2024 Toyota Prius vs 2023 Nissan Altima

The 2023 Nissan Altima continued Nissan's long-standing tradition in the family car segment, offering a sizable four-door option even as the Maxima faced discontinuation. The Altima featured updated front styling with a revised grille, new wheel designs, and two new paint colors, enhancing its visual appeal, especially in higher trims with 19-inch wheels. However, the wheels on the SL trim were prone to curb damage due to their flush design. The Altima SL, one of the upscale trims, offered a luxurious feel with optional all-wheel drive, priced at $34,755 with destination charges. Despite its appealing interior, the Altima's use of hard plastics reminded drivers of its lower base price, though options like Gray leather and new dashboard stitching added a touch of elegance.

The 2024 Toyota Prius retained its iconic wedge-shaped profile but introduced more appealing styling with aerodynamically optimized bodywork. The Prius XLE and Limited trims stood out with attractive 19-inch aluminum wheels. Inside, the Prius maintained its quirky charm, moving the instrumentation in front of the driver, though visibility could be an issue depending on seating position. The interior featured hard plastics, leading to a flimsy feel despite Toyota's reputation for durability. The 2024 model saw no changes, continuing in LE, XLE, and Limited trims, with prices ranging from $27,950 to $34,965. Our XLE test vehicle, equipped with numerous options, had an MSRP of $35,532, including destination charges.

The 2023 Nissan Altima, except for the SR VC-Turbo, was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a CVT, producing 188 horsepower in FWD models and 182 hp with AWD. The AWD system could deliver up to half of the engine's output to the rear wheels. The Altima's power was adequate, with torque arriving at 3,600 rpm, and the CVT mimicked a traditional automatic transmission. Fuel economy ranged from 30 to 32 mpg, but our SL AWD averaged 27.4 mpg. The SR VC-Turbo offered a more powerful turbocharged engine with 236 hp on regular gas and 248 hp on premium, with a sport-tuned suspension and additional control systems. Despite its features, the Altima's performance was merely adequate, with poor rear visibility and a firm ride.

The 2024 Toyota Prius received a power boost with its redesign, boasting a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, an 83-kW electric motor, and a lithium-ion battery. The hybrid system produced 194 hp with FWD and 196 hp with AWD, achieving 57 mpg in combined driving for the LE trim. The Prius offered a plug-in hybrid option, the Prius Prime, with 40 to 45 miles of electric driving. Our test car averaged 48.3 mpg on a mountainous route. The Prius's handling improved, but the steering felt artificial, and the CVT could groan under hard acceleration. The ride lacked smoothness on rough roads, and visibility was hindered by the windshield pillars and small windows.

The 2023 Nissan Altima's interior was simple and comfortable, with controls laid out logically and clear analog gauges. The Zero Gravity seats were exceptionally comfortable, though the leather upholstery was somewhat sticky. The Altima SL featured dual-zone climate control, a power sunroof, heated front seats, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat. However, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, making entry and exit challenging. Rear seat comfort was good, with ample legroom and headroom, but rear air vents were only available in higher trims. The trunk offered 15.4 cubic feet of space, smaller than some competitors, and lacked a handle for easy closing.

The 2024 Toyota Prius's interior felt snug due to its dramatic exterior styling. The driver’s seat was comfortable, but the gauges were far away, and the steering wheel could block part of the display. The windshield pillars created a claustrophobic feel, and the rear seats were cramped but comfortable for two. Storage space was adequate, with a wireless charging slot that could collect dirt. The Prius offered 20.3 cubic feet of cargo space in the XLE and Limited trims, with more space available by removing the cargo cover. An optional digital rearview mirror provided a panoramic view when the cargo area was full.

The 2023 Nissan Altima offered a modern infotainment system starting with the SV trim, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM. A new 12.3-inch touchscreen was available, offering navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The system included NissanConnect Services with remote engine start and voice recognition. A Bose nine-speaker audio system was available, though performance varied. The 12.3-inch system was a significant improvement, with a superior interface and graphics.

The 2024 Toyota Prius featured the Toyota Audio Multimedia system with an 8-inch or 12.3-inch touchscreen, offering Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM. Five connected services plans were available, with varying trial lengths. The system included Wi-Fi Connect, Service Connect, Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Drive Connect. The Limited trim offered an eight-speaker JBL sound system, though performance was bass-heavy. The Prius Limited also offered a 360-degree camera system and semi-autonomous parking assistance.

The 2023 Nissan Altima came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. ProPilot Assist, available on higher trims, added adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The Altima received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, though it received a Poor rating in the updated side-impact test.

The 2024 Toyota Prius featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. Proactive Driving Assist added subtle steering and braking. The Prius received five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rollover resistance rating, and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.