Nissan Altima vs. Hyundai Sonata

A white Nissan Altima driving quickly down the road

New Nissan Altima For Sale Near South Gate

Find the Perfect Sedan at Our Nissan Dealer Near South Gate, CA

Finding a fuel-efficient sedan that suits your lifestyle is a breeze when shopping at Downey Nissan. At our Nissan dealership near South Gate, CA, we offer a wide selection of models and are more than happy to walk you through the features of our inventory and their competitors, such as comparing the latest iterations of the Nissan Altima and the Hyundai Sonata.

What are the Differences Between the Nissan Altima and Hyundai Sonata?

The 2027 Nissan Altima and 2027 Hyundai Sonata are excellent examples of what you want when getting a new sedan, but each one has different design philosophies as examples of their original brand. While the Sonata focuses more on providing a modern-feeling interior and driving experience, the Altima offers more traditional vehicle comfort with its advanced technology and an increased availability of all-wheel drive.

Feature

Nissan Altima

Hyundai Sonata

Performance

188 hp

191 hp

Torque

146 lb-ft

181 lb-ft

Fuel Economy (MPG)

36 on the highway / 26 in the city / 28 combined

38 on the highway / 26 in the city / 31 combined

Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive

Front-Wheel Drive

EPA Interior Volume

100.6 cu. ft.

104.4 cu. ft.

Cargo Capacity with All Seats in Place

15.4

15.6 cu. ft.

Fuel Capacity

16.2 gallons

15.9 gallons

Seating Capacity

5

5

Payload Capacity

1,097 lbs.

1,054 lbs.

MSRP

$28,855

$28,895

*The following information was provided by TrueCar

Performance and Handling

The Sonata’s fuel economy and horsepower are only marginally higher than the Altima’s, but the Altima comes with additional systems that help reduce driving fatigue, such as:

  • Intelligent Trace Control, which boosts steering response and cornering by selectively applying brake pressure
  • Dual-Pinion Electric Power Steering, providing a more direct feel, noise reduction, and improved fuel economy
  • Available Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, enhancing traction on the road and sending power to back wheels as necessary to help improve fuel economy compared to most AWD models.

The Altima also has a larger fuel tank, which can help decrease the frequency you need to stop at the gas station.

Infotainment and Technology

The Altima and Sonata are neck and neck in this category, as well, coming with several of the same standard and available features, with some of these features including:

  • Six-speaker audio system
  • Hands-free bluetooth
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility 

However, the Altima possesses a few extra traits not present in the Sonata, enhancing both driver awareness and convenience with unique characteristics such as:

  • ProPILOT Assist
    • Intelligent Cruise Control to help drivers maintain a consistent following distance.
    • Steering assist to help the driver remain centered in their lane.
  • Safety Shield 360 featuring a wide array of different amenities
    • Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection
    • High Beam Assist
    • Lane Departure Warning
    • Blind Spot Warning
    • Rear Cross Traffic Alert
    • Rear Automatic Braking
  • NissanConnect, the system that provides additionally connectivity for all Nissan models and provides its suite of technological features

The Altima also has remote vehicle start, which is only an available option in the Sonata.

Comfort

The Altima and Sonata have many of the same interior traits to create a more cozy interior, including:

  • Eight-way power driver seats
  • Four-way manual passenger seat
  • Manual climate control

However, the Alimta edges out the Sonata in its more impressive design details, boasting premium cloth seats to the standard cloth of this Hyundai and leatherette trim on the door handles.

Which Sedan is Right For Me?

These two sedans provide many of the same amenities, making it difficult to make a choice between them. However, while the Sonata may have the higher horsepower, it still falls short of the Altima in terms of interior comfort and handling, while also providing more features to help reduce driver fatigue on long drives.

Learn More About Nissan Leasing and Financing Near Me

If you’ve decided the Altima is the right model for you, contact our Nissan finance center for help with creating a payment plan. If leasing is your preference for vehicle ownership, take advantage of our NMAC SignatureFLEX Lease for convenient, flexible terms on your next Nissan model. You can also take advantage of our rotating Nissan specials to get an even better deal while shopping at our dealership.

Apply For Nissan Financing

Test Drive a New Nissan Altima Near South Gate, CA

To get an in-person experience with a new Altima, schedule a test drive at our Nissan dealership near South Gate, CA, also serving the Downey and Pico Rivera areas. If you have any other questions about this model or how it compares to the competition, just contact us online at Downey Nissan or call our number at 888-460-8484.

New Nissan Altima For Sale Near South Gate

Frequently Asked Questions Comparing the Nissan Altima and Hyundai Sonata

Is the Hyundai Sonata More Expensive than the Nissan Altima?


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Yes, the Sonata has a higher MSRP rate at $28,895 compared to the Altima’s $28,855.

Does the Nissan Altima Have AWD?


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While the Altima comes standard with front-wheel drive, it also has available all-wheel drive, a distinct advantage it has over the Sonata, which is also available, but more limited.

What’s the Main Difference in Size Between the Nissan Altima and Hyundai Sonata?


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The Sonata is generally larger, offering a larger interior, but this comes with reduced agility. The smaller size of the Altima makes it easier to fit through more congested areas and park.

What Driver Assistance Technologies Do the Nissan Altima and Hyundai Sonata Have?


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The Altima has plenty of driver assist features to reduce driver fatigue, including:

  • ProPILOT Assist
  • Dual-Pinion Electric Power Steering
  • Intelligent Trace Control
  • Safety Shield 360
  • Advanced Drive-Assist Display

The Sonata has its own suite of technology provided by Hyundai SmartSense, which includes many features also present in the Altima, such as: 

  • Adaptive Cruise Control
  • Lane-Keeping Assist
  • Blind-Sport Collision Warning
  • High Beam Assist

What’s the Difference in Fuel Efficiency Between the Nissan Altima and Hyundai Sonata?


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The Sonata generally has great fuel economy compared to the Altima, having a fuel rating of 38 on the highway, 26 in the city, and 31 combined while the Altima’s is 36 on the highway, 26 in the city, and 28 combined.