2023 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2023 Nissan Altima

The 2023 Nissan Altima continued Nissan's legacy in the family car segment, building on over 50 years of experience. With the Maxima's impending discontinuation, the Altima aimed to fill the gap with its updated front styling, featuring a revised grille and new wheel designs. The higher trim levels, equipped with 19-inch wheels, enhanced the Altima's visual appeal, although the wheels' flush design made them susceptible to damage. In Canada, the Altima was available in four trims: S, SR, SR Premium, and Platinum, and it stood out as the only mid-size sedan offering standard all-wheel drive. However, the variable-compression turbocharged engine was exclusive to the U.S. market. The Altima's interior, while visually appealing, was marred by hard plastics, though the new double-stitched seams provided a touch of sophistication.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta, while affordable, faced competition from more stylish and utilitarian alternatives. In Canada, it was offered in Trendline, Comfortline, Highline, and GLI trims, with prices ranging from $23,295 to $34,495. The Jetta Highline, our test model, featured a Platinum Grey Metallic exterior and a Volcano Brown over Titan Black interior. Despite its conservative design, the Jetta's interior channeled a sense of luxury akin to the Audi brand, with ambient lighting, genuine leather upholstery, and advanced digital instrumentation. The Jetta's appearance, though inoffensive, lacked the symmetry and balance of previous generations. However, its upscale interior and emotional value at a competitive price made it an attractive option for those seeking a blend of practicality and sophistication.

The 2023 Nissan Altima in Canada was powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), producing 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. The standard all-wheel-drive system could deliver up to half of the engine's output to the rear wheels, depending on driving conditions. While the power was adequate, the CVT was programmed to mimic a traditional automatic transmission, and the SR Premium trim offered paddle shifters for added engagement. Fuel economy ratings were 9.1 L/100 km in the city, 6.5 on the highway, and 7.9 combined for the base trim, with slightly higher figures for the SR, SR Premium, and Platinum. The Altima's performance was adequate, but its ride was firm, and road noise was noticeable at highway speeds. The steering was lifeless, and the brakes, though initially responsive, showed signs of overheating during testing.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta featured a 1.5-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, delivering 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. The Trendline and Comfortline trims came with a six-speed manual transmission, while the Highline had an eight-speed automatic. The Jetta's turbocharged engine provided zippy acceleration, but the automatic transmission exhibited a noticeable delay in response. The Sport mode helped mitigate this issue, though it impacted fuel economy. The Jetta's official fuel consumption rating was 7.1 L/100 km combined, but our testing averaged 7.8 L/100 km. Despite its quirks, the Jetta Highline offered a rewarding driving experience, with accurate steering, faithful brakes, and predictable handling. The all-season tires provided excellent grip and communication, enhancing the car's overall performance.

The 2023 Nissan Altima's interior, though marred by inexpensive fittings, was user-friendly and comfortable. The controls were logically arranged, and the analog gauges were clear and easy to read. Nissan's Zero Gravity seats, designed for comfort, were wrapped in somewhat sticky leather upholstery. The Altima featured dual-zone automatic climate control, a power sunroof, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, making entry and exit challenging. Rear seat comfort was good, with ample legroom and headroom, but the seatbelt buckle anchor caused discomfort for some passengers. Interior storage was reasonable, though the trunk's 437-litre capacity was smaller than some competitors.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta, straddling the compact and midsize segments, offered ample space for a family of four. The interior featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Jetta's design provided excellent visibility, though the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The rear seat was comfortable, with plenty of legroom and supportive seat cushions. Interior storage was generous, with a large bin under the centre armrest, a spacious glove compartment, and sizable door panel storage. The trunk offered 399 litres of cargo space, nearly matching some midsize sedans, and the 60/40-split folding back seat allowed for carrying longer items.

In Canada, the 2023 Nissan Altima came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio with 360L service. The SR Premium and Platinum trims offered a new 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. The Bose nine-speaker premium audio system, available with higher trims, performed well for some music genres. The 12.3-inch infotainment system represented a significant improvement, with a superior user interface and voice recognition technology. However, climate control adjustments were not possible via voice commands.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta Highline featured a 10.25-inch Volkswagen Digital Cockpit Pro, replacing the standard 8-inch screen. The infotainment touchscreen grew to 8.0 inches, with proximity-sensing, knobs for volume and menu functions, and shortcut tiles for main system menus. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as SiriusXM 360L premium satellite radio. However, the infotainment system had some quirks, such as requiring multiple inputs to change radio stations. The voice recognition system was basic, with more advanced features available through Car-Net connected service upgrades. Car-Net offered a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot and four years of complimentary access to Remote and Safe & Secure feature plans. The Beats Audio premium audio system, while present, was not particularly satisfying.

The 2023 Nissan Altima came equipped with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver monitoring system. ProPilot Assist, available on SR Premium and Platinum trims, added adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The Altima received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though it earned four stars for front passenger frontal impact safety. The IIHS awarded the Altima a Top Safety Pick+ but rated it Poor in the updated side-impact test.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta offered standard forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Comfortline trim added blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Travel Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist. Travel Assist performed well, though it occasionally issued inaccurate warnings. Emergency Assist, a rare feature in this segment, could identify an unresponsive driver and bring the car to a safe stop. The Jetta received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA but earned four stars for frontal-impact protection. The IIHS rated the Jetta Poor in a new moderate overlap frontal-impact crash test.