The Avalon has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats (WIL), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WIL system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Altima doesn't offer a whiplash protection system.

The Avalon has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, 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.

The Avalon has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle's blind spots where the side view mirrors don't reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Altima's blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Avalon has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Altima.

Both the Avalon and the Altima have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

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

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 Toyota Avalon is safer than the Nissan Altima:

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard front crash prevention system, and its headlight's “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Avalon its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 116 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Altima is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2019.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Avalon for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn't pay scheduled maintenance for the Altima.

There are over 15 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Nissan dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Avalon's warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Avalon has a standard 582-amp battery. The Altima's 510-amp battery isn't as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 21st.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports' January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Nissan is ranked 13th.

The Avalon's 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 119 more horsepower (301 vs. 182) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (267 vs. 178) than the Altima's optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Avalon's 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 113 more horsepower (301 vs. 188) and 87 lbs.-ft. more torque (267 vs. 180) than the Altima's standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Avalon's 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 65 more horsepower (301 vs. 236) than the Altima SR's optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Toyota Avalon is faster than the Nissan Altima 4 cyl.:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Avalon uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Altima SR requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Avalon stops shorter than the Altima:

The Avalon XLE's standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Altima S' standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Avalon XLE has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Altima S.

The Avalon offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Altima's suspension doesn't offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Avalon's wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the Altima (113 inches vs. 111.2 inches).

The Avalon Touring executes Motor Trend's “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Altima SV AWD (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G's vs. 27.7 seconds @ .61 average G's).

The Avalon has 3.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Altima (104.3 vs. 100.8).

The Avalon has 1.1 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 5.1 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear hip room than the Altima.

The Avalon has a larger trunk than the Altima (16.1 vs. 15.4 cubic feet).

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Avalon's trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don't intrude into the trunk. The Altima's useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

The Avalon uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Altima uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Avalon Limited/Touring has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver's line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Altima doesn't offer a heads-up display.

The Avalon'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 Avalon and the Altima have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Avalon 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 Avalon'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 standard passenger windows don't open or close automatically. With the Altima SL/Platinum's power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don't exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Avalon's available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Altima's headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Avalon Limited/Touring has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Altima doesn't offer cornering lights.

The Avalon'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.

When the Avalon Limited/Touring is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Altima's mirrors don't automatically adjust for backing.

The Avalon's standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Altima offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don't dim.

The Avalon has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Altima, and aren't available on the Altima S. The Avalon Limited/Touring 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 Avalon Limited/Touring 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.

The Avalon has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won't have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Altima SL/Platinum.

Both the Avalon and the Altima offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Avalon has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Altima doesn't offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Avalon offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Altima doesn't offer wireless personal charging.

Insurance will cost less for the Avalon owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Avalon will cost $550 less than the Altima over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Avalon is less expensive to operate than the Altima because it costs $91 less to do the manufacturer's suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Avalon than the Altima, including $23 less for a muffler and $91 less for a power steering pump.

The Toyota Avalon has won recognition from these important consumer publications: