Force	296 lbs.	511 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	16 inches
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	42 G’s
Hip Force	622 lbs.	769 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Camry Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 103 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Altima is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Camry Hybrid for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Altima.

There are over 15 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Nissan dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Camry Hybrid’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Camry Hybrid’s reliability 14 points higher than the Altima.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 21st.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Nissan is ranked 13th.

Engine

The Camry Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 26 more horsepower (208 vs. 182) than the Altima’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Camry Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 20 more horsepower (208 vs. 188) than the Altima’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Camry Hybrid gets better mileage than the Altima:

			MPG
Camry Hybrid
		LE 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	51 city/53 hwy
		SE/XLE 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	44 city/47 hwy
Altima
	FWD	S 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/39 hwy
		SV/SL/SR 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
	AWD	SV/SL 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/36 hwy
		SR/Platinum 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/35 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Camry Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Altima doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Camry Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Altima SR requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Camry Hybrid’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Altima:

	Camry Hybrid	Altima
Front Rotors	12 inches	11.65 inches
Rear Rotors	11.06 inches	11.02 inches

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Camry Hybrid XLE is quieter than the Altima SR AWD:

	Camry Hybrid	Altima
At idle	38 dB	45 dB
Full-Throttle	72 dB	77 dB
70 MPH Cruising	68 dB	70 dB

Passenger Space

The Camry Hybrid has .7 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 2.8 inches more rear legroom and .1 inches more rear hip room than the Altima.

Servicing Ease

The Camry Hybrid uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Altima uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The Camry Hybrid XLE/XSE offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Altima doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Camry Hybrid’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Altima’s parking brake has to released manually.

The power windows standard on both the Camry Hybrid and the Altima have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Camry Hybrid is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Altima prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Camry Hybrid’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Altima’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Altima SL/Platinum’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Camry Hybrid’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Altima’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Camry Hybrid XLE offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Altima doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Camry Hybrid XLE/XSE keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Altima doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Camry Hybrid has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Altima SL/Platinum.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Camry Hybrid (except Nightshade) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Altima doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

The Camry Hybrid will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Camry Hybrid will retain 47.34% to 49.12% of its original price after five years, while the Altima only retains 40.1% to 42.03%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Camry Hybrid will be $1039 to $8870 less than for the Nissan Altima.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Camry Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.