2021 Nissan Altima vs 2022 BMW i4

The 2021 Nissan Altima showcased a strong family identity with its bold V-Motion grille, available in chrome or dark chrome, and adorned with the Nissan logo. Its overall shape was attractive, featuring a sloping "coupe-like" roofline that contributed to a sleek, aerodynamic profile. The body design leaned more towards folds than curves, giving it a taut and trim essence. However, the Altima's stance appeared mildly ungainly due to the overhangs ahead of the front wheels and behind the rear wheels, coupled with a short dash-to-axle distance. Despite this, modern features like standard LED lighting and a range of wheel options kept its look contemporary. The Altima's fit and finish were exceptional, with deep lustrous paint and rich chrome details, available in nine exterior colors with some premium options.

Inside, the Altima's dashboard was uncluttered and intelligently laid out, featuring a standard 8-inch touchscreen display positioned for safety and convenience. The instrument panel was designed to minimize glare, enhancing readability. While the base model felt somewhat stripped-down, higher trim levels offered improved interior materials, including stitching on the dash and seats. This progression in quality exemplified the adage of getting what you pay for.

The 2022 BMW i4's styling was not a major departure from the gasoline 4 Series Gran Coupe, featuring an oversized grille that proved polarizing. The i4 was more aerodynamic than its gasoline counterpart, with a drag coefficient of 0.24 for the base eDrive40 and 0.25 for the M50 model. BMW achieved this through various tweaks, including a smooth underbody and active airflow control. The i4 featured lighter alloy wheels, with standard 18-inch wheels on the eDrive40 and 19-inch on the M50, with larger options available.

The i4's interior design balanced Tesla-style minimalism with traditional BMW elements. A freestanding screen sat atop the dashboard, complemented by a familiar horizontal layout of air vents and controls. Material quality met BMW's standards, though leather upholstery was not standard. The seating position was low, but visibility remained good. However, the fastback roof limited headroom, and both front and rear seats felt flat and hard. The i4 offered folding rear seats, but cargo space was limited compared to competitors, and it lacked a front trunk.

The 2021 Nissan Altima offered a Jekyll-and-Hyde experience with its powertrains. Most configurations featured a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on most trims. Fuel economy was commendable, with ratings of 28 mpg city/39 mpg highway/32 mpg combined for FWD models. The standout was the VC-Turbo engine in the Altima SR VC-Turbo trim, offering 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. This turbocharged 2.0-liter engine used variable compression technology for power on demand while maintaining efficiency. The VC-Turbo was only available with FWD and achieved 25 mpg city/34 mpg highway/29 mpg combined. The Altima's suspension and steering provided decent feedback, with the VC-Turbo offering a sportier drive.

The 2022 BMW i4 eDrive40 boasted 335 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds. The M50 model, with its two-motor powertrain, delivered 536 hp and 586 lb-ft of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds. Despite its weight, the i4 handled well, thanks to a low center of gravity and advanced suspension systems. The M50 featured adaptive M suspension, variable sport steering, and M Sport brakes, with these upgrades available for the eDrive40. The i4's ride quality was smooth, and its steering was precise and communicative. The integrated braking system provided natural pedal feel, though the adaptive recuperation system was less convincing.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan’s Zero Gravity front seats, praised for their comfort on long drives. Upper trims offered power adjustment, memory, leather, and heating. The front cabin provided ample storage, including a large glovebox, center console bin, and door pockets. The second row was roomy for two adults, with a 60/40 split-folding seat for trunk access. The trunk offered 15.4 cubic feet of space.

The 2022 BMW i4's seating position was low, but visibility was good. However, the fastback roof limited headroom, and both rows of seats felt flat and hard. The center console was efficiently designed, housing the shift lever, infotainment controller, and storage. The i4 offered folding rear seats, but cargo space was limited to 10 cubic feet, and it lacked a front trunk.

The 2021 Nissan Altima came with standard tech features like Nissan Intelligent Key, remote engine start, Bluetooth, and more. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on most trims. The base model had a 7-inch touchscreen, while others featured an 8-inch display. Higher trims offered additional USB ports, SiriusXM, and a Bose audio system. Navigation and NissanConnect Services were available on upper trims.

The 2022 BMW i4 featured the latest iDrive8 infotainment system with a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 14.9-inch central touchscreen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and navigation. Optional features included a head-up display, Harman Kardon audio, and wireless charging. The user experience was familiar to BMW drivers, with a rotary controller and effective voice recognition.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, standard on SV and above, including automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, and more. ProPilot Assist was available for highway driving assistance. The Altima received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick + from the IIHS.

The 2022 BMW i4's standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. The optional Driving Assistance Professional Package added adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. The Parking Assistant Package offered a 360-degree camera system and parking assistance. Crash-test ratings were not available at the time of publication.