Head-to-head
2023 Nissan Altima vs 2023 Toyota Prius Prime
The Toyota Prius Prime wins clearly, 90 to 79.5, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, space & cargo. The Nissan Altima is ahead on price and performance.
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2023 Nissan Altima
The 2023 Nissan Altima is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Altima, is EPA-rated at 31 mp…
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C2023 Toyota Prius Prime
The 2023 Toyota Prius Prime is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid midsize sedan with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Prius Prime S…
Verdict · default weights
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
Clear winThe Toyota Prius Prime wins clearly, 90 to 79.5, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, space & cargo. The Nissan Altima is ahead on price and performance.
Tech & comfort 2023 Toyota Prius Prime leads by 62.1
Fuel & range 2023 Toyota Prius Prime leads by 39.8
Price 2023 Nissan Altima leads by 22.3
| Category · weight | 2023 Toyota Prius Primeoverall 90 | 2023 Nissan Altimaoverall 79.5 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 77.7 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 60.2 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 88.3 | 90.1 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 99.7 | 88 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 77.9 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 37.9 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 90 | 79.5 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Toyota Prius Prime: base trim SE FWD · Nissan Altima: base trim S FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (6 against 29 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (29 points against 11 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It is rated 52 combined against 31 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
Where the 2023 Nissan Altima answers
- It lists 26 standard driver-assist features against 18.
- It starts $7,345 lower ($25,630 against $32,975 base MSRP).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- 5 seats.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
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Specifications side by side
49 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan AltimaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | — | $25,630 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 1,987 cc | 2,488 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.0-Liter 4-cylinder Aluminum DOHC 16-Valve with VVT-i (Atkinson cycle) | 2.5L DOHC 4-cylinder inline |
| Fuel injection system | — | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | DOHC |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 150 hp | 188 hp |
| Torque | 139 lb-ft | 180 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 53 mpg | 28 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 52 mpg | 32 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 51 mpg | 39 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | — | 4.828 |
| Transmission type | Electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT) | cvt |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.6 in | — |
| Overall height | 55.9 in | 56.7 in |
| Overall length | 181 in | 193 in |
| Overall width | 70.2 in | 72.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 108 in | 111 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 26.7 cu-ft | — |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 20.3 cu-ft | 15.4 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 91.2 cu-ft | 116 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 38 in | 39.1 in |
| Third-row headroom | 36.4 in | 36.9 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 43.2 in | 43.8 in |
| Third-row legroom | 34.8 in | 35.2 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,461 lbs | 3,244 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,461 lbs | 3,244 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 4,328 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar | Independent strut w/ coil springs, aluminum links, 25mm stabilizer bar |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link with rear stabilizer bar | Multi-link independent suspension, 26mm hollow stabilizer bar |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power Steering (EPS); power-assisted rack-and-pinion | Dual-Pinion Electric-Powered Steering System |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 34.4 ft | 36.1 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 305 mm | 296 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | Power-assisted vented disc |
| Parking brake type | Automatic Electric Parking Brake | Foot brake / mechanical |
| Rear brake diameter | 279 mm | 292 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | 16 in |
| Wheel material | alloy | steel |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 195/60R17 | 215/60R16 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | — | 16.2 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Toyota Connected Services | — |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | 120 months | — |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 12 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 55.3 in | 58.2 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 52.8 in | 57.1 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
89 features · differences first, then sharedSafety23 differ · 34 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan AltimaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection | — | std |
| Intelligent Forward Collision Warning | — | std |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | — | std |
| Lane Departure Warning | — | std |
| Safe Exit Assist (SEA) | std | — |
| Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) | std | — |
| Blind Spot Warning | — | std |
| Brake Assist | — | std |
| Driver and front passenger supplemental knee air bags | — | std |
| Easy Fill Tire Alert | — | std |
| Electronic Brake force Distribution | — | std |
| Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking (PA w/AB) | opt | — |
| High Beam Assist | — | std |
| Intelligent Driver Alertness | — | std |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) includes lower anchors on outboard rear seats and tether anchors on all rear seats | std | — |
| Rear Automatic Braking | — | std |
| Rear Door Alert system | — | std |
| Rear Sonar System | — | std |
| Rear-Seat Reminder | std | — |
| Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 — Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Lane Change Assist (LCA), Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCT), Road Sign Assist (RSA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), Proactive Driving Assist (PDA) | std | — |
| Traffic Jam Assist (TJA) | std | — |
| Vehicle Proximity Notification System (VPNS) | std | — |
| Vehicle Security System | — | std |
| Front seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags | std | std |
| Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensor | std | std |
| RearView Monitor | std | std |
| Roof-mounted curtain side impact supplemental air bags for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection | std | std |
| Seat-mounted rear passenger side-impact supplemental air bags | std | std |
| Anti-lock Braking System | std | std |
| Hill Start Assist | std | std |
| Traction Control System | std | std |
| Vehicle Dynamic Control | std | std |
| Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System, 4-corner pressure readout | std | std |
Infotainment22 differ · 22 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan AltimaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Safety Connect® - includes Emergency Assistance Button, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification, and Stolen Vehicle Locator. | std | — |
| Safety Connect® - includes Emergency Assistance Button, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification, and Stolen Vehicle Locator. | std | — |
