Compare the2026 Nissan AltimaVS 2026 Hyundai Sonata

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

Safety

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The Nissan Altima has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Sonata doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Altima has standard Rear Automatic Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Sonata doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Altima SR offers an optional 360-degree Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Sonata only offers a rear monitor.

Both the Altima and the Sonata 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 and driver alert 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 Hyundai Sonata:

	Altima	Sonata
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	171	514
Leg Forces (l/r)	114/342 lbs.	321/341 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 Hyundai Sonata:

	Altima	Sonata
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	185	250
Spine Acceleration	46 G’s	60 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	157	264
Hip Force	769 lbs.	780 lbs.

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

Warranty

There are over 25 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Altima’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Altima first among midsize cars in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Sonata was rated second.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked third.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai With 7 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Hyundai.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Altima AWD is faster than the Hyundai Sonata 4 cyl.:

	Altima	Sonata
Zero to 60 MPH	7.6 sec	7.9 sec
Quarter Mile	15.9 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89.5 MPH	87.2 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Altima
	FWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/36 hwy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/33 hwy
Sonata
	FWD	SEL Sport 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/36 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/32 hwy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/33 hwy

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Nissan Altima higher (6 out of 10) than the Hyundai Sonata (4 to 6). This means the Altima produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Sonata every 15,000 miles.

The EPA certifies the Nissan Altima as a “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Hyundai Sonata is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

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 Sonata doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Altima stops much shorter than the Sonata:

	Altima	Sonata
70 to 0 MPH	164 feet	180 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	118 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Altima has larger standard tires than the Sonata (215/55R17 vs. 205/65R16).

The Altima SV’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 Sonata SE’s standard 65 series tires.

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

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 Sonata doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

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

The Altima executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Sonata SEL Sport AWD (26.3 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

Chassis

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 Sonata doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Altima has .1 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear legroom, .1 inches more rear hip room and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the Sonata.

Ergonomics

The Altima’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 Sonata’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. The Sonata SEL/N Line’s rear windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Altima the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle. The driver of the Sonata can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Consumer Reports rated the Altima’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Sonata’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

On extremely cold winter days, the Altima SR’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Sonata doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Altima, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Hyundai Sonata isn't recommended.

The Nissan Altima outsold the Hyundai Sonata by 55% during 2025.

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