Toyota Matrix vs. Nissan Altima Review

Utility
The Toyota Matrix and the Nissan Altima can accommodate the same number of passengers. Towing is substantially more the Toyota Matrix's forte than it is the Nissan Altima's.

Dimensions
The Nissan Altima is tremendously more bulky than the Toyota. Your wallet will hurt more every time you fill up the Nissan Altima than the Matrix because of its bigger tank. The Toyota Matrix and the Nissan Altima compete for the same parking spaces. The Toyota Matrix's shorter wheelbase will give a more maneuverable feel in daily traffic. However, the Nissan is likely to have a smoother, more stable ride.

Convenience
You will most definitely have to visit your friendly gas station more often with the Toyota Matrix than with the Nissan Altima.

Cost
The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs approximately the same to get the Nissan to the dealership as the Toyota Matrix. The Matrix uses a lot of gas compared to the Nissan. With respect to MSRP, the Toyota Matrix doesn't cost much less than the Nissan Altima.

Handling
With their similar turning circles, the Toyota Matrix and the Nissan Altima likely handle about the same into and out of tight spots.

Drivetrain
The Nissan Altima has a more massive engine than the Toyota. Remember that smaller engines are often cheaper to fix, but smaller engines can be stressed more. The Altima packs quite a punch compared to the Toyota with respect to torque, which is roughly equivalent to acceleration. Torque equals pickup, and the Nissan Altima will have picked up and gone by the time the Matrix finally gets moving.

Comfort
While the front cabin in the Nissan Altima offers a bit more head room than the Matrix, there honestly isn't much of a difference. The Toyota Matrix provides more head- and leg-room to your passengers than the Altima does.

Warranty
The Nissan and the Toyota Matrix have the same basic warranty.