2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Toyota Camry

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  • 2021 Nissan Altima

    A red 2021 Nissan Altima is angled left.

    Starting at

    $24,450*

    2021 Toyota Camry

    A grey 2021 Toyota Camry LE is angled right.

    Starting at

    $25,045*

    180 - 273Torque (lb-ft)182 - 267
    5Standard Driver Display (in)4.2
    15.4Max Cargo (cu.ft.)15.1

    There was a time when you would have had a lot of choices available to you when shopping for a midsize sedan. These days, however, fewer manufacturers still offer this type of car, which is a shame because it really is a great solution for a wide range of drivers. Fortunately, there are still some companies that see the value that these vehicles provide, including Nissan. Looking at the 2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Toyota Camry, for example, we can see that these are both excellent vehicles, though we feel the Altima simply has more to offer.

    In terms of performance, both of these cars really deliver an exhilarating ride that you probably do not expect from such a reliable and stylish sedan. The Nissan Altima, for example, has two different engines for you to choose from, giving you up to 248 hp along with more torque than the Toyota Camry can offer. This Turbo engine is powerful and comes with an Xtronic continuously variable transmission that ensures a quick and responsive driving experience for you to enjoy. While the Toyota Camry has a fine performance, this boosted torque and nimble transmission really offer you a fantastic time behind the wheel.

    Inside the 2021 Nissan Altima, you will find a wide range of excellent luxury features and fantastic technology. For example, the Altima Platinum trim comes with dual-zone automatic temperature control, remote engine start, and leather-appointed seating with a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel. You get an 8-inch infotainment display in the Altima Platinum along with a 7-inch advanced driver display. A 5-inch driver display is standard, while the Toyota Camry only comes with a 4.2-inch driver screen standard. As you can see, there is plenty to love about the 2021 Nissan Altima.

  • Performance

    A red 2021 Nissan Altima SL is shown from a high angle after winning the 2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Toyota Camry showdown.

    People always talk about engines and performance with vehicles like sports cars and pickup trucks, but even with a midsize sedan, the engine is important. As the heart of your car, your engine has a huge impact on the kind of fuel efficiency you get, your car’s performance, and just how fun it is to drive. Both the 2021 Nissan Altima and 2021 Toyota Camry have two engines available with pretty comparable performance, but we certainly prefer the Altima.

    The Power of the Altima

    The standard engine for the Nissan Altima is a 2.5L DOHC 4-cylinder engine that provides 188 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque that makes the Altima a lot of fun to drive. If you want even better performance, however, then there is an available 2.0L Variable Compression Turbo 4-cylinder engine that delivers 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are great, but the Turbo option really gives you an incredibly sporty and exhilarating driving experience.

    Both of these engines for the Altima come with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) that delivers a very smooth and responsive ride. If you go with the more powerful option, then it also includes paddle shifters with a manual shift mode, perfect for when you want to take control while on the road. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard on most models, though Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD) is available if that works better for you.

    The Power of the Camry

    The Toyota Camry also has two engines available, which are generally pretty comparable to what you can get with the Altima. It is worth pointing out that the more powerful engine of the Altima gives you more torque than either engine in the Camry, which can help with going uphill and accelerating from a red light. An 8-speed manual transmission is standard on the Camry, which many people find less responsive than the smoothness of the Nissan’s CVT.

  • Interior & Safety

    A person is shown looking over their shoulder while reversing in a 2021 Nissan Altima.

    If you are interested in a midsize sedan, then you probably want a vehicle that will work well for a family or big group of friends. While you are not going to find interior space comparable to an SUV, the 2021 Nissan Altima is quite roomy inside and works well for long road trips or simply running errands. The Toyota Camry is pretty similar in terms of how much space you get inside, though you get more cargo capacity with the Altima.

    Interior Space for Passengers

    Inside the 2021 Nissan Altima, you get almost 44 inches of legroom in the front and more than 35 inches of legroom in the rear seats. The Altima has seating for up to five people, and with more than 54 inches of hip room and 57 inches of shoulder room available in the rear, all of your passengers will be quite comfortable. In the standard Altima without a moonroof, you get just over 39 inches of front headroom and almost 37 inches of rear headroom; the moonroof reduces the front headroom by about an inch.

    In general, interior passenger space for the Toyota Camry is pretty much comparable with what you get inside the Nissan Altima. The Camry is also available with a moonroof, which similarly impacts how much headroom is available inside of it – but much like with the Altima, it is not a huge change. While the Toyota Camry has a similar design, overall, to the Altima, there is less total cargo capacity available in the Camry – so keep that in mind.

    Safety Options

    Few things are more important when it comes to shopping for a vehicle than the safety features it has to offer. Fortunately, both the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry are quite safe, and the standard active safety systems of the Altima are some of the best on the road. With a lot of cars, you have to pay more to get much beyond seatbelts and airbags, but not with the Altima.

    Stay Safe in an Altima

    The 2021 Nissan Altima comes with a comprehensive suite of active assistance technologies, including an Intelligent Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection. You also get a Lane Departure Warning in every model, along with an Intelligent Driver Alertness system that warns you if your attention seems to falter. Available safety features for the Nissan Altima include a Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Automatic Braking, and a ProPILOT Assist system that can automatically maintain a set distance between you and cars ahead of you or help keep you in your lane on the highway.

    Stay Safe in the Camry

    Safety features for the Toyota Camry are pretty similar to the Altima. It comes with a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, a Lane Departure Alert, and other features similar to the Altima. It is no surprise that the Camry has earned similar safety ratings to the Altima because safety is a priority of many manufacturers, but it doesn't have a cool system like ProPILOT Assist to make driving a breeze.

  • Features

    The infotainment screen and dash is shown in a 2021 Nissan Altima.

    Exciting Features of the Altima

    Since most of your time with your vehicle will be spent inside while driving it, you always want to consider the interior features carefully. The 2021 Nissan Altima has excellent standard and available features, so we will consider both of these options. Standard features on the starting trim of the Altima, the S, include air conditioning, power windows and door locks, a Nissan Intelligent Key with push-button start, and a remote engine start system. You also get a 6-way adjustable driver’s seat, cloth seating, a 7-inch infotainment display, and a 5-inch multi-function driver information display, all standard.

    Looking at features on the highest trim of the Nissan Altima, the Platinum, you get a number of impressive upgrades, including dual-zone automatic temperature control, a remote engine start system with intelligent climate control, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The Platinum also includes an 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support and memory settings, leather-appointed seating with heated front seats, and a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel. An 8-inch infotainment display comes on the Platinum trim, along with a 7-inch advanced drive-assist display, plus a Bose premium 9-speaker audio system.

    Features of the Camry

    There are a lot of similar features available for the 2021 Toyota Camry, though nothing really stands out or is significantly better than what the Nissan Altima offers. For example, the highest trim of the Camry also has dual-zone automatic climate control, a 7-inch driver display, and leather-trimmed seats with an 8-way power driver’s seat. While starting features inside the Toyota Camry also include a 7-inch infotainment display, much like the Altima, the starting 4.2-inch driver display in the Camry comes up short of the nicer starting screen of a Nissan Altima.

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