Compare the2024 Nissan AltimaVS 2022 Toyota Avalon

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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

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 Avalon doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Altima and the Avalon have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, 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 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 Toyota Avalon:

	Altima	Avalon
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	30%	35%
Leg Forces (l/r)	114/342 lbs.	499/567 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	239	302
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.8 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	260/280 lbs.	447/453 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 Toyota Avalon:

	Altima	Avalon
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	185	266
Hip Force	544 lbs.	686 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	157	267

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Altima, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 1.3% less likely to roll over than the Avalon, which received a four-star rating.

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 Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Avalon is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below average.

Engine

The Altima SR’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 267) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

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

	Altima	Avalon
Zero to 60 MPH	5.8 sec	6.1 sec
Quarter Mile	14.3 sec	14.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99 MPH	98.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Altima
	FWD	S/SV 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/39 hwy
		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
Avalon
	FWD	XLE 3.5 DOHC V6	22 city/32 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	22 city/31 hwy

The Altima AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Avalon XLE’s standard fuel tank (16 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 Toyota Avalon (5). This means the Altima produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Avalon 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 Avalon doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Altima stops shorter than the Avalon:

	Altima	Avalon
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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 Avalon doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The Altima SR handles at .90 G’s, while the Avalon Touring pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Altima executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Avalon Touring (26.3 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Altima S’ turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Avalon XLE’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.7 feet).

Chassis

The Nissan Altima may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the Toyota Avalon.

The Altima is 3 inches shorter than the Avalon, making the Altima easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 Avalon doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Altima has 1.7 inches more front headroom and 1.7 inches more front legroom than the Avalon.

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 Avalon doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Altima owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Altima with a number “1” insurance rate while the Avalon is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Altima is less expensive to operate than the Avalon because typical repairs cost much less on the Altima than the Avalon, including $141 less for a water pump, $14 less for front brake pads, $214 less for a starter, $96 less for fuel injection, $68 less for a fuel pump, $122 less for front struts and $907 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

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

The Nissan Altima outsold the Toyota Avalon by over 11 to one during 2022.