Head-to-head
2026 Hyundai Elantra vs 2026 Nissan Altima
Too close to call: Hyundai Elantra 89.1 vs Nissan Altima 88.8 with these weights. The Nissan Altima is ahead on safety and performance. Raise the safety weight from 4 to 4.3 and it flips.
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2026 Hyundai Elantra
The 2026 Hyundai Elantra is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas midsize sedan with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Elantra Hybrid B…
vs
A2026 Nissan Altima
The 2026 Nissan Altima is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Altima, is EPA-rated at 30 mp…
More Hyundai Elantra head-to-heads More Nissan Altima head-to-heads Every Elantra vs Altima model year
Verdict · default weights
2026 Hyundai Elantra
Toss-upToo close to call: Hyundai Elantra 89.1 vs Nissan Altima 88.8 with these weights. The Nissan Altima is ahead on safety and performance. Raise the safety weight from 4 to 4.3 and it flips.
Fuel & range 2026 Hyundai Elantra leads by 44.4
Safety 2026 Nissan Altima leads by 25.1
Price 2026 Hyundai Elantra leads by 17.2
| Category · weight | 2026 Nissan Altimaoverall 88.8 | 2026 Hyundai Elantraoverall 89.1 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 82.8 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 55.6 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 74.9 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 100 | 94.8 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 76.6 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 87.1 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 88.8 | 89.1 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Nissan Altima: base trim SV FWD · Hyundai Elantra: base trim SE FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the safety weight from 4 to 4.3 and the answer flips.
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 2026 Hyundai Elantra wins
- It costs $1,000 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,250 against $2,250).
- It is rated 54 combined against 30 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It starts $4,755 lower ($22,825 against $27,580 base MSRP).
Where the 2026 Nissan Altima answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 4 filed with NHTSA).
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 68).
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.
Specifications side by side
51 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $27,580 | $22,825 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 2,488 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.5L 4-cylinder inline DOHC | 2.0L MPI Atkinson DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | 4 valves per cylinder; CVTCS on intake and exhaust valves | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 188 hp | 147 hp |
| Torque | 180 lb-ft | 132 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 26 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 30 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 36 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 4.828 | 4.892 |
| Transmission type | cvt | Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 5.3 in |
| Overall height | 56.8 in | 55.7 in |
| Overall length | 193 in | 185 in |
| Overall width | 72.9 in | 71.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 111 in | 107 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 15.4 cu-ft | 14.2 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 116 cu-ft | 114 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 39.1 in | 40.6 in |
| Second-row headroom | 36.9 in | — |
| Third-row headroom | — | 37.3 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 43.8 in | 42.3 in |
| Second-row legroom | 35.2 in | — |
| Third-row legroom | — | 38 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | — | 2,868 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 2,725 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 3,858 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent strut with coil springs, aluminum links, 25mm stabilizer bar | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link independent suspension, 26mm hollow stabilizer bar | Coupled Torsion Beam Axle |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Dual-pinion electric-powered steering system | Column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 18.7 ft | 17.7 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 296 mm | — |
| Front brake type | Power-assisted vented disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | Foot brake / mechanical | Mechanical Cable (Hand lever) |
| Rear brake diameter | 292 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | 15 in |
| Wheel material | alloy | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | — | 6 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 215/55R17 | 195/65R15 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 16.2 gal | 12.4 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | NissanConnect Services Powered by SiriusXM | — |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 3 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 58.2 in | 56.5 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 57.1 in | — |
| Third-row shoulder room | — | 55.6 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
151 features · differences first, then sharedSafety28 differ · 42 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Blind Spot Warning | std | — |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA - camera only) w/ Pedestrian Detection | — | std |
| Smart Cruise Control w/ Stop & Go (SCC & S&G) | opt | — |
| Intelligent Forward Collision Warning | std | — |
| Lane Departure Warning | std | — |
| Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) & Lane Following Assist (LFA) | — | std |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) & High Beam Assist (HBA) | — | std |
| Safe Exit Warning (SEW) | — | std |
| Seat-mounted rear passenger side-impact supplemental air bags | std | — |
| Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection | std | — |
| Child safety rear door locks | std | — |
| Child seat upper tether anchors – 3 (rear seat) | std | — |
| Driver and front passenger supplemental knee air bags | std | — |
| Easy-Fill Tire Alert | std | — |
| Electronic / switch parking brake | opt | — |
| Electronic Brake Force Distribution | std | — |
| Emergency inside trunk release | std | — |
| Hill Start Assist | std | — |
| Intelligent Driver Alertness | std | — |
| Intelligent Lane Intervention | opt | — |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | — | std |
| LATCH System | std | — |
| ProPILOT Assist | opt | — |
| Rear Automatic Braking | std | — |
| Rear Sonar System | std | — |
| Smart Pedal | — | std |
| Vehicle Security System | std | — |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) | — | std |
| Blind-Spot Collision-Warning (BCW) w/ Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCA) | std | std |
| Advanced dual front airbags w/ Occupant Classification System (OCS) | std | std |
| Driver and Front Passenger Side-impact (2) | std | std |
| Rearview camera with Dynamic Guidance | std | std |
| Side Air Curtains (front and rear passengers) (2) | std | std |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) w/ Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) | std | std |
| Automatic High Beam Assist | std | std |
| Brake Assist | std | std |
| Cruise control | std | std |
| Safe Exit Warning & Rear Occupant Alert | std | std |
| Traction Control System (TCS) | std | std |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Electronic Stability Control System (ESC) with Traction Control System (TCS) and Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) | std | std |
| Anti-theft System integrated with Remote Keyless Entry and Panic | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) | std | std |
Infotainment27 differ · 27 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-fi Hotspot (tied to Navigation) | opt | — |
| 8-inch Display Audio system with 6 speakers, High Resolution Touchscreen with rearview camera with Dynamic Guidance, AM/FM / HD/ AM/FM/HD/ Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto | — | std |
| Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System with Voice Recognition | — | std |
| 12.3-inch HD color display with multi-touch control | opt | — |
| 2 Rear USB-C charge | — | std |
| 7-inch Advanced Drive-Assist® Display | std | — |
| 8-inch color display with multi-touch control | std | — |
| AM/FM with 6 speakers | std | — |
| Audio Controls (Volume up/down, Seek up/down, Mode) | — | std |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system | std | — |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with Voice Recognition | — | std |
| Dual USB ports (1 USB charge + data, 1 USB-C charge) | — | std |
| Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant | std | — |
| In-glass AM/FM antenna | — | std |
| NissanConnect Services Powered by SiriusXM® (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately), Wi-Fi Hotspot | opt | — |
| NissanConnect® featuring Apple CarPlay® integration and Android Auto™ | std | — |
| Siri Eyes Free®/Google Assistant™ Voice Recognition | std | — |
| SiriusXM® with advanced audio features (three-month trial period included) | std | — |
| Speed-sensitive automatic volume control | — | std |
| Streaming audio via Bluetooth® | std | — |
| Two front illuminated USB connection ports (one Type-A, one Type-C) | std | — |
| Two rear illuminated USB charge ports (one Type-A, one Type-C) | opt | — |
| Wired Android Auto | std | — |
| Wired Apple CarPlay | std | — |
| Wireless Android Auto | opt | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | opt | — |
| Wireless Charging - Qi format | opt | — |
Convenience7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Proximity key entry with push button start | std | — |
| 12-volt Outlet below HVAC controls | — | std |
| Power Door Locks (ignition key reminder, 2-turn unlocking, inside handle override) | — | std |
| Power door locks with selective unlocking | std | — |
| Power windows with auto up/down with auto reverse – driver side | std | — |
| Power Windows with Driver's auto-down, illuminated power window switches | — | std |
| Remote engine start | std | — |
Climate3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual-Zone Automatic Temperature Control | opt | — |
| Front HVAC system microfilter | std | — |
| Manual Air Conditioning | — | std |
Seating13 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 60/40 Split Fold-down Rear Seatback with adjustable headrests (all) center armrest w/ cup holder | std | — |
| Heated Front Seats | opt | — |
| Power driver's seat with lumbar support | std | — |
| 6-way Driver's adjustable Bucket | — | std |
| 1-piece bench folding rear seatback with fixed center headrest and outer headrests | — | std |
| 4-way manual passenger seat | std | — |
| 4-way Passenger's adjustable Bucket | — | std |
| 4-way power passenger seat | opt | — |
| Front Passenger slide/recline | — | std |
| Leather-appointed seating | opt | — |
| Power driver's seat with lumbar support | opt | — |
| Seat folding release in trunk | — | std |
| Zero gravity bucket front seats | std | — |
| Premium cloth seating surfaces | std | std |
Interior19 differ · 19 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2-inch color (TFT-LCD) | — | std |
