2021 Honda Accord vs 2021 Nissan Maxima

The 2021 Honda Accord was a staple in the midsize sedan market, competing fiercely with rivals like the Toyota Camry, Mazda6, and Hyundai Sonata. For 2021, Honda refreshed the Accord's design, introducing a wider, restyled grille that gave the car a more sculpted appearance. The Honda Sensing safety system's radar unit was better integrated, enhancing the vehicle's aesthetics. The Accord featured LED headlights and lowlights, providing excellent nighttime visibility, and the fog light openings were reduced for a more sophisticated look. The Accord's interior was noted for its high-quality materials, even in lower trims, and offered a range of features across its six trim levels, including the Canada-exclusive SE trim. The Sonic Gray Pearl paint option added a unique touch to the Sport and Touring models, while the interior boasted a sophisticated design with options for cloth or leather-trimmed seats.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Maxima stood out with its bold design, characterized by a steeply-angled front end and a massive grille reminiscent of an Art Deco locomotive. The Maxima's styling elements, such as the "floating" roofline and "V-Motion" grille, set the tone for other Nissan models. The 40th Anniversary Edition trim, although not available in Canada, shared some features with the SR grade, including 19-inch gloss-black alloy wheels and black exterior trim. The Maxima's design was intended to be sporty, and while it succeeded in some areas, it also had its limitations. The interior was designed around the driver, offering a generous amount of space for the driver and front passenger, but at the expense of rear-seat passengers. The Maxima's cabin was comfortable, with Nissan's "Zero Gravity" front seats providing excellent support, although rear headroom and legroom were limited.

The 2021 Honda Accord offered two engine options, catering to different driving preferences. The standard engine was a 192-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder, delivering 192 pound-feet of torque and paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This engine was available on the SE, Sport, EX-L, and Touring trims. For those seeking more power, a 2.0-litre turbo-four engine was available, producing 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This engine was offered in the Sport 2.0 and Touring 2.0 trims. The Accord's fuel economy varied between the two engines, with the 1.5-litre engine achieving 7.2 to 7.5 litres per 100 kilometres combined, while the 2.0-litre engine consumed 9.1 L/100 km combined. The Accord's driving dynamics were engaging, with smooth braking and paddle shifters for added control.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima, on the other hand, was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a CVT and front-wheel drive. While the Maxima was not a "four-door sports car," it offered a quick and enjoyable driving experience, with the V6 engine providing a satisfying sound. The CVT was responsive, and the Maxima handled corners well, although its steering lacked precision and feel. The Maxima's front-wheel-drive setup was susceptible to torque steer, affecting its performance on twisty roads. Despite these limitations, the Maxima excelled in highway cruising, with a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, thanks to its active noise cancellation and well-tuned suspension.

The 2021 Honda Accord was designed with practicality in mind, offering a spacious and comfortable interior for both front and rear passengers. The Accord's cabin featured a well-thought-out design, with essential controls easily accessible to the driver. The rear seats had a 60/40 split and centre armrest, allowing for pass-through from the trunk, which offered 473 litres of cargo space. The Accord's interior was equipped with convenience features like dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and push-button start. While small-item storage was not exceptional, it was better than some competitors, with a small cubby at the front of the centre console for storing personal items.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Maxima prioritized front passenger comfort, offering generous headroom and legroom in the front seats. However, this came at the expense of rear-seat passengers, who experienced limited headroom and legroom. The Maxima's cabin was designed around the driver, with a focus on providing an expansive view of the road and excellent side visibility. The "Zero Gravity" front seats, inspired by NASA research, offered optimal support and comfort, with power adjustments for both the driver and front passenger. Despite its spacious front seats, the Maxima's centre console felt cramped, and some controls were awkwardly positioned. The Maxima's trunk offered 405 litres of cargo space, the least among its competitors, but its sedan design limited the aperture for loading and unloading cargo.

The 2021 Honda Accord was well-equipped with technology, featuring an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with physical volume and tuning knobs. The system was responsive and visually appealing, offering standard features like Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and two USB ports. Higher trims added features such as satellite radio, HD radio, a wireless phone charger, and a 10-speaker premium audio system. The Touring and Touring 2.0 models included an on-board navigation system, rain-sensing wipers, and a head-up display, providing additional convenience and safety information.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima, while offering a standard 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, showed its age in terms of technology. The infotainment system's graphics looked dated, and small icons made it difficult to navigate menus while driving. Despite these drawbacks, the Maxima included a built-in WiFi hotspot, USB-A and USB-C ports, and an 11-speaker Bose audio system. Nissan provided analog controls for climate and audio, but the system's notification sounds were jarring and unavoidable. The Maxima's technology package was functional but lacked the refinement and user-friendliness of more modern systems.

The 2021 Honda Accord was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, earning it top ratings from safety organizations. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Accord its highest rating, Top Safety Pick+, with a Superior rating for its front crash prevention system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Accord a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included vehicle stability assist, brake assist, a rearview camera, and the Honda Sensing suite, which offered lane-keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. The Accord also featured two complete sets of LATCH connectors for child safety seats.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima also received high safety ratings, with the IIHS awarding it a Top Safety Pick+ and the NHTSA giving it a five-star overall safety rating. The Maxima's standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional features like adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and a driver-alertness monitor were also standard. The Maxima offered a 360-degree camera system on the SR and Platinum grades, providing added convenience and safety. However, the Maxima did not include the ProPilot Assist system available in other Nissan models, which limited its advanced driver-assistance capabilities.