2023 Honda Accord vs 2023 Nissan Altima

The 2023 Nissan Altima presented itself with updated front styling, including a revised grille design, new wheel designs, and two new paint colors. It took on a more aggressive and commanding stance, particularly in higher trim levels like the SL, which featured 19-inch wheels that added to its visual appeal. However, these stylish wheels were also extremely prone to curb damage due to their flushed design with the tire sidewalls.

Nissan structured the Altima lineup to cater to a diverse set of buyers. Trims ranged from the base Altima S to the luxurious Altima SL and the sporty Altima SR VC-Turbo. Notably, the previous Platinum trim was scrapped in favor of consolidating luxury offerings within the SL trim. In our testing, the Altima SL with AWD had a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $34,755, including the destination charge.

Inside, the Altima juxtaposed appealing aesthetics with noticeable hard plastics that reminded buyers of its relatively lower base price. The car's interior, particularly with the Gray leather option, displayed a high-contrast two-tone appearance. Despite integrated double-stitched seams intended to enhance quality perceptions, the simulated wood dashboard trim failed to convince anyone it was real wood. Overall, the Altima offered an attractive package but was not without its compromises in material quality.

In comparison, the 2023 Honda Accord underwent a redesign that brought a more technical and modern look to the table. Ditching the previous generation's chrome accents for a more understated aesthetic, the Accord debued with a conservative but fresh appearance that garnered mixed reactions. While some preferred the exuberance of older models, others appreciated the refined Canyon River Blue paint and the EX trim's pewter wheel finish, a fit middle ground between LX’s sparkly silver wheels and the black wheels fashionable but lacking in character.

Inside, the Accord EX exceeded expectations with cloth seats that offered both style and durability, complete with contrast stitching and metal mesh dashboard trim that seamlessly integrated air conditioning vents. The digital instrumentation and touchscreen infotainment system provided a user-friendly interface, while the vehicle's switchgear reflected meticulous attention to detail. In terms of feel and design, the Accord EX sustained Honda’s reputation for blending functionality with aesthetic pleasure.

Performance-wise, the 2023 Nissan Altima featured a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine across most of its trim levels, delivering 188 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque in FWD configurations, and slightly lower figures in AWD. The torque distribution system efficiently sent up to half of the engine’s output to the rear wheels when driving conditions required. The result was adequate power and torque availability at 3,600 rpm, crucial for quick acceleration.

The Altima’s continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) aimed to replicate the feel of a traditional automatic, with a somewhat convincing effect. With official EPA fuel economy ratings between 30 and 32 mpg, our test Altima SL AWD managed an average of 27.4 mpg. The Altima SR VC-Turbo trim promised a more spirited drive, thanks to its exclusive turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, offering up to 248 hp and 273 lb-ft with premium fuel, and nearly matching the fuel efficiency of the standard engine at 29 mpg combined.

Driving dynamics for the Altima varied, with urban driving being manageable but firm. High-speed environments exposed its susceptibility to wind and road noise, while poor rear visibility necessitated dependence on its various driver-assistance systems. Beyond the city limits, the Altima displayed commendable grip and flat cornering, but let down by lifeless steering and brake pedal behavior under high-demand conditions. Ultimately, the Altima’s driving experience was competent but unengaging.

In contrast, Honda powered the Accord LX and EX trims with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. This engine, slightly refined from previous iterations, offered remote engine starting and automatic start/stop systems as standard features. Although Honda had discontinued its more powerful 2.0T engine, the smaller turbocharged powertrain now sufficed for most driving conditions.

The Accord’s CVT performed adequately, programmed to mimic traditional automatic transmissions, and generally succeeded in this endeavor. With a FWD configuration, the Accord’s urban and suburban driving experience proved user-friendly with its excellent outward visibility and responsive parking capabilities.

Surprisingly, on our evaluation route, the Accord achieved 28.7 mpg, a bit lower than the EPA’s 32 mpg combined rating due to extreme heat and constant air conditioning use. Still, the Accord’s driving dynamics shone, particularly on winding roads where the dual-pinion, variable-ratio steering system and sophisticated suspension setup delivered nimble, confident handling. Even during high-stress conditions like canyon running, the Accord’s brakes maintained their effectiveness, a testament to Honda’s robust engineering.

