If you’re seeking a new midsize sedan for you and your family and are comparing the 2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Toyota Camry, we’re here to help. Both vehicles are very popular and offer many innovative features. Each has a variety of trim levels: the Altima offers five (the S, SV, SR, SL, and Platinum) while the Camry offers eight (LE, XLE, SE, Nightshade, SE Nightshade, SE Nightshade, TRD V6, XLE V6, and XSE V6). But the Altima has been hailed as one of the best engaging driving experiences in a midsize sedan with comfortable seats and a spacious interior for your passengers. In 2021, Nissan unveiled its latest Altima with a few upgrades from the previous model. Let’s take a closer look at each one. We believe you’ll agree that the 2021 Nissan Altima is the best choice.
Reliability and Quality
One of the top reasons that a driver chooses a particular vehicle is for its reliability and quality. While both the 2021 Nissan Altima and 2021 Toyota Camry are backed with a standard warranty of three years or 36,000 miles and a powertrain warranty of five years or 60,000 miles, the 2021 Nissan Altima has stronger roadside assistance coverage. The Altima provides three years or 36,000 miles, while the Camry only provides two years or 25,000 miles.
Comfort and Utility
Drivers who own the 2021 Nissan Altima praise it for its comfort and smooth ride. One of its most popular trim choices is the SR. This option gives drivers a sportier enhancement due to its 19-inch wheels and sport-tuned suspension. To captivate owners even further, the SR trim includes a leather steering wheel, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an eight-way power driver’s seat, and an upgraded digital gauge cluster. For those who want to upgrade even further, the Premium package will provide a sunroof and heated front seats and mirrors.
Those who need to stay within a budget will appreciate the standard amenities on the base 2021 Nissan Altima. This model distinguishes itself with a push-button start with a smart keyless system, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel. If you’re on the road and happen to get a flat tire, the 2021 Altima is equipped with Nissan’s Easy-Fill Tire Alert feature. It will sound the horn when you’ve filled the tires to the correct pressure.
Both the SV and SL trims offer a variety of standard and optional features such as a standard eight-way power driver’s seat, standard dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air-conditioning vents, ambient interior lighting, and driver memory settings. These go along with optional power lumbar adjustment and optional heated front seats.
If you and your family prize interior space, you’ll find the 2021 Nissan Altima outperforms the 2021 Toyota Camry. The former offers 100.8 cubic feet, while the latter offers only 98.8 cubic feet. The trunk capacity is also larger in the Altima than in the Camry. The 2021 Nissan Altima is designed with 15.4 cubic feet, while the 2021 Toyota Camry only has 15.1 cubic feet.
On the other hand, the 2021 Toyota Camry only offers standard single-zone automatic climate control in the front cabin without the rear vents. Optional accessories include heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control on some trim levels.
Have a favorite exterior color in mind? The 2021 Nissan Altima offers exactly what color you want. It is available in a variety of exterior paint colors, which include fun colors like Glacier White, Sunset Drift Chroma-Flair, Scarlet Ember Tintcoat, Deep Blue Pearl, and Storm Blue. The 2021 Toyota Camry exterior paint color options include Blueprint, Supersonic Red, Wind Chill Pearl, Ruby Flare Pearl, Predawn Gray Mica, and Galactic Aqua Mica.
Performance and Efficiency
If you’re seeking a mid-size sedan with all-wheel drive and a unique variable-compression turbocharged engine with a brisk quick ride, look no farther than the 2021 Nissan Altima. Under its hood lies one of the 2021 Altima’s greatest strengths. Unlike its competitors in this class, only the Altima offers an all-wheel drive and VC turbo engine. This 2.0-liter turbo-four cylinder engine with a variable-compression (VC) design provides 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. In addition, the VC-Turbo Altima posts high EPA fuel economy figures with an estimated 25 MPG in the city and 34 MPG highway.
The other engine available for the 2021 Nissan Altima is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder. This engine provides 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. While the power is a little less than the turbocharged option, it still gets great fuel economy with an estimated 28 MPG in the city and 39 MPG on the highway.
Two engine choices are also available for the 2021 Toyota Camry: the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder and the 3.5-liter V6. You’ll find that the Camry’s V6 engine is lacking when it comes to the torque department, only getting 267 pound-feet as compared to the Altima’s 273 pound-feet. You’ll also have poorer fuel economy, getting about 22 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway with the V6.
Safety and Driving Assistance
Nissan understands how important it is to provide the safest driving environment for its consumers. In your 2021 Altima, you’ll feel safe and confident with its variety of driver-assisted technology. All models are equipped with Nissan’s Safety Shield 360, which includes Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Rear Automatic Braking, Lane Departure Warning, and High Beam Assist. You can also get smarter safety with Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Lane Intervention, and Intelligent Driver Alertness. That’s not to mention the ease you will feel with the available ProPILOT Assist helping you drive on the highway.
NissanConnect is a popular service for the 2021 Altima because it provides many features such as automatic collision notification, anti-theft alarm notifications, remote locking via the app, a vehicle locator feature for crowded parking structures, quick access to emergency services, as well as maintenance notifications and vehicle health reports. If your teen will be driving the car, you’ll appreciate the geofencing service, which allows you to set boundaries for these drivers.
On the 2021 Toyota Camry, drivers have Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+). You can also depend on a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, and Lane Tracing Assist. On higher trims, you can get an available Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, and you can opt for the Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. Toyota’s connected services include an automatic collision notification, Remote Connect to locate your Camry in unfamiliar parking facilities, start its engine, lock the doors, and rapid access to emergency responders.
Infotainment and Technology
Having infotainment and updated technology is one of the most important considerations in choosing between the 2021 Altima and Camry. In the Altima’s cabin, you’ll find a seven or eight-inch infotainment display, USB input, Bluetooth technology with text messaging capability, and six audio speakers. The Altima SV trim is popular with consumers due to its eight-inch touchscreen display, four USB inputs, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, and a three-month subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio. On the SL and Platinum models, you’ll receive a navigation system and a premium Bose audio system with nine speakers.
In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Camry is equipped with a seven-inch touchscreen display, or you can upgrade for an additional price to a nine-inch touchscreen interface. Standard technology includes two USB ports, both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, and a three-month satellite radio trial. For an additional fee, drivers can add a JBL audio system with nine speakers.
Get Yourself a Reliable Midsize Sedan
After comparing the two mid-size sedans side-by-side, we’re sure you’ll agree with us that the 2021 Nissan Altima is the superior vehicle. It’s spacious, has great connectivity features, and is affordable. While the Toyota Camry does have a lot to offer, the Altima simply pulls ahead in almost every area, which is why we have to declare the Altima the winner in this head-to-head comparison.
