Compare the2022 Nissan AltimaVS 2022 Audi A3

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 A3 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 A3 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Altima Platinum has a standard Around View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The A3 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Altima’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The A3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Altima and the A3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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 vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Altima its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 74 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The A3 has not been tested, yet.

Nissan’s powertrain warranty covers the Altima 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the A3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Altima first among midsize cars in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The A3 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 Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan fifth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 94 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 32nd, below the industry average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 1 place higher in reliability than Audi.

The Altima SR’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 35 more horsepower (236 vs. 201) and 46 lbs.-ft. more torque (267 vs. 221) than the A3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

The Altima AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the A3 FWD’s standard fuel tank (16 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Altima FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the A3 Quattro’s standard fuel tank (16.2 vs. 14.5 gallons).

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 A3 doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better traction, the Altima SR/Platinum’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the A3 (235/40R19 vs. 225/45R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Altima SR/Platinum has standard 19-inch wheels. The A3’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Altima has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The A3 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Altima’s wheelbase is 7.7 inches longer than on the A3 (111.2 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Altima is 2.5 inches wider in the front and 3.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A3.

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 A3 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Altima SL/Platinum uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The A3 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Altima a Mid-size car, while the A3 is rated a Subcompact.

The Altima has 13.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A3 (100.8 vs. 87).

The Altima has 2.3 inches more front headroom, 2.6 inches more front legroom, 3.4 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom and 4.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the A3.

The Altima has a much larger trunk than the A3 Sedan (15.4 vs. 10.9 cubic feet).

The Altima has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The A3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

On extremely cold winter days, the Altima SL/Platinum’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The A3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Altima, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Altima was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2019. The A3 has never been an “All Star.”

The Nissan Altima outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by over 25 to one during the 2021 model year.