In terms of interior space and functionality, the 2023 Nissan Altima offered a logically laid-out setup with clear analog gauges and controls. Its Zero Gravity seats aimed to provide exceptional comfort, albeit with somewhat sticky leather upholstery in the SL trim. Standard features included dual-zone automatic climate control, a power sunroof, heated seats, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. However, the front passenger's seat lacked height adjustment, making entry and exit less convenient.

Rear seating in the Altima was comfortable, with a tall cushion ensuring excellent thigh support. Ample legroom and headroom catered well to adult passengers, although rear air conditioning vents were only available in higher trims. Interior storage solutions were reasonable if not groundbreaking, and the trunk offered a modest 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space, shaped efficiently for usability despite lacking a handle for easy closure.

Switching gears to the Honda Accord EX, this trim level came with features like heated exterior mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a 60/40-split folding rear seat. Peculiarly, despite being a modern requirement, the Accord did not include a height-adjustable front passenger’s seat, rear air conditioning vents, or charging ports in the EX trim.

Driver seating could pose issues for tall drivers, as the seat-track lacked sufficient travel when positioning for maximum visibility. The rear seats, however, were notably comfortable, mounted high to provide excellent leg support and easy accessibility. Although lacking rear vents and ports, rear passengers enjoyed the overall comfort and roominess. The Accord excelled particularly in cargo capacity, offering a significant 16.7 cubic feet of trunk space, which allowed full-size suitcases to be loaded with ease. Its trunk also featured a convenient handle that ensured hands stayed clean when shutting the lid.

Technological features in the 2023 Nissan Altima varied significantly by trim level. The base S trim was sparsely equipped with a 5-inch display and basic Bluetooth functionality. Advancing to SV or SR trims brought an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio with 360L service, offering a substantial upgrade in content and functionality.

Highlighting the advanced offerings, the new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, optional on SV and SR, and standard on SL and SR VC-Turbo trims, featured wireless Apple CarPlay, a navigation system, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. NissanConnect Services, requiring a SiriusXM subscription, added remote engine starting, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant compatibility. The Bose nine-speaker premium audio system, although mixed in performance, complemented the tech-savvy setup of the higher trims with the advanced infotainment system significantly improving overall user experience and interface quality.

Honda equipped the 2023 Accord LX and EX with a standard 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Despite their smaller size compared to Nissan’s offering, these screens were effective and user-friendly. The system included Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, text messaging support, and HondaLink connected services, supporting Wi-Fi access and featuring an SOS emergency call button.

In the EX trim, a respectable eight-speaker audio system enhanced the sound experience. However, the lack of SiriusXM satellite radio remained a notable omission, though resolved easily by streaming services like Pandora via Apple CarPlay. The voice recognition system functioned seamlessly, particularly with Siri, and physical controls for the stereo and main function buttons were a welcome, albeit slightly flawed, addition with some confusing manual controls. Overall, the Accord’s tech was practical and straightforward, offering the essentials without overcomplicating the interface.

Safety features in the 2023 Nissan Altima were comprehensive across all trims. Standard equipment included Nissan Safety Shield 360, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver monitoring system. The lane-departure warning utilized a steering wheel vibration, while the blind-spot monitoring employed a light on the trim near the windshield pillar.

From SV trim upwards, rear automatic braking became available, and the Altima SR added automatic high-beam headlights. The ProPilot Assist, available on SV and standard on SL and SR VC-Turbo, offered adaptive cruise control and various lane-keeping features. While effective, ProPilot Assist sometimes required smoother transitions and quicker responsiveness to changing conditions. The surround-view camera system in higher trims aided reversing tasks, though the rear camera lacked high-resolution clarity.

The Altima’s crash-test scores backed its safety features, with NHTSA awarding the car a five-star overall rating and IIHS giving a Top Safety Pick+ rating for 2022. However, the updated IIHS side-impact test returned a Poor rating, suggesting some room for improvement.

Honda's 2023 Accord standardized its Honda Sensing suite across all trims, bringing adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist into play. Additional features included a reversing camera with multiple views, automatic high-beam headlights, traffic sign recognition, and a driver monitoring system.

For those opting for the Accord EX, Honda offered an optional safety package that added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert for a reasonable $550. Honda Sensing performed reliably, with refinement in lane-keeping assistance and subtle lane departure warnings. The adaptive cruise control smartly adjusted speed around curves, avoiding overly conservative braking.

Accurate and informative graphical representations of system statuses further enhanced Honda’s safety tech. The Accord’s safety credentials were solidified by an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating for 2023.