Compare the2023 Nissan AltimaVS 2022 Acura TLX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Recommendations

Safety

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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 has standard 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.

The Altima 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. A system to reveal vehicles in the TLX’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Altima 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 TLX.

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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

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:

	Altima	TLX
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	114/342 lbs.	258/267 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	239	358
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	260/280 lbs.	416/473 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 Nissan Altima is safer than the Acura TLX:

	Altima	TLX
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	46 G’s	53 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	157	464

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

Warranty

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.

Reliability

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.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Altima second among midsize cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The TLX isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in initial quality. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Acura With 39 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Acura.

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.

Engine

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

	Altima	TLX
Zero to 60 MPH	5.8 sec	7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.3 sec	15.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99 MPH	91.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Altima
	FWD	S 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 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	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/36 hwy
TLX
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/31 hwy
		A-Spec 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/30 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	19 city/25 hwy
		Perf. Tire 3.0 turbo V6	19 city/24 hwy

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Nissan Altima higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Acura TLX (5 to 7). This means the Altima produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the TLX every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

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.

Brakes and Stopping

The Altima stops much shorter than the TLX:

	Altima	TLX
70 to 0 MPH	172 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	140 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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.

Suspension and Handling

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 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 tighter than the TLX’s:

	Altima	TLX
Altima S	36.1 feet	40.1 feet	18” Wheels
Altima SR/SV/SL/Platinum	37.4 feet	40.2 feet	19-20” Wheels

Chassis

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 is quieter than the TLX Type S (70 vs. 71 dB).

Passenger Space

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 7.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the TLX (100.6 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.

Cargo Capacity

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

Recommendations

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Altima third among midsize cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The TLX isn’t in the top three.

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 over three to one during the 2022 model year.

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