Most of the Japanese midsize sedans have been locked in fierce competition for years now. The Camry has been a mainstay for so long by delivering power, comfort, and new technological developments in the reliable Toyota way. But one competitor has been making waves and turning the attention of life-long Camry fans, the Nissan Altima. The 2020 model year is no different, so it’s time to compare each sedan once again.
Starting from the outside, the Camry has adopted the trend toward sportiness seen in many recent Toyota vehicles. The Altima is recognizable because of the Nissan calling card, a chrome “V” or “U” shape in the front grille. The lower part of the front fascia looks like it has a body kit on it, but the rest of the way around the Altima looks about par for the course for a sedan. Let’s review performance, interior, and available features for a more in-depth comparison with the chart below.
2020 Toyota Camry |
Versus |
2020 Nissan Altima |
2.5L Inline 4-Cylinder, 3.5L V6 | Engine Options | 2.5L Inline 4-Cylinder, 2.0L Inline 4-Cylinder Turbo |
Traditional Automatic | Transmission | CVT |
Yes | Hybrid Option | No |
9-Speaker, 800-Watt JBL® | Sound System | 9-Speaker Bose® |
Each of these vehicles would be a great choice, but the Camry just keeps coming back with more and better answers for why it would be better. If you care much about your transmission at all, you will notice a more satisfying traditional automatic engine in the Camry and the opposite with the CVT in the Altima. Not only that, but the base model engine in the Camry surpasses the horsepower in the Altima and the improved engine in the Camry generates more horsepower than the turbo in the Altima too.
If you want to get ahead of the curve on the rising dominance of hybrid and electric vehicles, you have that opportunity now with the Camry, but not with the Altima. When it comes to interiors, style is up to personal interpretation, but it’s hard to imagine the Bose® system in the Altima could keep up with JBL® system’s 800-watt amplifier. Time and time again, the Camry comes out on top.