Both the 2022 Hyundai Sonata and 2022 Nissan Altima give buyers choices, with a couple of different variants of each and good safety features. Here’s how they compare.
2022 Hyundai Sonata
2022 Hyundai Sonata Starting Price: $24,150 | Price yours or View listings near you
Above Average: Fuel economy; spacious cabin; optional hybrid; long warranty.
Below Average: Looks are not for everyone; no all-wheel drive.
Consensus: Spacious, fuel-efficient, and with a choice of engines including a hybrid, the 2022 Hyundai Sonata also offers a class-leading warranty.
2022 Nissan Altima
2022 Nissan Altima Starting Price: $24,550 | Price yours or View listings near you
Above Average: Great seats; sporty SR model; optional all-wheel drive.
Below Average: No hybrid option; AWD not available with turbo engine; some safety features and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto not available on the base trim.
Consensus: With a couple of engine choices and good safety features, the 2022 Nissan Altima is a reasonably priced contender in the midsize sedan segment. The rear quarters are a bit tight, and the base engine and CVT combination can drone when pushed hard.
Sonata vs. Altima: Style and Substance
Hyundai Sonata
A steady player in the midsize sedan segment, the 2022 Hyundai Sonata is now in its seventh generation. It offers a choice of fuel-efficient engines as well as a hybrid, and a Sporty N Line variant with a more powerful turbocharged 4-cylinder and a sport suspension.
Inside it’s spacious and comfortable, so much so that the EPA actually classifies the Sonata as a large (rather than midsize) car. There’s plenty of room passengers, and the large trunk has an ample 16 cubic feet of space.
The looks of the Sonata are not for everyone, with a grille that from some aspects is reminiscent of a catfish, but it is certainly distinctive. Inside, the base model gets cloth seats, with the top trim layered in leather.
Standard features include an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a USB port, and an 8-speaker audio system. Standard active safety and driver aids include automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams.
For our money, it’s worth a little more for the higher SEL trim, where more options become available. The top Limited trim has leather upholstery, a 360-degree camera system, and heated and ventilated front seats, among others. The N Line includes a 290-horsepower engine, sport suspension, Nappa leather and suede on the front seats, and quad exhausts.
Nissan Altima
One thing we always praise about the Nissan Altima is its seats. They are supportive, comfortable, and perhaps the best in any mainstream midsize sedan, perfect for hours behind the wheel.
Power in the 2022 Altima comes from a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, connected via a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Nissan has front-wheel drive (FWD) as standard, or all-wheel drive (AWD) as an option. In normal driving, the CVT is perfectly pleasant, but when pushed it can drone, sounding almost unsure of itself. The real performer, however, is a silky 248-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo in the 2.0 SR. The sporty variant, the SR has paddle shifters, a sport suspension, and a leather-covered steering wheel, but it can’t be had with all-wheel drive.
We like the fresh look of the exterior, and the interior of the Altima is simple and functional without being flashy. Controls are basic, and while the base S trim gets a 7-inch touchscreen, SV and above trims get an 8-inch screen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration. Seating room is good, although rear legroom is a bit tight compared to some of the competition. The trunk offers a usable 15.4 cubic feet of space.
Available on the SV trim and above is Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 suite, which includes lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-centering technology. Upper trims get features such as as leather seats, navigation system, Bose audio, and ProPilot Assist, which is Nissan’s semi-autonomous driving feature.
Similarities
Base power; fuel economy; choice of engines; sport models.
2022 Hyundai Sonata Advantages
Optional hybrid; cargo space; passenger space; 8-speed automatic; long warranty.
2022 Nissan Altima Advantages
Starting price; optional all-wheel drive; great seats.
Which One is Right for Me?
The 2022 Hyundai Sonata offers both a sport variant and a hybrid, as well as a good price. It also comes with a class-leading warranty and three years of free maintenance.
The 2022 Nissan Altima offers comfortable front seats, handsome looks, and all-wheel drive for safer driving in inclement weather conditions.
Ready to buy a Hyundai Sonata or Nissan Altima? Shop for one on sale now near you.
| 2022 Hyundai Sonata | 2022 Nissan Altima | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.5-liter I4 | 2.5-liter I4 |
| Horsepower | 191 hp @ 6,000 rpm | 188 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 181 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm | 180 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-spd automatic | CVT |
| Fuel Economy | 32 mpg (28 city/38 hwy) | 32 mpg (28 city/39 hwy) |
| Also Available | 1.6-liter turbo I4; 2.5-liter turbo I4; 2.0-liter I4 hybrid; 8-spd DCT | 2.0-liter turbo I4; AWD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety Rating | 5 stars | n/a |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 111.8 inches | 111.2 inches |
| Overall Length | 192.9 inches | 192.9 inches |
| Width | 73.2 inches | 72.9 inches |
| Height | 56.9 inches | 56.8 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 35.9 feet | 36.1 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 40.0 inches | 39.2 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 38.4 inches | 36.9 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 46.1 inches | 43.8 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 34.8 inches | 35.2 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 57.9 inches | 58.2 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 56.1 inches | 57.1 inches |
| EPA Passenger Volume | 104.4 cubic feet | 100.8 cubic feet |
| EPA Cargo Volume | 16.0 cubic feet | 15.4 cubic feet |
Keyword: 2022 Hyundai Sonata vs. 2022 Nissan Altima Comparison