Price
Winner: 2020 Honda Accord
Only $80 separates the Accord from the Altima in terms of starting price, which makes this an incredibly close victory for Honda’s sedan. The Altima starts at $24,100, while the Accord has a base MSRP of $24,020.
While $80 isn’t a massive difference when considering the high cost of a new vehicle, it does make the Accord more affordable than the Altima – even if it’s by a slim margin.
Reliability
Winner: 2020 Nissan Altima
Both Honda and Nissan are known for manufacturing reliable vehicles, although neither of these cars are stellar in this category. The 2020 Altima has average predicted reliability, while the 2020 Accord’s predicted reliability is slightly below average.
Seat Comfort
Winner: 2020 Honda Accord
This is another area where the Altima and the Accord stack up well against one another. Both sedans have seating for up to five people, though the Accord has more passenger volume with an additional 4.8 cubic of passenger space compared to the Altima.
While the Accord has more front headroom (39.5 inches compared to Altima’s 39.2 inches), the Altima offers more front legroom (42.3 inches in the Accord compared to 43.8 inches for the Altima). When it comes to the back seats, the Accord has more rear headroom and rear legroom. The Accord’s rear legroom of 40.4 inches is especially impressive compared to the Altima’s 35.2 inches.
With more space in three out of four key areas, the Accord takes another win over the Altima.
Cargo Space
Winner: 2020 Honda Accord
Cargo capacity is one of the major reasons why consumers are switching to SUVs. Midsize sedans simply can’t compete with SUVs when it comes to cargo space, though both the Accord and the Altima come with decently-sized trunks for the segment.
The Accord can hold up to 16.7 cubic feet of cargo, which is above average for the class, while the Altima has a 15.4-cubic-foot trunk. While the Accord’s trunk is larger, it has a narrow trunk opening that makes it difficult to load bulky objects into the back. Still, with more cargo space than the Altima, the Accord takes another victory.
Interior Quality
Winner: 2020 Honda Accord
Nissan’s overhaul of the Altima in 2019 saw the sedan take a massive step forward with its interior compared to the previous generation. The uncluttered design and simple controls give the Altima an upscale feel, but the cabin still uses a few subpar build materials.
The Accord’s cabin features excellent fit-and-finish, and materials that wouldn’t be out of place in a more expensive vehicle. Soft-touch surfaces, dials and buttons that have a sturdy click, and a classy design all give the Accord the edge in interior quality over the Altima.
Interior Features
Winner: 2020 Nissan Altima
Both the Accord and the Altima come well-equipped from the get-go, but the Altima gives you more for your money. Standard features on the Altima include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, an 8-inch touch screen, two USB ports, a six-speaker audio system, push-button start, and remote start.
The Accord comes standard with a 7-inch touch screen that has Bluetooth and Pandora compatibility, but lacks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (although they are available as options). Other standard features include a four-speaker audio system, push-button start, and dual-zone automatic climate control. While the Accord's list of standard features isn’t bad for the segment, they don’t match the Altima’s.
Powertrain
Winner: 2020 Honda Accord
Nissan and Honda both offer two powertrains for their respective midsize sedans. For the Altima, the base engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. Higher trim levels can be fitted with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is standard across the board.
The base Accord comes with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 192 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque as standard. A CVT is the default transmission, but a six-speed manual is available in the Sport model. The range-topping Touring trim is equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that’s rated at 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. Both a 10-speed automatic transmission and a six-speed manual are available with the more powerful engine.
With more powerful engines and an available manual transmission, the Accord wins this category.
Inclement Weather Capability
Winner: 2020 Nissan Altima
A lot of consumers are looking to SUVs because of their ability to tackle roads when inclement weather strikes. The majority of SUVs are available with four- or all-wheel drive, while these options remain a rarity for midsize sedans. The Altima is one of the few options in the class that boasts optional all-wheel drive. Nissan’s all-wheel-drive system is only available with the base powertrain, and costs an extra $1,350. The Accord is only offered with front-wheel drive, giving the Altima an easy win when it comes to tackling tricky weather conditions.
Fuel Economy
Winner: 2020 Honda Accord
The standard Accord with the base engine and the CVT is the most efficient one in the lineup, not counting the Accord Hybrid, which is reviewed separately. With the standard powertrain, the Accord is rated to get up to 30 mpg in the city, 38 mpg on the highway, and 33 mpg combined. These are superb figures for the midsize sedan segment, although upgrading to the more powerful engine will result in a significant dip in fuel economy.
Just like the Accord, the standard Altima is the most efficient sedan in the lineup. With the base powertrain, the Altima is rated to get up to 28 mpg in the city, 39 mpg on the highway, and 32 mpg combined. These are also excellent figures for the class.
