Compare the2023 Hyundai ElantraVS 2022 Nissan Altima

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Elantra has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Altima’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Elantra has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Altima.

Both the Elantra and the Altima have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available rear parking sensors.

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

	Elantra	Altima
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	142	171
Neck Injury Risk	21%	30%
Neck Stress	268 lbs.	343 lbs.
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	78 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	66/48 lbs.	114/342 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	42%	54%
Neck Stress	177 lbs.	280 lbs.
Neck Compression	6 lbs.	110 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	135/61 lbs.	260/280 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 Hyundai Elantra is safer than the Nissan Altima:

	Elantra	Altima
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	83	187
Chest Movement	1.2 inches	1.4 inches
Hip Force	327 lbs.	511 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	355 lbs.	544 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	16 inches
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	42 G’s

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 Elantra its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 112 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Altima is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

The Elantra comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Altima’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Elantra 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Altima. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Altima ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Elantra’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Altima’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Elantra for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Altima.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Elantra has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Altima’s standard 120-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Elantra has a standard 760-amp battery. The Altima’s 510-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 57 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 20th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 7 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Elantra gets better mileage than the Altima:

			MPG
Elantra
	FWD	SE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	33 city/42 hwy
		2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/40 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

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Elantra SE’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Altima doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Elantra 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

The Elantra stops shorter than the Altima:

	Elantra	Altima
70 to 0 MPH	175 feet	176 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	119 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	140 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Elantra Limited handles at .85 G’s, while the Altima SV AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Elantra Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Altima SV AWD (27 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Elantra’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Altima S’ (35.4 feet vs. 36.1 feet). The Elantra’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Altima SR/SV/SL/Platinum’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

Chassis

The Hyundai Elantra may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 600 pounds less than the Nissan Altima.

The Elantra is 8.8 inches shorter than the Altima, making the Elantra easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Elantra Limited is quieter than the Altima SR AWD:

	Elantra	Altima
At idle	35 dB	45 dB
70 MPH Cruising	68 dB	70 dB

Passenger Space

The Elantra has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more rear headroom and 2.8 inches more rear legroom than the Altima.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, just waiting momentarily behind the back bumper can open the Elantra SEL/Limited’s trunk, leaving your hands completely free. The Altima doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Elantra and the Altima have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Elantra 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 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 Elantra’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Altima’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

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

Recommendations

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

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the Nissan Altima by 17% during the 2021 model year.