2023 Honda Accord vs 2023 Nissan Altima

The 2023 Nissan Altima continued Nissan's legacy in the family car segment, building on over 50 years of experience. With the Maxima's impending discontinuation, the Altima aimed to fill the gap with its updated front styling, featuring a revised grille and new wheel designs. The higher trim levels, equipped with 19-inch wheels, enhanced the Altima's visual appeal, although the wheels' flush design made them susceptible to damage. In Canada, the Altima was available in four trims: S, SR, SR Premium, and Platinum, and it stood out as the only mid-size sedan offering standard all-wheel drive. However, the variable-compression turbocharged engine was exclusive to the U.S. market. The interior, while visually appealing with new double-stitched seams, still had a significant amount of hard plastic, reminding drivers of its mainstream sedan status.

The 2023 Honda Accord underwent a redesign, adopting a more technical and conservative appearance compared to its predecessor. The hybrid powertrain became standard on most trims, with the base EX variant being the only model in Canada with a gas-only engine. The Accord EX, priced at $37,000, featured a dark grille, LED headlights, and a Canyon River Blue paint that garnered compliments. Inside, the Accord EX boasted 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 and refinement. Overall, the Accord EX was well-outfitted for its price and class, offering a modern yet understated look.

The 2023 Nissan Altima in Canada was equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The standard all-wheel drive system could deliver up to half of the engine's output to the rear wheels. The Altima's performance was adequate, with torque arriving at 3,600 rpm. The CVT was programmed to mimic a traditional automatic transmission, and the SR Premium trim included paddle shifters for added driver engagement. Fuel economy ratings were 9.1 L/100 km in the city, 6.5 on the highway, and 7.9 combined for the base trim. The Altima's ride was firm, and rear visibility was poor, necessitating reliance on the reversing camera and rear cross-traffic alert system. In mountainous areas, the Altima displayed commendable grip, but the steering felt lifeless, and the brakes heated up easily.

The 2023 Honda Accord EX featured a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 192 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 192 pound-feet of torque between 1,700 rpm and 5,000 rpm. The CVT powered the front wheels, and the Accord's suspension managed its 59:41 front-to-rear weight distribution effectively. The Accord's fuel economy was rated at 7.3 L/100 km combined, but our test car returned 8.2 L/100 km due to high temperatures and continuous air conditioning use. The Accord's ride quality was communicative yet quiet, with excellent brake pedal modulation. The steering was precise, and the suspension suppressed unwanted body motions. The Accord's brakes performed well in extreme heat, and the car was enjoyable to drive on winding roads, although the tires felt squishy when rounding curves.

The 2023 Nissan Altima's interior was simple and easy to use, with controls laid out logically. The Zero Gravity seats were exceptionally comfortable, though the leather upholstery was somewhat sticky. The Altima featured dual-zone automatic climate control, a power sunroof, heated front seats, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat. However, the front passenger's seat lacked height adjustment, making it harder to get in and out of the car. Rear seat comfort was good, with plenty of legroom and headroom. The Altima's trunk offered 437 litres of cargo space, smaller than some competitors, but usefully shaped.

The 2023 Honda Accord EX came standard with heated exterior mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and heated front seats. The Accord's back seat provided excellent leg support and was easy to enter and exit. The trunk offered a generous 473 litres of cargo space, with a handle to prevent dirty fingertips when closing the lid. However, the Accord EX lacked a power-adjustable front passenger's seat, rear air conditioning vents, and rear USB charging ports, which were available on higher trims.

The 2023 Nissan Altima featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The SR Premium and Platinum trims offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. The Bose nine-speaker audio system was available on higher trims, and the new infotainment system represented a significant improvement over previous versions.

The 2023 Honda Accord EX included a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The EX trim came with an eight-speaker audio system, but lacked SiriusXM satellite radio. The voice recognition system provided access to Siri, and the physical controls for the stereo were a delight, despite the absence of a tuning knob.

The 2023 Nissan Altima came with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. ProPilot Assist was available on SR Premium and Platinum trims, adding adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The Altima received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, though it received a Poor rating in the updated side-impact test.

The 2023 Honda Accord featured Honda Sensing, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The Accord's safety features performed with accuracy and refinement, and the car earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.