Compare the2024 Hyundai SonataVS 2024 Nissan Altima

With its standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, the Hyundai Sonata is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Nissan Altima, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

Both the Sonata and Altima have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Sonata has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Altima’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

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 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, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

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:

The Hyundai Sonata achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Altima is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

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, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Altima.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 6th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan With 1 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Hyundai higher than Nissan.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 6 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

The Sonata has more powerful engines than the Altima:

As tested in Consumer Reports the Hyundai Sonata 4 cyl. is faster than the Nissan Altima 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the Sonata 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder FWD gets better fuel mileage than the Altima SR 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder FWD (25 city/36 hwy vs. 25 city/34 hwy).

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 on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

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.

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

The Sonata stops shorter than the Altima:

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

The Sonata’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Altima S’ standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sonata has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Altima 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).

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.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Sonata’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the Altima’s useful trunk space.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sonata’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.

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.

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 front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Altima’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

On a hot day the Sonata’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Altima can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Sonata has a standard Proximity Key that allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Altima SR/SV/SL offers an Intelligent Key.

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 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.

The Sonata has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Altima SL/SR VC-Turbo.

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

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 isn’t in the top three.