2019 Nissan Altima vs 2020 Honda Accord

Shopping for a modern midsize sedan is tougher than you may think. Whether we're talking about the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Mazda6, or Hyundai Sonata, it seems like each year we conclude it can’t possibly get any better. Deciding among sedans is tough because nearly every player in the segment brings its absolute A game every year.

The Nissan Altima is all-new for 2019 and delivers a ton of improvements. But considering the competition, are those improvements enough to launch it from a middling entrant to a serious contender?

The previous Altima had some things going for it, like spacious seating and a powerful V6 (if you were willing to pay extra for it). And by the final year of its fifth generation, some driver-assistance features arrived as standard, but it never stood out in any particular area.

For decades, buyers didn’t expect sedans to be anything more than reliable, economical daily commuters. But the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction. Check out the competition: The Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, and Mazda6 are all near-premium cars, with the latest infotainment and safety technology, and they handle well, too. The new Altima has some of those things—let's see how it delivers on the rest.

Mary Walton’s “Car: A Drama of the American Workplace” details the development of the 1996 Ford Taurus from sketch to series production. The car was a legendary flop, a collage of compromise. Walton’s book explains why, and in juicy detail.

Bringing a new or redesigned vehicle to market isn’t easy, even if Honda makes it look that way. The 2020 Honda Accord Touring is the family sedan perfected, from its rakish good looks and delightful driving dynamics to its huge back seat and giant trunk. The 2020 Honda Accord also boasts plenty of tech, including Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and adaptive cruise control.

Sure, you can quibble with a few things related to the 2020 Accord. After all, no car is perfect. But the Honda Accord Touring sure does come close in so many of the ways that matter most, from usability to mpg.