While the Altima isn’t that far behind the Accord, the numbers are in the Honda’s favor. That means the Accord wins the comparison when it comes to fuel economy.
Ride and Handling
Winner: 2020 Honda Accord
Despite having an available all-wheel-drive system, the Altima prioritizes ride comfort over athleticism. That doesn’t mean it’s a slouch around corners, as the sedan’s sharp steering and minimal body roll around corners make it enjoyable to drive. The sporty SR trim comes with firmer suspension compared to the rest of the lineup, and feels even more composed around corners. Unfortunately, compared to the Accord, the Altima isn't as poised on a windy road.
Firm suspension, strong brakes, and sharp steering all help make the Accord one of the more enjoyable midsize sedans to drive. Where the Accord really impresses – especially over the Altima – is its taut chassis that feels like it belongs to a sports sedan. The balance and poise make it enjoyable to drive without compromising ride comfort.
Safety
Winner: Tie
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named both the Accord and the Altima as Top Safety Picks. In the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) testing, both vehicles earned a five-out-of-five-star overall safety rating. So, both midsize sedans can trade punches all day long when it comes to safety.
Both automakers pack their vehicles with standard safety features, though Honda’s entry comes standard with a more comprehensive suite of driver-assistance aids. These include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, road departure mitigation, and traffic sign recognition as standard. These features aren’t available on the base Altima.
Where the Altima has an edge over the Accord is with its available ProPilot Assist system. Using adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist, the Altima can handle the majority of driving on the highway. Honda doesn’t offer a similar system on the Accord.
With similar crash-test scores and similar safety features, this category ends in a tie.
The Winner Is …
2020 Honda Accord
The 2020 Honda Accord is the clear winner in this head-to-head comparison. With wins when it comes to pricing, seat comfort, cargo space, interior quality, powertrain, fuel economy, as well as ride and handling, the Accord beats the 2020 Nissan Altima handily. With an overall U.S. News score of 8.3 out of 10, the Accord takes the No. 3 spot in our ranking of midsize cars. The Altima’s overall score of 7.8 out of 10 places it at No. 7.
The redesign for the 2019 model year made the Nissan Altima much more competitive in the segment. The same strengths carry over for the 2020 model year, helping the Altima beat the Accord in reliability, interior features, and inclement weather capability. Consumers that require all-wheel drive from a midsize sedan will find the Altima to be the better option of the two. The Altima also has the available ProPilot Assist system, which is unlike anything Honda offers with the Accord.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
If you want more information on the Honda Accord and the Nissan Altima, check out their individual reviews. In our ranking of midsize cars, you’ll be able to see how these two midsize sedans compare against their rivals. There, you’ll also find other options in the segment.
When you’ve found the perfect vehicle for you, use the U.S. News Best Price Program to get in contact with a local dealership. Shoppers that used the program saved an average of more than $3,000 off the MSRP of a new vehicle.
In addition to saving you money on the purchase of a new vehicle, our auto insurance hub can help you find the cheapest insurance rates in your area and find the right company for you. You can even compare rates from major companies to find the best one for your needs.
2020 Nissan Altima vs. 2020 Honda Accord: Head to Head
- Price – Winner: 2020 Honda Accord
- Reliability – Winner: 2020 Nissan Altima
- Seat Comfort – Winner: 2020 Honda Accord
- Cargo Space – Winner: 2020 Honda Accord
- Interior Quality – Winner: 2020 Honda Accord
- Interior Features – Winner: 2020 Nissan Altima
- Powertrain – Winner: 2020 Honda Accord
- Inclement Weather Capability – Winner: 2020 Nissan Altima
- Fuel Economy – Winner: 2020 Honda Accord
- Ride and Handling – Winner: 2020 Honda Accord
- Safety – Winner: Tie
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Best Cars for Families
Which Japanese Midsize Sedan Stands Out?
While more and more consumers have made the switch from sedans to SUVs, automakers have been working to make the once-ubiquitous family vehicle better than before. Midsize sedans offer more advanced technology, convenience features, and performance than ever. Two options that have always been popular in the midsize sedan segment are the Honda Accord and the Nissan Altima.
These two sedans are excellent options for families, as they’re both practical, packed with advanced safety features, and strong value choices. The 2020 Accord and the 2020 Altima are also more enjoyable to drive than past generations, and when compared to the majority of SUVs, offer much better handling and straight-line performance. For consumers that tend to encounter inclement weather, last year’s redesign saw the Altima receive all-wheel drive as an option.
To help you decide between the two vehicles, we’ve pitted the two midsize sedans against one another using data from our reviews. Price, performance, interior comfort, reliability, and more have been examined to name one winner.
Since U.S. News scores are routinely updated as new data comes out, some of the scores in this article may not match the ones found in our individual rankings or reviews.
Read on to see which popular midsize sedan wins this battle.