Compare the2022 Nissan AltimaVS 2021 Acura TLX

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Altima are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The TLX doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Altima offers optional Rear Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The TLX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Altima and the TLX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front 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, driver alert monitors, available daytime running lights, 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 Nissan Altima is safer than the Acura TLX:

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 Nissan Altima is safer than the Acura TLX:

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

There are almost 4 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Altima’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Altima’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the TLX’s camshafts. If the TLX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

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 Altima’s reliability 39 points higher than the TLX.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Altima first among midsize cars in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The TLX isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan fifth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 54 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 26th, below the industry average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 15 places higher in reliability than Acura.

As tested in Motor Trend the Altima SR 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Acura TLX turbo 4 cyl.:

The Altima has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The TLX doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Altima stops much shorter than the TLX:

The Altima has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the TLX; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Altima SR handles at .90 G’s, while the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Altima Platinum executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD (26.3 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Altima S’ turning circle is 4 feet tighter than the TLX’s (36.1 feet vs. 40.1 feet). The Altima SR/SV/SL/Platinum’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the TLX 19/20-inch wheels’ (37.4 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

The Nissan Altima may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 750 pounds less than the Acura TLX.

The front grille of the Altima uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The TLX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Altima Platinum is quieter than the TLX Type S (70 vs. 71 dB).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Altima a Mid-size car, while the TLX is rated a Compact.

The Altima has 7.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the TLX (100.8 vs. 93.4).

The Altima has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more rear headroom, .3 inches more rear legroom and 2.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the TLX.

The Altima has a much larger trunk than the TLX (15.4 vs. 13.5 cubic feet).

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Altima, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Acura TLX isn't recommended.

The Altima was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2019. The TLX has never been an “All Star.”

The Nissan Altima outsold the Acura TLX by almost four to one during the 2021 model year.