Nissan Altima vs. Honda Accord - The better family sedan

The midsize family sedan is one of the most important genres in the automotive industry. And despite the fact that crossover SUVs are gaining more and more traction (pun intended) with each passing year, the family sedan as we know it isn’t going anywhere. The proof of that pudding lies in cars like the Nissan Altima and Honda Accord.

The Altima has been around since the early 1990s, while the Accord has been dominating sales charts since the mid-1970s. Today, neither of these segment rivals show any sign of backing down -- each being sold in their latest avatars in the United Arab Emirates - with the Altima available in its latest sixth-generation model, while the all-new Accord showcases the model’s tenth incarnation.

However, today we are going to find out which one of these two Japanese D-segment sedans comes out on top when pitted against one another. With multiple variants to choose from, we will be going with the middle-of-the-pack variants of each car today - so that means the candidates are the Nissan Altima 2.0 Turbo SV and the Honda Accord 1.5 Turbo EX.

Altima vs. Accord: Dimensions

 

Altima vs. Accord: Exterior

With almost every car, the design and appearance is entirely subjective and can depend on what kind of a person you are. The all-new Nissan Altima looks a lot more aggressive than any of its predecessors ever did and thus possess more road presence. It features the marque’s latest ‘V-Motion’ front grille and a bolder, more stylish design than any previous Altimas.

Then there’s the all-new Honda Accord which not only boasts a really eye-catching and sporty coupe-like silhouette, but its overall design comes across as quite contemporary and suave when compared to the Altima. While the latter also gets a pseudo-coupe-like rear roofline, the Accord seems to pull off that look more effortlessly.

As for their exterior features, the two variants that have been chosen here are more or less similarly equipped. However, whilst the Accord EX gets snazzy LED headlamps, it does lose out on a power sunroof that’s available in the Altima SV.

Altima vs. Accord: Interior

Both these cars are decently equipped with most modern comfort & convenience features that one can expect in cars like these. While both come with dual-zone climate control, electronic parking brake with auto-hold, leather seat upholstery, and powered front chairs -- only the Accord specs sheet offers Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), though the Altima tries to be sportier with the inclusion of paddle shifters.

In terms of overall comfort, both the Altima and Accord do an admirable job - the Altima’s seats are very comfortable, while the Accord’s chairs provide ample support even if you decide to drive a little faster around bends. The Honda Accord also comes fitted with active noise cancellation technology, which reduces the effect of outside noise and prevents it from being much of a concern.

The interior design and layout of the new Altima, with its flat-bottom steering wheel, shift paddles and a sharp instrument cluster, makes it seem a touch sportier than the Honda. However, the Accord’s cabin possesses an undeniable mark of appreciable modernism and upscale sophistication.

One thing to note here is, while the Honda Accord sports a fancy coupe-like roofline that slopes quite aggressively at the back, there isn’t any major damage done to the cabin space, at least as far as headroom is concerned. Meanwhile, there’s an ample amount of legroom in both these sedans.

Altima vs. Accord: Engine

While both the Nissan Altima and Honda Accord come with turbocharged four-cylinder engines and continuously variable transmissions, there are some really apparent differences between the two sedans. For one, the Altima’s larger motor pumps out 50 hp and 120 Nm more oomph than the Honda’s smaller 1.5-litre mill.
On the performance side of things, the stylish Honda Accord makes it from nought to 100 kmph in around 7.5 seconds, whilst the more powerful Altima can hit 100 kmph from a standstill over a second quicker than the Honda. On the other hand, the more frugal Accord is rated at an impressive 18.5 kmpl! This incredible achievement is likely down to the fact that you don’t have to push the 1.5-litre motor of the Accord much, since the engine’s torque is available almost throughout the workable rev-range.

Altima vs. Accord: Safety

While both these cars are quite well kitted out, there is a clear distinction in their respective equipment list. For example, the Nissan Altima 2.0 Turbo SV only gets two airbags while the Accord boasts eight! However, this particular trim of the Altima specs sheet features more electronic nannies than the equivalent Accord -- there’s cross-traffic alert, plus collision warning with auto emergency braking.

Both cars score well in terms of occupant safety, though the Accord’s higher airbag count can definitely prove more valuable in case the worst should ever transpire.

Altima vs. Accord: Price

As you can see, while these two start off at the same AED 94,900 for their respective base variants, the fully-loaded Accord price tag reads about 2,400 dirhams more than its equivalent Altima counterpart. Between the Altima 2.0 Turbo SV and the Accord 1.5 Turbo EX, there really isn’t any massive price gap.

Meanwhile, if you have the cash and would like to go all out, then both the Nissan Altima and Honda Accord are within similar price brackets.

Conclusion

If it is a really stylish and fast sedan you want to see parked in your driveway, then the Honda Accord fulfils its part wonderfully well. But if you want a family sedan that offers more boot space, really comfortable, and is fair enough to drive quickly, then the (slightly cheaper) 2020 Nissan Altima (2.0) will fit right in.

Also Read: Nissan X-Trail vs Mitsubishi Montero Sport - The SUV to buy