2012 Honda Accord vs. 2012 Nissan Altima

2012 Honda Accord Sedan (3)Here at Fisher Honda, the sales numbers don’t lie: the midsize sedan continues to be an auto industry staple for families, young professionals, and everyone in between. While our customers from Denver and beyond clearly love the 2012 Honda Accord, the question often comes up of which vehicle is better — the Accord or the Nissan Altima — and we think it’s time to set the record straight. Sure, Nissan is a quality automaker, and their 2012 model deserves recognition, but when you set the Accord and the Altima side-by-side, Honda’s popular sedan continues to be the better purchase for consumers.

Under the Hood

The best place to start any vehicle comparison is with each model’s performance capability. When our Denver customers first look at the 2012 Accord LX-S and 2012 Altima 2.5 S powertrains, they may conclude that they seem just about the same: Honda offers a slightly smaller 2.4L i-VTEC inline 4-cylinder, whereas the Altima offers a 2.5L four-cylinder. Though the Altima has an advantage in sheer displacement, the Accord packs more actual power, delivering an impressive 190 hp, compared to the Altima’s 175 hp. What’s more, for the increase in power, the Accord still has the advantage in fuel economy as well, with four-cylinder models delivering an EPA-estimated 23 mpg city and 32 mpg highway, whereas the Altima was rated at 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway.*

Vehicle Safety

The most critical aspect of any vehicle comparison is probably crash safety, and in this the Altima appears woefully behind. While the Accord boasts Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) technology for crash-resistant frames, a 5-star government crash-safety rating, and an IIHS “2012 Top Safety Pick” designation, the Altima offers a weaker-than-average braking system, an overall 4-star government safety rating (out of 5), and no mention from the IIHS on their Top Safety Picks.

While we leave the choice to consumers, you can bet which car we’d rather drive. Don’t just take our word for it though — if you’re in the Denver area, come schedule a test drive in the new Accord here at Fisher Honda, and discover firsthand that when it comes to great vehicles, Honda has the competition beat!

*Based on 2012 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.