The Nissan Altima and the Toyota Camry both offer a great blend of performance, ride comfort, fuel economy, and technology, making it difficult to choose between them. However, if you compare their specifications and features, you’ll see that they’re different in many ways. These two sedans have been around for a long time, meaning you’ll have many model years to choose from if you buy used. For comparison’s sake, let’s look at how the 2020 Nissan Altima and the 2020 Toyota Camry stack up against one another.

Trim Levels and Prices

The 2020 Nissan Altima is available in five trim levels: the base S, SR, SV, SL, and the range-topping Platinum. The S has a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $24,100, while the Platinum sets you back at least $32,180. 

The 2020 Toyota Camry, on the other hand, comes in six trims: the entry-level L, LE, SE, XLE, XSE, and the performance-oriented TRD. It also has three hybrid models. The Camry comes with a slightly higher base price than the Altima, with the L costing $24,425. The TRD has a base price of $31,170, making it the most expensive trim. 

Exterior

From afar, the Nissan Altima and the Toyota Camry look somewhat similar as they both feature a low-slung stance, sleek body, and a fastback-like roof-line. However, if you take a closer look, you’ll find that they’re markedly different. The Altima has a dominant V-motion grille and angular headlights that give it a bold, dynamic appearance and smooth-flowing lines that add an elegant touch. In contrast, the Camry is more aggressive-looking with its heavily sculpted hood and massive trapezoidal lower grille. 

Engine

Both the 2020 Nissan Altima and the 2020 Toyota Camry offer two engine options. Most models of the Altima are equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. If you opt for the SR or Platinum, you can get the available turbo-four that produces 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. 

If you enjoy the occasional spirited drive, you may be better off choosing the Camry. The base engine of this Toyota model is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that generates up to 206 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. A 3.5-liter V-6 is standard in the TRD and optional in the XLE and XSE. This engine delivers a stout 301 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, giving the sedan brisk acceleration and plenty of punch for passing maneuvers and highway merges. 

Fuel Efficiency

Few midsize sedans are more fuel-efficient than the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry. However, the Camry has a slight upper hand in this department. It earns 29/41 mpg (city/highway) with its standard engine and 22/33 mpg with its V-6 engine. In comparison, the Altima delivers 28/39 mpg with its base engine and 25/34 mpg with its turbocharged unit. 

Handling

Whether you’re running errands in Jersey City or hitting the open road, you’ll be equally impressed with the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry. Both of these sedans deliver a smooth and comfortable ride, even over bumps and rough surfaces. They’re also easy to maneuver and capable of tackling sharp turns and winding roads with impressive composure. Nevertheless, if you prefer a more engaging driving experience, the Camry may be a better option. Its strong engines and athletic handling make it one of the most fun-to-drive cars in the segment. 

Interior

The 2020 Nissan Altima and 2020 Toyota Camry both have a seating capacity of five. They’re roomy cars that provide adult-friendly legroom in both the front and rear rows. However, it’s worth noting that the Altima is fitted with Nissan’s innovative Zero Gravity seats, which are specially designed to provide weightless comfort and relaxation. 

Cargo Space

In terms of cargo space, the Nissan Altima is a little more generous than the Toyota Camry. It comes with a 15.4-cubic-foot trunk, while its rival offers 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space. 

Infotainment Features

If you’re looking for a sedan that provides good connectivity and entertainment, both the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry can meet your expectations. The Altima comes standard with the intuitive NissanConnect infotainment system, an 8-inch touch-screen display, a six-speaker sound system, two USB ports, Bluetooth, satellite radio, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Siri Eyes Free. Its optional features include navigation, HD radio, and a nine-speaker Bose audio system.

The Camry has an equally extensive selection of tech features. It offers the Entune infotainment system, a 7-inch touch-screen display, a six-speaker audio system, a USB port, a Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and Siri Eyes Free as standard equipment. Available features include an 8-inch touch-screen display, a nine-speaker JBL audio system, two additional USB ports, and HD radio. 

Safety Features

When it comes to active safety features, the Toyota Camry has a significant edge over the Nissan Altima. Every model of this sedan comes with the Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver-assistance technologies, which includes pedestrian monitoring, forward automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlamps, forward-collision alert, lane-keeping assistance, lane-departure alert, and adaptive cruise control. For enhanced crash prevention, you can opt for available features such as blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic warning, reverse automatic emergency braking, a surround-view parking camera system, and a head-up display. 

The Nissan Altima comes standard with only forward automatic emergency braking and forward-collision alert. However, it has a long list of optional features, including blind-spot detection, adaptive cruise control with a stop-and-go function, pedestrian monitoring, lane-departure alert, traffic-sign recognition, rear cross-traffic warning, reverse automatic emergency braking, and a surround-view parking camera system. 

All in all, the Nissan Altima may be a more suitable option if you’re looking for a sedan that delivers great ride comfort and practicality. The Camry is also a practical and family-friendly car, but its aggressive styling and strong performance also make it appealing to driving enthusiasts. If you want to buy a used Nissan Altima or Toyota Camry in Jersey City, New Jersey, you can view and test drive both cars at New Jersey State Auto Used Cars. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.