2020 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Volkswagen Jetta

Sedans are not dead, though some models in the segment are not long for this world. In fact, post-pandemic financial pressure on consumers could result in a resurgence of the traditional 4-door car as consumers seek lower-cost, higher-value transportation.

Clearly, Nissan believes in sedans. And should economic headwinds once again favour cars over more expensive and less efficient SUVs, the company is perfectly positioned to capitalize on such a theoretical trend. During the past two years, the company has redesigned or refreshed its entire sedan lineup, which includes the Versa, Sentra, Altima, and Maxima.

New last year, the Altima comes with an important feature for Canada: all-wheel drive is standard equipment, an unusual offering in mainstream sedans that makes the 2020 Altima even more worthy of your consideration.

But is that enough?

Small cars aren't asked to do much beyond the basics: provide efficient, reliable transportation at a manageable price. Plenty of models fit this form, and in some rare cases, they manage to do it while also being fun to drive, like the Mazda3. In other cases, the vehicle manages to feel more upscale than the competition, like the Honda Civic. But the Volkswagen Jetta's legacy has historically been defined by its ability to offer both an upscale interior and a rewarding driving experience.

But then something happened with the Jetta. Starting with the 2011 model year, Volkswagen attempted to broaden the Jetta's appeal, and until 2018 we were left with a drab interior, an underpowered engine, and an uninspiring driving experience. VW’s hallmark was always that its cars felt a little special, so by adopting a homogenous look and feel, VW removed what made the Jetta unique and desirable to its fans.

So Volkswagen had some work to do with the seventh-generation Jetta, which launched in 2019. Does this car move the Jetta name back toward driving refinement and upscale feel? Or does it continue to disappoint as just another bland entrant among small cars?