Hyundai Elantra vs Nissan Altima
2 head-to-heads across the 2025 and 2026 model years, side by side. At default weights the Elantra leads 1–0, with 1 toss-up. Each verdict below is the one its own page prints — price, fuel, safety, space, performance, tech and warranty from EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer data — and the weights are yours to change on any of them.
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Year by year
2 head-to-heads · verdicts at default weightsClear win 6+ points · Edge 2–6 · Toss-up under 2
Across the years, category by category
2 scored head-to-headsThe Elantra leads on price in 2 of 2, fuel & range in 2 of 2; the Altima on safety in 2 of 2, space & cargo in 2 of 2, performance in 2 of 2. Category scores are 0–100 from the data on each pair page; a lead here means that model year scored higher in the category, whatever the weights.
| Category | Elantra leads | Altima leads | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel & range | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Safety | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Space & cargo | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Performance | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Tech & comfort | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Common questions about the Elantra vs Altima
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the Hyundai Elantra or the Nissan Altima?
In the newest scored pairing, the 2026 Elantra against the 2026 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. Across the 2 head-to-heads scored, the Elantra leads 1–0, with 1 toss-up. Open the 2026 pair to change the weights.
Does the answer change from one model year to the next?
No. In every model year scored (2025 and 2026) the Elantra came out ahead at default weights, with 1 toss-up.
Where is the biggest difference between the Hyundai Elantra and the Nissan Altima?
The Elantra leads on price in 2 of 2, fuel & range in 2 of 2; the Altima on safety in 2 of 2, space & cargo in 2 of 2, performance in 2 of 2. Every count comes from the category scores on the pair pages linked above, which use EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press-kit data.
How does WhichTrim decide which vehicle wins?
Each of seven categories — price, fuel and range, safety, space and cargo, performance, tech and comfort, warranty — is scored 0–100 from the data on the page. Relative measures give 100 to the better vehicle and a proportional share to the other; NHTSA stars and the Safety Signal use their own scales. The overall score is the weighted mean at the default weights (price 4, safety 4, fuel 3, tech 3, space 2, performance 2, warranty 2). A margin of 6 points or more is a clear win, 2 to 6 an edge, under 2 a toss-up. Every pair page has sliders to change the weights.