2016 Nissan Altima vs. Honda Accord

Compare 2016 Nissan Altima & Honda Accord

Serving Hilton Head, Hardeeville, and Bluffton GA

These days, the Nissan Altima and the Honda Accord are among the top offerings in the overcrowded and highly competitive segment that mid-size sedans comprise. For the Altima, which is currently in its fifth production cycle with the 2016 model year, it has matured from its humble beginnings into a vehicle with great performance and handling, as well as one of the finer cabins in its class. And the Accord, now in its ninth generation of production with the 2016 edition, has been a perennial best-seller and one of the most critically acclaimed nameplates of all time. The Accord has a pedigree that can be quite daunting, and yet the Altima manages to score a few points one of Honda’s most popular products.

Fuel Effeciency

The 2016 Nissan Altima has a slight edge in highway economy. Both the Altima and Accord are notable for comparatively great fuel efficiency, with a selection of inline four-cylinder and V6 engines that pack more than enough power to get you into traffic or switch lanes. However, while the Altima tops out at 39 miles per gallon (mpg) on the freeway, the Accord’s peak highway economy is 37 mpg. Although a powertrain configuration that includes the QR25DE—a 2.5-liter 16-valve I4 with 182 horsepower—takes a lot of the credit, there’s also the presence of the standard dual exhaust system, which gets the engine running more efficiently by pushing out the exhaust gases and bringing in fresh air quicker. As a result, there’s more power from the engine, as well as better gas mileage.

Safety

Another advantage of the 2016 Nissan Altima is its manufacturer’s Continuous Variable Transmission brand, which is named the Xtronic CVT. Although it is a type of automatic transmission, the CVT distinguishes itself in that it has a continuous range of gear ratios. Thus the CVT eliminates gear shifting, consequently providing a higher level of convenience and smooth driving, in addition to assisting with boosting fuel efficiency. The Xtronic CVT is standard on the 2016 Altima, regardless of trim. On the other hand, the 2016 Accord is fitted with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. Only one of the seven available trims has a CVT as the standard gearbox; it is an option on four others and unavailable altogether on the remaining two.

Audio Features

And if you want top-notch entertainment, you might want to go with the 2016 Altima—more specifically, its top-level 3.5 SL trim. You can opt for a nine-speaker Bose Premium Audio System that fills the front and back seats with rich and deep sound.