Compare the2026 Nissan AltimaVS 2026 Toyota Crown

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Nissan Altima achieved an “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Toyota Crown has not been tested.

Both the Altima and the Crown have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 around view 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 Toyota Crown:

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 Toyota Crown:

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Altima, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 2.1% less likely to roll over than the Crown, which received a four-star rating.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Altima first among midsize cars in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Crown isn’t in the top three in its category.

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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 17th, below the industry average.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Nissan Altima FWD is faster than the Toyota Crown 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Altima uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Crown Platinum requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Altima AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Crown (16 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Altima FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Crown (16.2 vs. 14.5 gallons).

The Altima stops much shorter than the Crown:

For better traction, the Altima SR’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Crown (235/40R19 vs. 225/55R19).

The Altima SR’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Crown’s optional 45 series tires.

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 Crown doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Altima SR handles at .90 G’s, while the Crown Platinum pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Altima executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the Crown Platinum (26.3 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

The Nissan Altima may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 900 pounds less than the Toyota Crown.

The Altima is 3.2 inches shorter than the Crown, making the Altima easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 Crown doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Altima has 2.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Crown (100.6 vs. 98).

The Altima has .9 inches more front headroom, 1.7 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Crown.

The front step up height for the Altima is 2.7 inches lower than the Crown (14” vs. 16.7”). The Altima’s rear step up height is 2.3 inches lower than the Crown’s (14” vs. 16.3”).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Altima easier. The Altima’s trunk lift-over height is 26.9 inches, while the Crown’s liftover is 30.3 inches.

The Altima is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Crown doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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

The Nissan Altima outsold the Toyota Crown by almost 8 to one during 2025.