| 3-spoke urethane steering wheel | std | — |
| Auto Dimming Mirror with Homelink | — | opt |
| Cargo Area Light | — | std |
| Center console with armrest, 12V power outlet and storage | std | — |
| Central Dome Light (with Delay) | — | std |
| Door scuff - Step Plate (plastic) | — | std |
| Dual overhead front map lights with sunglass holder | std | — |
| Front Map Lights | — | std |
| Meters/gauges – Fine Vision illumination (Speedometer, Tachometer, Coolant temperature, Fuel level with fuel door location indicator) | std | — |
| Rear reading lights | std | — |
| Shift Knob - Urethane | — | std |
| Steering wheel-mounted control switches (cruise control, audio, Bluetooth® hands-free phone system) | std | — |
| Tilt and Telescopic steering wheel | — | std |
| Urethane steering wheel | — | std |
| Inside Rearview Mirror - Manual Day/Night | — | std |
| Carpeted Floor Mats | — | std |
| Sunvisors w/ illumination & extension | — | std |
| Trip Computer (Distance to Empty, Average Fuel Consumption, Average Vehicle Speed, Elapsed time) | — | std |
Exterior23 differ · 25 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Sunroof power glass – tilt and slide, safety one-touch | opt | — |
| Dual LED Projector Headlights | — | std |
| 17-inch alloy wheel, gloss black | opt | — |
| 17-inch machined aluminum-alloy with painted inserts | std | — |
| 19-inch machined aluminum-alloy with painted inserts | opt | — |
| 215/55R17 all-season tires | std | — |
| 235/40R19 all-season tires | opt | — |
| Active grille shutters | std | — |
| Bulb Rear Taillights | — | std |
| Center High-Mounted Stop Light (LED) | std | — |
| Dual power remote-controlled sideview mirrors – manual folding | std | — |
| Dual Power, Two-Tone outside mirrors (Body color top + Black bottom) | — | std |
| Exhaust finisher | opt | — |
| Flat blade variable intermittent windshield wipers with mist cycle | std | — |
| Front Windshield 2-speed intermittent, mist function wipers | — | std |
| Grille - Black | — | std |
| Intelligent Auto Headlights (LED, Daytime Running Lights, High Beam Assist) | std | — |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | — | std |
| Rear decklid spoiler | opt | — |
| Window Belt Moldings - Black | — | std |
| Automatic Headlamp Control | — | std |
| Solar Glass | — | std |
| Splash Guards | opt | — |
| Rear Seat Heater Ducts and Rear Window Defroster | std | std |
| Compact Spar Tire T125/80D15×4T | std | std |
Powertrain5 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Available Intelligent All-Wheel Drive | std | — |
| Battery saver timing device | std | — |
| Drive Mode Select: Normal / Sport / Smart | — | std |
| Idle, Stop & Go | — | std |
| Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) | — | std |
| Drive Configuration: FWD | std | std |
Chassis8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Active Ride Control | opt | — |
| Column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) | — | std |
| Coupled Torsion Beam Axle rear suspension | — | std |
| Intelligent Trace Control | opt | — |
| MacPherson Strut front suspension | — | std |
| Mechanical Cable Parking Brake | — | std |
| Unibody construction with High Tensile Steel | — | std |
| ZF Sachs monotube rear shock absorbers | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPNissan Altima
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 1 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (1), Lane Departure (1)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Hyundai Elantra
Safety Signal 68 D
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls 4 · 1 critical
Owner complaints 4 · 0 crashes · 1 fires
Most complained about Wheels (1), Air Bags (1), Unspecified (1)
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V308000 · 54,337 vehicles
- high Suspension 26V692000 · 24 vehicles
- high Wheels 26V693000 · 17 vehicles
- high Air Bags 26V254000 · 2,931 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $27,580 (base trim) | $22,825 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $27,580 – $30,480 4 trims | $22,825 – $40,950 14 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Altima | Elantra Hybrid Blue |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 30 | 54 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,250 | $1,250 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Nissan Altima or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
Too close to call: Hyundai Elantra 89.1 vs Nissan Altima 88.8 with these weights. The Nissan Altima is ahead on safety and performance. Raise the safety weight from 4 to 4.3 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Hyundai Elantra scores 89.1 and the 2026 Nissan Altima 88.8. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Nissan Altima or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
The 2026 Hyundai Elantra starts lower — $22,825 against $27,580, a gap of $4,755 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Nissan Altima or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
2026 Nissan Altima: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. 2026 Hyundai Elantra: 5 NHTSA stars, grade D, 4 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 2026 Nissan Altima and the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
Where the 2026 Hyundai Elantra wins: it costs $1,000 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,250 against $2,250), is rated 54 combined against 30 (EPA mpg or MPGe), and starts $4,755 lower ($22,825 against $27,580 base MSRP). Where the 2026 Nissan Altima answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 4 filed with NHTSA) and has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 68). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars and 5 seats.