Compare the 2018 Nissan Altima vs. 2018 Toyota Camry

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The Nissan Altima and the Toyota Camry are two of the most popular midsize sedans around. While the Altima steadily climbed to prominence due to Nissan’s continued refinement of the vehicle, the Camry has solidified its reputation as one of the segment’s leaders. For the 2018 model year, the Altima continues its fifth production cycle, while the Camry enters its eighth with a brand-new design. Although it might appear that one is long in the tooth and the other is rejuvenated, it’s the former that gets the better of the latter, especially when considering the following factors:

Fuel Economy

For the midsize sedan class, the 2018 Nissan Altima has impressive fuel economy numbers. Indeed, the Altima is one of the most fuel-efficient midsize sedans around. You can achieve up to 27 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway—thanks to the combination of the Altima’s 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder (I4) engine with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT. The engine is small enough to be miserly in gas consumption, while providing sufficient output (179 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque). And the CVT, which is a continuously variable transmission (thus the acronym), eschews the energy-consuming gear shifting mechanism of traditional transmissions. A CVT is not available on the 2018 Toyota Camry; the lone transmission is an 8-speed auto. And even though it comes with a 2.5-liter I4 choice, and it’s touted as more fuel-efficient than that of the outgoing seventh-generation model, it’s unlikely that the resulting powertrain configuration can provide much above the current peak numbers of 24/33 mpg. That’s 3 less mpg in city fuel economy and 6 less mpg in highway fuel economy than what the 2018 Altima offers.

Front Crash Prevention

Remarkably, the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry are considered outstandingly safe cars by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Each ride gets a “Top Safety Pick +” designation, which is the highest such honor from the organization. This is due to getting the best possible rating (“Good”) in all five IIHS crashworthiness tests, an “Advanced” or “Superior” rating in front crash prevention, and an “Acceptable” rating for the effectiveness of headlight illumination. However, what separates the Altima from the Camry is the level of front crash prevention ability, which is determined by the presence of certain advanced safety features. It’s Nissan’s vehicle that scores the highest rating of “Superior,” while the Camry gets the lower “Superior” rating. To assure peak front crash prevention on the Altima, you can get an upper-level trim to increase the likelihood of safety features like predictive forward collision warning and forward emergency braking.

Comfortable Seating

Few midsize sedans are as commended for the comfortability of their seating than the Altima. The front bucket seats in particular sport a NASA-inspired design; they allow the body to relax in a neutral posture that’s similar to a weightless environment experience. No other vehicle in its class possesses this attribute.

Come see why the 2018 Nissan Altima is a better midsize sedan choice than the 2018 Toyota Camry at our dealership. Our team of Nissan experts will be able to help you pick one for you based on your preferences, and you can test drive an Altima for yourself. Call us today to set up an appointment.

MSRP excludes destination, taxes, title and registration fees. Starting at MSRP refers to the base model, optional equipment not included. Pricing and offers may change at any time without notification. To get full pricing details, see your dealer.

All figures are EPA estimates. Actual mileage may vary.