The Toyota Camry has aged like a fine wine. It’s the kind of sedan that really only gets better with time. And now, just 37 years after its original debut, the Toyota Camry continues to be one of the top picks among its segment. That’s why, if you find yourself having to choose between the 2021 Nissan Altima and this year’s new Toyota Camry, we recommend that you choose the 2021 Camry. But don’t just take our word for it.

The Camry is available with a 301-hp engine under the hood

Both of these midsize sedans come equipped with a four-cylinder engine under the hood. But, not everyone wants to be behind the wheel of a four-cylinder sedan. Some people would prefer a bit more power than a four-cylinder engine has to offer. If that’s the case for you, then we’ve got some good news. Unlike the 2021 Nissan Altima, this year’s Camry can be had a 301-hp V6 engine that Car and Driver described as “velvety” and that delivers “surprisingly responsive handling.” 

Choose the Toyota Camry Hybrid for true fuel efficiency 

Not surprisingly, the 2021 Toyota Camry and this year’s Altima offer fairly similar fuel efficiency ratings. According to the EPA, when equipped with a four-cylinder engine, both vehicles earned an EPA-estimated 32 combined city/highway mpg rating. But if you’re in the market for a sedan that’s even more fuel-efficient than that, keep in mind that unlike the Altima, the new Toyota Camry is available as a hybrid. And, according to the EPA, that hybrid will deliver an EPA-estimated 51 mpg in the city and 53 mpg on the highway.

The Nissan Altima isn’t standard with as many safety features

The 2021 Toyota Camry is one of the first Toyota models to come standard with Safety Sense 2.5+, which includes confidence-inspiring safety features like forward-collision warning with emergency braking, radar cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane tracing assist, road sign assist, and pedestrian detection. All Camry models also come standard with Toyota’s Rear Seat Reminder. While the Nissan Altima does come standard with some of the same safety features, it does not offer a feature similar to Toyota’s Rear Seat Reminder. It doesn’t come standard with lane tracing assist or road sign assist either.

For better resale value, choose the 2021 Toyota Camry

While you might be shopping for a new car now, you could end up selling it down the road. In that case, it’s important to consider a vehicle’s resale value. Unfortunately for the Nissan Altima, CarEdge reports that you can expect it to depreciate 59% after five years, giving it a five-year resale value of about $10,721. The new Toyota Camry, on the other hand, will depreciate 49% after five-years, giving it a five-year resale value of $14,236, according to CarEdge.

How to choose the best car for your daily driving needs

While the Toyota Camry may be the better pick in this scenario, that doesn’t mean it will be the perfect fit for you. That’s why we recommend taking each of these sedans out for a spin before making your final decision.