Compared: 2024 Nissan Altima vs. 2024 Honda Accord

While Nissan offers optional power and all-wheel drive, Honda makes an efficiency play.

Matthew Askari | 

Dec 13, 2023 | 3 min read

Honda | Nissan

When it comes to midsize sedans, the Japanese automakers have arguably cornered the market. The Toyota Camry is the segment's bestseller, but the Nissan Altima and Honda Accord are doing their parts to keep the sedan alive in the age of crossovers.

Honda

The Altima Boasts the Lower Price and Optional All-Wheel Drive

Nissan customers can drive off a lot in a 2024 Altima for as little as $27,000, whereas Honda buyers need at least $29,000 to take home an Accord.

Both models come standard with front-wheel drive and four-cylinder engines — a 2.5-liter making 188 horsepower in the Nissan and a 192-hp 1.5-liter in the Honda — though the Accord's does more with less, thanks to turbocharging.

Nissan

Nissan offers a boosted engine in the lineup-topping Altima SR VC-Turbo, but it'll cost you about $37,000. And while not available in the lowest or highest trims, all-wheel drive can be had for $1,500 extra on the three middle Altima variants.

You can't get two drive axles in the Accord, but you can get a hybrid. It starts at about $34,000.

Honda

The Accord Has a Better Feature Suite Than the Altima

Buying either base model in this sedan comparison gets you a 7.0-inch touchscreen display, but only the Accord's provides smartphone-mirroring capability. To get Android Auto or Apple CarPlay connectivity in the Altima, you'll need to step up to at least the SV, which comes standard with an 8.0-inch display.

Those who want to connect to those interfaces wirelessly must spend even more to get the Altima's best infotainment option: a 12.3-inch screen. The same is true for Accord shoppers, who can find such a display in all but the lower-level LX and EX trims.

Nissan

As for driver-assistance features, each model has its advantages. Every Altima comes with blind-spot monitoring, whereas base Accords do without it. Honda provides adaptive cruise control as standard equipment, and Nissan doesn't. Both have push-button ignition, but to unlock the base Altima, you'll need to hit a button on the key fob. Not so for the Accord; all models have proximity-key entry.

Both sedans offer amenities such as leather upholstery and heated front seats, but if you need a ventilated driver's chair, the top Accord is your only option.

Honda

Honda Has the Edge on Efficiency Compared With the Nissan

In terms of efficiency, the best performer in this group is the Accord Hybrid, which returns up to 51/44/48 mpg city/highway/combined. Meanwhile, the gas-only model manages 29/37/32 mpg.

Nissan

By comparison, the entry-level Altima gets 27/39/32 mpg. If you opt for the all-wheel-drive model, knock off a mile or two from each of those ratings. And should you step up to the SR VC-Turbo with the 248-hp engine, you can expect to see 25/34/29 mpg.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication) and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.

Matthew Askari

Matthew Askari has written for more than 30 leading publications, both in print and online. His topics of expertise include travel, adventure, luxury, design, and especially all things automotive. At 14, he tried making a driver's license test appointment for his 16th birthday and was told by the DMV they only book nine months out. His eventual birthday appointment was a success, and he's since driven in more than 40 countries on five continents. Among the many cars he's owned, his favorites include a first-generation BMW Z4 and Mark IV VW Golf 1.8T. He's always cooking up that next great road trip.