Head-to-head
2026 Hyundai Elantra vs 2026 Nissan Altima
The Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 93.4 to 80.8, on fuel & range. The Nissan Altima is ahead on safety.
C
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…
Verdict · default weights
2026 Hyundai Elantra
Clear winThe Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 93.4 to 80.8, on fuel & range. The Nissan Altima is ahead on safety.
Fuel & range2026 Hyundai Elantra leads by 44.9
Safety2026 Nissan Altima leads by 11.5
| Category · weight | 2026 Nissan Altimaoverall 80.8 | 2026 Hyundai Elantraoverall 93.4 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | no data | no data |
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 55.1 | 100 |
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 88.5 |
| Space & cargow 2 | no data | no data |
| Performancew 2 | no data | no data |
| Tech & comfortw 3 | no data | no data |
| Warrantyw 2 | no data | no data |
| Overall | 80.8 | 93.4 |
Nissan Altima: base trim SV FWD · Hyundai Elantra: model-level data. 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.
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Specifications side by side
41 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $27,580 | — |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Cylinder count | 4 | — |
| Engine displacement | 2,488 cc | — |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.5L DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder inline | — |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | — |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 188 hp | — |
| Torque | 180 lb-ft | — |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 26 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 30 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 36 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 4.828 | — |
| Transmission type | cvt | — |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Overall height | 56.8 in | — |
| Overall length | 193 in | — |
| Overall width | 72.9 in | — |
| Wheelbase | 111 in | — |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 15.4 cu-ft | — |
| Total interior volume | 116 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 39.1 in | — |
| Second-row headroom | 36.9 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 43.8 in | — |
| Second-row legroom | 35.2 in | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent strut with coil springs, aluminum links, 25mm stabilizer bar | — |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link independent, 26mm hollow stabilizer bar | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Dual-pinion electric-powered, vehicle-speed-sensitive | — |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 18.7 ft | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 296 mm | — |
| Front brake type | Power-assisted vented disc | — |
| Parking brake type | Foot brake / mechanical | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 292 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | — |
| Wheel material | alloy | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 215/55R17 | — |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 16.2 gal | — |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | NissanConnect | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 58.2 in | — |
| Second-row shoulder room | 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
82 features · differences first, then sharedSafety30 differ · 30 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Cruise Control | opt | — |
| Intelligent Forward Collision Warning | std | — |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | std | — |
| Front seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags | std | — |
| Intelligent Lane Intervention | opt | — |
| Lane Departure Warning | std | — |
| Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensor | std | — |
| RearView Monitor | std | — |
| Roof-mounted curtain side impact supplemental air bags for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection | std | — |
| Seat-mounted rear passenger side-impact supplemental air bags | std | — |
| Anti-lock Braking System | std | — |
| Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection | std | — |
| Blind Spot Warning | std | — |
| Cruise control | std | — |
| Driver and front passenger supplemental knee air bags | std | — |
| Easy-Fill Tire Alert | std | — |
| Electronic parking brake with auto-hold | opt | — |
| High Beam Assist | std | — |
| Hill Start Assist | std | — |
| Intelligent Driver Alertness | std | — |
| Intelligent Trace Control | opt | — |
| ProPILOT Assist | opt | — |
| Rear Automatic Braking | std | — |
| Rear Door Alert | std | — |
| Rear Sonar System | std | — |
| Traction Control System | std | — |
| Vehicle Dynamic Control | std | — |
| Vehicle Security System | std | — |
| Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System, 4-corner pressure readout | std | — |
Infotainment18 differ · 18 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| NissanConnect Services Powered by SiriusXM® Wi-Fi Hotspot | opt | — |
| 12.3-inch HD color display with multi-touch control | opt | — |
| 7-inch Advanced Drive-Assist® Display | std | — |
| 8-inch color display with multi-touch control | std | — |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system | std | — |
| Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant | std | — |
| NissanConnect Services Powered by SiriusXM® | opt | — |
| NissanConnect® featuring Apple CarPlay® integration and Android Auto™ | std | — |
| Siri Eyes Free®/Google Assistant™ Voice Recognition | std | — |
| SiriusXM® with advanced audio features | 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 pad | opt | — |
Convenience6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Remote engine start | std | — |
| Nissan Intelligent Key® with Push Button Ignition | std | — |
| Power door locks with selective unlocking | std | — |
| Power windows with auto up/down with auto reverse – driver side | std | — |
| SV Premium Package | opt | — |
| SV Special Edition Package | opt | — |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Dual-Zone Automatic Temperature Control | opt | — |
| Front HVAC system microfilter | std | — |
Seating7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| 8-way power driver's seat | std | — |
| Heated front seats | opt | — |
| 2-way power lumbar | opt | — |
| 60/40 split fold-down rear seats with fold-down release in cabin and in trunk | std | — |
| Leather-appointed seats | opt | — |
| Woven fabric seating | std | — |
| Zero Gravity Seat front seat design | std | — |
Interior1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| 3-spoke urethane steering wheel | std | — |
Exterior16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Single panel moonroof | opt | — |
| 17-inch alloy wheel, gloss black | opt | — |
| 17-inch machined aluminum-alloy with painted inserts wheels | std | — |
| 19-inch machined aluminum-alloy with painted inserts wheels | opt | — |
| 215/55R17 all-season tires | std | — |
| 235/40R19 all-season tires | opt | — |
| Active grille shutters | std | — |
| Center High-Mounted Stop Light (LED) | std | — |
| Dual power remote-controlled sideview mirrors – manual folding | std | — |
| Exhaust finisher | opt | — |
| Flat blade variable intermittent windshield wipers with mist cycle | std | — |
| Intelligent Auto Headlights (LED with DRL and High Beam Assist) | std | — |
| Premium Paint | opt | — |
| Rear decklid spoiler | opt | — |
| Rear window defroster with timer | std | — |
| Temporary spare tire – 16 x 4T, steel wheel | std | — |
Powertrain1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Available Intelligent All-Wheel Drive | opt | — |
Chassis1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Active Ride Control | opt | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
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Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPNissan Altima
Safety Signal100 A
NHTSA overall★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls0
Owner complaints—
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Hyundai Elantra
Safety Signal77 C
NHTSA overall★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls2 · 1 critical
Owner complaints3 · 0 crashes · 1 fires
Most complained aboutWheels (1), Air Bags (1), Fuel/Propulsion System (1)
Top recalls
- criticalElectrical System26V308000 · 54,337 vehicles
- highAir Bags26V254000 · 2,931 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Nissan AltimaSV FWD | Hyundai Elantra | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $27,580 (base trim) | — |
| Price range across trims | $27,580 – $30,480 4 trims | — |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Altima | Elantra Hybrid Blue |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 30 | 54 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,100 | $1,150 |
| 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?
The Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 93.4 to 80.8, on fuel & range. The Nissan Altima is ahead on safety. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Hyundai Elantra scores 93.4 and the 2026 Nissan Altima 80.8. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
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 C, 2 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 differences between the 2026 Nissan Altima and the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
This page puts 41 specifications and 82 equipment items side by side, with the better value marked on every row where the direction is unambiguous and the differences listed before the things both cars share.