Compared: 2022 Honda Accord vs. 2022 Nissan Altima

It's the upscale Honda up against the value-priced Nissan in a family sedan showdown.

Benjamin Hunting | 

Feb 14, 2023 | 3 min read

Honda | Nissan

Sedans provide safe, comfortable, and affordable transportation that is often more fuel efficient and nearly as practical as similarly sized SUVs. The 2022 Honda Accord and 2022 Nissan Altima are two family sedan stalwarts with different approaches to luring buyers away from the sport-utility side of the showroom, with Nissan focusing on value and Honda aiming to deliver a more upscale experience.

What do the Accord and the Altima have to offer compared to each other? Let's compare their prices, features, and fuel economy.

Nissan

2022 Nissan Altima vs. 2022 Honda Accord: Prices

As might be expected, the base level of standard equipment delivered by the Nissan helps keep its price tag more modest than that of the Honda. The Altima S starts at around $26,000 and the Accord LX at around $27,000 ask. All-wheel drive becomes available with the Altima’s SV trim for about $27,000. The most expensive Altima, the Platinum with AWD, is about $35,000.

Honda

The Honda Accord provides two pricing peaks at the upper levels. For gas-only models, the Touring trim will set buyers back about $38,000, while the electrified Hybrid Sport tops out at around $32,000. The least-expensive Hybrid sedan is roughly $3,000 cheaper.

Nissan

Altima vs. Accord: Features

While both family sedans offer seating for five, side by side the interior of the Honda Accord comes across as more polished than that of the Nissan Altima, starting from the most affordable trim and moving up to the top of their respective ranges.

Honda

There are also some puzzling omissions from the Altima. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity aren’t available on the base trim. The base Nissan also offers only single-zone manual climate controls versus the Honda’s dual-zone automatic setup and rides on steel wheels rather than the Accord’s alloys. Higher trim levels are similar in terms of equipment.

The Altima does have an advantage over the Accord in the drivetrain department, where available AWD helps it win fans in snowy parts of the country. The Honda is front-wheel drive only.

Nissan

Altima vs. Accord: Fuel Economy

The Altima offers two four-cylinder gas engines. Its 2.5-liter base makes 188 hp, returning up to 32 mpg combined. The SR, SV, and SL trims knock that down to 31 mpg, while adding AWD causes fuel mileage shrink to 30 mpg, depending on trim level. There's also a 248-hp turbocharged four-cylinder available, and it delivers the lowest rating of all: 29 mpg in front-wheel-drive SR trim.

Honda

The base and top-tier Accord models feature turbocharged four-cylinder engines that outperform their Altima equivalents. The base Accord's 192-hp 1.5-liter unit is less thirsty than the best performance from the Altima's base motor with a combined estimate of 33 mpg. The larger 2.0-liter turbocharged engine provides 252 hp and 26 mpg, which trails the Altima's top engine.

The Honda Accord Hybrid is the most efficient model in this particular comparison. With its rating of 47 mpg, it's in another league. It pairs an electric motor with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine to generate 212 hp.

Benjamin Hunting

Benjamin Hunting is a writer and podcast host who contributes to a number of newspapers, automotive magazines, and online publications. More than a decade into his career, he enjoys keeping the shiny side up during track days and always has one too many classic vehicle projects partially disassembled in his garage at any given time. Remember, if it's not leaking, it's probably empty.