| Remote Connect - Remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app, via your smart watch, Amazon Alexa enabled devices, and Google Assistant™ enabled devices. Allowing you to Lock/Unlock doors, Start and Stop the vehicle, Remote Climate, locate your last parked location, check vehicle status, and monitor guest drivers. | std | — |
| Remote Connect - Remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app, via your smart watch, Amazon Alexa enabled devices, and Google Assistant™ enabled devices. Allowing you to Lock/Unlock doors, Start and Stop the vehicle, Remote Climate, locate your last parked location, check vehicle status, and monitor guest drivers. | std | — |
| Safety Connect® - includes Emergency Assistance Button, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification, and Stolen Vehicle Locator. | std | — |
| Wi-Fi hotspot | std | — |
| Leather-trimmed heated tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio, Multi-Information Display, and Bluetooth® hands-free phone controls | std | — |
| Remote Connect - Remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app, via your smart watch, Amazon Alexa enabled devices, and Google Assistant™ enabled devices. Allowing you to Lock/Unlock doors, Start and Stop the vehicle, Remote Climate, locate your last parked location, check vehicle status, and monitor guest drivers. | std | — |
| Safety Connect® - includes Emergency Assistance Button, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification, and Stolen Vehicle Locator. | std | — |
| 5.0-inch meter display | — | std |
| 8-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen, six speakers, with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatible, SiriusXM® with 3-month Platinum Plan trial subscription | std | — |
| AM/FM w/RDS and Aux-in, 6 speakers | — | std |
| Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System | — | std |
| Drive Connect - includes Cloud Navigation with Google points-of-interest (POI) data, Intelligent Assistant with Hey Toyota, and Destination Assist. | std | — |
| Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant | — | std |
| Leather-trimmed heated tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio, Multi-Information Display, and Bluetooth® hands-free phone controls | std | — |
| Service Connect - Receive personalized maintenance updates and vehicle health reports. Subscription required after trial. 4G network dependent. | std | — |
| Siri Eyes Free®/Google Assistant™ Voice Recognition | — | std |
| Six USB-c charge ports * — two front/ two center console/ two rear | std | — |
| Streaming audio via Bluetooth® | — | std |
| Wireless Android Auto™ compatibility | std | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® compatibility | std | — |
Convenience5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan AltimaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan Intelligent Key® with Push Button Ignition | std | — |
| Remote engine start | — | std |
| Cruise control | — | std |
| Single front illuminated USB connection ports (one Type-A) | — | std |
| Power windows with auto up/down | std | — |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan AltimaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Single zone climate control system with dust and pollen filter | std | — |
Seating3 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan AltimaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 60/40 split fold-down rear seats | std | — |
| Fabric-trimmed front seats; 6-way adjustable driver's seat; 6-way adjustable front passenger seat | std | — |
| Woven fabric | — | std |
| Driver's seat 6-way manual | std | std |
Interior7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan AltimaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 3-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel | std | — |
| Center console with armrest and storage compartment | std | — |
| Rear dome light and cargo area light | std | — |
| Top-mount Multi-Information Display (MID) with indicators and 7-in. LCD display with speedometer, drive mode indicators, instrumentation and customizable settings, odometer, tripmeters, clock, outside temperature, rear passenger seatbelt indicators, fuel economy information, trip timer, and warning messages | std | — |
| Two front cup holders; two front and two rear bottle holders | std | — |
| Extendable dual sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors | std | — |
| Extendable dual sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors | std | — |
Exterior12 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan AltimaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Bi-LED projector low- and high-beam headlights, Automatic High Beams (AHB) and auto on/off | std | — |
| Heated power outside mirrors with folding feature | std | — |
| 16-inch steel with full wheel cover | — | std |
| 17-in. alloy wheels with wheel covers and 195/60R17 tires | std | — |
| Active grille shutter | std | — |
| Active grille shutters | — | std |
| Heated sideview mirrors with integrated LED turn signal indicators | std | — |
| LED taillights and stop lights | std | — |
| Rain-sensing variable intermittent windshield wipers | std | — |
| Roof-mounted shark-fin antenna | std | — |
| Rear window defroster with timer | — | std |
| Temporary spare tire – 16 x 4T, steel wheel | — | std |
| Daytime Running Lights | std | std |
Powertrain2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan AltimaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Front engine / FWD | — | std |
| Hybrid Net System Horsepower: 220 horsepower (164 kW) | std | — |
Cargo1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan AltimaS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo area tonneau cover | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
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Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPToyota Prius Prime
Safety Signal 79 C
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls 4
Owner complaints 6 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (3), Power Train (2), Exterior Lighting (1)
Top recalls
- high Latches/Locks/Linkages 26V049000 · 141,286 vehicles
- high Latches/Locks/Linkages 24V274000 · 55,690 vehicles
- moderate Back Over Prevention 25V744000 · 1,024,407 vehicles
- minor Equipment 24V548000 · 33,848 vehicles
Nissan Altima
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 29 · 5 crashes · 1 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (10), Forward Collision Avoidance (6), Engine (6)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan AltimaS FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $32,975 (base trim) | $25,630 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $32,975 – $39,670 3 trims | $25,630 – $35,330 8 trims |
| Powertrains | PHEV | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Prius Prime SE | Altima |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 52 | 31 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,300 | $2,150 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi | — |
| Roadside assistance | 3 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime or the 2023 Nissan Altima?
The Toyota Prius Prime wins clearly, 90 to 79.5, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, space & cargo. The Nissan Altima is ahead on price and performance. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime scores 90 and the 2023 Nissan Altima 79.5. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime or the 2023 Nissan Altima?
The 2023 Nissan Altima starts lower — $25,630 against $32,975, a gap of $7,345 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime or the 2023 Nissan Altima?
2023 Toyota Prius Prime: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 4 recalls. 2023 Nissan Altima: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime and the 2023 Nissan Altima?
Where the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (6 against 29 filed with NHTSA), lists more comfort and tech equipment (29 points against 11 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and is rated 52 combined against 31 (EPA mpg or MPGe). Where the 2023 Nissan Altima answers: it lists 26 standard driver-assist features against 18 and starts $7,345 lower ($25,630 against $32,975 base MSRP). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars and 5 seats.