Compare the2024 Volkswagen JettaVS 2024 Nissan Altima

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Jetta has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Altima doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Jetta and Altima have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Jetta has Rear Traffic Alert (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Altima’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Jetta and the Altima have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volkswagen Jetta is safer than the Nissan Altima:

	Jetta	Altima
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	41.6%	54%
Neck Stress	152 lbs.	280 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	308/63 lbs.	260/280 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volkswagen Jetta is safer than the Nissan Altima:

	Jetta	Altima
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	101	187
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.4 inches
Hip Force	317 lbs.	511 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	16 inches
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	42 G’s
Hip Force	627 lbs.	769 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Volkswagen Jetta is much safer than the Altima:

	Jetta	Altima
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Structure	GOOD	POOR
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	MARGINAL
Head Injury Criterion	226	562
Head Peak Forces	no contact	109 G’s
Neck Tension	245 lbs.	625 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Shoulder Deflection	1.06 in	2.09 in
Shoulder Force	245 lbs.	402 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.85 in	2.2 in
Pelvis Force	1182 lbs.	1339 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	201 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

The Jetta comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car. The Altima’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Jetta’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Altima’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Jetta for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Altima.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Jetta has a 140-amp alternator. The Altima’s standard 120-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Jetta has a standard 540-amp battery. The Altima’s 510-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Jetta third among compact cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Altima isn’t in the top three in its category.

Engine

The Jetta’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 178) than the Altima AWD’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Jetta’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 180) than the Altima’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Jetta gets better mileage than the Altima:

			MPG
Jetta
FWD	Manual	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/42 hwy
	Auto	S 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	30 city/41 hwy
		SE/SEL 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/40 hwy
Altima
	Auto	S/SV 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/39 hwy
		SL/SR 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
AWD	Auto	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/36 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Jetta Automatic’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Altima doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Jetta uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Altima SR requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Jetta higher (7 out of 10) than the Nissan Altima (6 to 7). This means the Jetta produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Altima every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The Jetta stops shorter than the Altima:

	Jetta	Altima
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	140 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Jetta S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Altima SV AWD (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Jetta’s turning circle is .3 feet tighter than the Altima S’ (35.8 feet vs. 36.1 feet). The Jetta’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Altima SR/SV/SL/Platinum’s (35.8 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

Chassis

The Volkswagen Jetta may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 450 pounds less than the Nissan Altima.

The Jetta is 6.4 inches shorter than the Altima, making the Jetta easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Jetta Sport is quieter than the Altima SR AWD:

	Jetta	Altima
At idle	40 dB	45 dB
Full-Throttle	75 dB	77 dB
70 MPH Cruising	69 dB	70 dB

Passenger Space

The Jetta has .3 inches more rear headroom and 2.2 inches more rear legroom than the Altima.

Ergonomics

When different drivers share the Jetta SEL, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Altima doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Jetta’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Altima’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the Jetta and the Altima have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Jetta is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Altima prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Jetta’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Altima’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Jetta SE/R-Line/SEL/SEL Premium the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows with the driver’s door power window switch. The driver of the Altima can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Jetta’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Altima’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Jetta’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Altima’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Jetta SEL to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Altima doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Jetta SEL has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Altima doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Jetta’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the Altima and aren’t offered on the Altima S.

Both the Jetta and the Altima offer available heated front seats. The Jetta SEL also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Altima.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Jetta SEL keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Altima doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Jetta is less expensive to operate than the Altima because it costs $37 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Jetta than the Altima, including $20 less for front brake pads and $49 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Volkswagen Jetta and the Nissan Altima, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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