Compare the2023 Nissan AltimaVS 2023 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Nissan Altima have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Nissan Altima has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Sonata Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Altima AWD offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Sonata Hybrid doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Altima and the Sonata Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, 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 Nissan Altima is safer than the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid:

	Altima	Sonata Hybrid
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	171	514
Leg Forces (l/r)	114/342 lbs.	321/341 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 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid:

	Altima	Sonata Hybrid
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	185	301
Spine Acceleration	46 G’s	72 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	16 inches	20 inches
HIC	157	288

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

Warranty

There are over 30 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Altima’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Altima second among midsize cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Sonata Hybrid 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 Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is rated below average.

Engine

The Altima SR’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 56 more horsepower (248 vs. 192) and 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 271) than the Sonata Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Altima AWD 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder is faster than the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid:

	Altima	Sonata Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	7.4 sec	8.1 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	19.7 sec	21.4 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.3 sec	9 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	16.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	88 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Altima AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sonata Hybrid (16 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Altima FWD’s standard fuel tank has 3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sonata Hybrid (16.2 vs. 13.2 gallons).

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 Sonata Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Altima stops shorter than the Sonata Hybrid:

	Altima	Sonata Hybrid
70 to 0 MPH	172 feet	178 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	121 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	140 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Altima has larger standard tires than the Sonata Hybrid (215/60R16 vs. 205/65R16). The Altima SR/SL’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sonata Hybrid (235/40R19 vs. 215/55R17).

The Altima S’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sonata Hybrid Blue’s standard 65 series tires. The Altima SR/SL’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Sonata Hybrid SEL/Limited’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Altima SR/SL has standard 19-inch wheels. The Sonata Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 17-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 Sonata Hybrid doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

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 Sonata Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Altima has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Sonata Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Altima SR handles at .90 G’s, while the Sonata Hybrid Limited pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Altima executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the Sonata Hybrid Limited (26.3 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

Chassis

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 Sonata Hybrid doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Altima SR VC-Turbo uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Sonata Hybrid doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Altima has .1 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear legroom, .1 inches more rear hip room and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the Sonata Hybrid.

Ergonomics

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 Sonata Hybrid doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

If the windows are left open on the Altima the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. The driver of the Sonata Hybrid can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Nissan Altima and the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, 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 Sonata Hybrid isn’t in the top three.

The Nissan Altima outsold the Hyundai Sonata by almost three to one during 2022.

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