Compare the2023 Hyundai SonataVS 2023 Nissan Altima

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Sonata and the Altima have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, 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 Hyundai Sonata is safer than the Nissan Altima:

	Sonata	Altima
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	33%	54%
Neck Stress	98 lbs.	280 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	29/21 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 Sonata is safer than the Nissan Altima:

	Sonata	Altima
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	163	187
Chest Movement	1 inches	1.4 inches
Hip Force	498 lbs.	511 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	539 lbs.	544 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	42 G’s
Hip Force	577 lbs.	769 lbs.

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Hyundai Sonata is much safer than the Altima:

	Sonata	Altima
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	MARGINAL
Head Injury Criterion	195	562
Head Peak Forces	no contact	109 G’s
Neck Tension	379 lbs.	625 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Shoulder Deflection	1.54 in	2.09 in
Shoulder Force	357 lbs.	402 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.5 in	2.2 in
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Pelvis Force	982 lbs.	1339 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	111	122
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.75 in	1.06 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.71 in	1.02 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	7 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sonata the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Altima last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

Warranty

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

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sonata 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 Sonata 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 Sonata 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 2023 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 2 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The Sonata has more powerful engines than the Altima:

	Horsepower	Torque
Sonata SEL Plus/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder	180 HP	195 lbs.-ft.
Sonata 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	191 HP	181 lbs.-ft.
Sonata N Line 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder	290 HP	311 lbs.-ft.
Altima 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	182 HP	178 lbs.-ft.
Altima 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	188 HP	180 lbs.-ft.
Altima SR 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	248 HP	273 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the Sonata SEL Plus/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Nissan Altima 4 cyl.:

	Sonata	Altima
Zero to 30 MPH	2.6 sec	2.9 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	7.4 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.8 sec	8.3 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	4.3 sec	4.8 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	5.1 sec	5.6 sec
Quarter Mile	15.6 sec	15.8 sec
Top Speed	135 MPH	119 MPH

As tested in Motor Trend the Sonata N Line 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Altima SR 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

	Sonata	Altima
Zero to 60 MPH	5.3 sec	6.1 sec
Quarter Mile	13.9 sec	14.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	103.5 MPH	97.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Sonata
	FWD	SE 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/38 hwy
		SEL 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy
		1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy
Altima
	FWD	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 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/35 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Sonata 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 Sonata uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Altima SR requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

The Sonata N Line’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Altima doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Sonata	Sonata N Line	Altima
Front Rotors	12 inches	13.6 inches	11.65 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	12.8 inches	11.02 inches
Opt Rear Rotors			11.5 inches

The Sonata stops much shorter than the Altima:

	Sonata	Altima
70 to 0 MPH	152 feet	176 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	110 feet	119 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Sonata SEL Plus/N Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Altima (245/40R19 vs. 235/40R19).

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sonata is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Altima.

The Sonata N Line handles at .88 G’s, while the Altima SV AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sonata N Line executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the Altima SV AWD (25.8 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sonata’s turning circle is .2 feet tighter than the Altima S’ (35.9 feet vs. 36.1 feet). The Sonata’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the Altima SR/SV/SL/Platinum’s (35.9 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

Chassis

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

	Sonata	Altima
At idle	37 dB	45 dB
70 MPH Cruising	69 dB	70 dB

Passenger Space

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

The Sonata has 3.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Altima (104.4 vs. 100.6).

The Sonata has .9 inches more front headroom, 2.3 inches more front legroom and 1.5 inches more rear headroom than the Altima.

Cargo Capacity

The Sonata has a larger trunk than the Altima (16 vs. 15.4 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Sonata. The Altima doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sonata SEL/SEL Plus/Limited/N Line’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, 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.

Servicing Ease

The Sonata 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

When two different drivers share the Sonata Limited, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Altima doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Sonata Limited’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Altima doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Sonata Limited has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning 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 Sonata’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Altima’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the Sonata and the Altima have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Sonata 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 Sonata’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Altima’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Sonata Limited’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Altima’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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 Sonata’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Altima’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Sonata’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the Altima and aren’t offered on the Altima S.

When the Sonata Limited is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Altima’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Sonata Limited 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 Sonata Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Altima doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Sonata owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sonata will cost $795 less than the Altima over a five-year period.

The Sonata will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Sonata will retain 46.08% to 47.23% of its original price after five years, while the Altima only retains 41.82% to 43.68%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sonata is less expensive to operate than the Altima because it costs $64 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Sonata than the Altima, including $34 less for front brake pads, $39 less for a starter, $99 less for fuel injection, $71 less for a fuel pump and $83 less for front struts.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Sonata will be $3562 to $4046 less than for the Nissan Altima.

Recommendations

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

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its December 2019 issue and they ranked the Hyundai Sonata Limited two places higher than the Nissan Altima SR AWD.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sonata second among midsize cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Altima was rated third.

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