2023 Honda Accord vs 2022 Nissan Altima

The 2022 Nissan Altima continued the brand's tradition of sporty design, a significant evolution from its earlier, more conservative models. The sixth-generation Altima featured a distinctive V-Motion grille, a low and wide stance, and a sharply sloped "floating" roofline, which some found unnecessary. The SR Midnight Edition, with its gloss black accents and Gun Metallic paint, enhanced the Altima's sporty appeal. Inside, the Altima boasted comfortable Zero Gravity front seats and a well-organized instrument panel, though the quality varied across trims.

In contrast, the 2023 Honda Accord adopted a more conservative and modern appearance, moving away from the previous model's chrome-heavy design. The Accord EX, priced at $37,000 in Canada, featured a dark grille, LED headlights, and a Canyon River Blue paint that garnered compliments. Inside, the Accord offered durable cloth seats with contrast stitching and a stylish metal mesh dashboard trim. The digital instrumentation and touchscreen infotainment system reflected Honda's attention to detail, though some features like a power-adjustable front passenger seat were missing.

The 2022 Nissan Altima in Canada was equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. While the engine's performance was considered mediocre, the standard all-wheel drive was a notable feature for a midsize sedan. The Xtronic CVT, paired with paddle shifters in the SR trim, struggled with acceleration, but the Altima's suspension provided a smooth and quiet ride, thanks to Active Ride Control.

The 2023 Honda Accord EX featured a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 192 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. The CVT, powering the front wheels, offered adequate performance with programmed ratio changes to mimic a traditional automatic. The Accord's suspension and steering system provided good response and road feel, while the brakes performed well even under duress. The Accord's fuel efficiency was rated at 7.3 L/100 km, though real-world testing showed 8.2 L/100 km due to high temperatures and continuous air conditioning use.

The 2022 Nissan Altima offered comfortable seating for four, with a decent-sized trunk of 437 litres. Its dimensions placed it in the middle of its competitors, with a large fuel tank of just under 61 litres. However, the high rear shelf and sloping roofline compromised rear visibility, and the trunk's metal bar supports could crush items if not careful.

The 2023 Honda Accord provided a spacious interior with heated front seats, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and a 60/40-split folding rear seat. The back seat offered excellent leg support and easy access, though it lacked air conditioning vents and charging ports. The Accord's trunk was larger at 473 litres, with easy loading and a handle to prevent dirty fingertips.

The 2022 Nissan Altima came with a 7-inch advanced drive-assist display and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Higher trims included navigation, a Bose audio system, and ProPilot Assist, which provided advanced driver assistance features.

The 2023 Honda Accord EX featured a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and HondaLink connected services. The EX trim included an eight-speaker audio system but lacked SiriusXM satellite radio. The physical controls for the stereo were appreciated, though the function control knob was misleading.

The 2022 Nissan Altima was equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind spot monitoring. It received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS, with high ratings in crash tests and crash avoidance.

The 2023 Honda Accord came with Honda Sensing, offering adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The Accord's safety features performed with accuracy and refinement, earning a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for 2023.