Compare the2022 Honda Accord HybridVS 2022 Nissan Altima

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Accord Hybrid deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Accord Hybrid’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Altima’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the Accord Hybrid and the Altima have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda Accord Hybrid is safer than the Nissan Altima:

	Accord Hybrid	Altima
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	23%	30%
Neck Stress	184 lbs.	343 lbs.
Neck Compression	74 lbs.	78 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	34%	54%
Neck Stress	140 lbs.	280 lbs.
Neck Compression	54 lbs.	110 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda Accord Hybrid is safer than the Nissan Altima:

	Accord Hybrid	Altima
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	140	187
Chest Movement	.8 inches	1.4 inches
Abdominal Force	152 lbs.	164 lbs.
Hip Force	431 lbs.	511 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	428 lbs.	544 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	16 inches
Spine Acceleration	34 G’s	42 G’s
Hip Force	756 lbs.	769 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Accord Hybrid’s reliability 29 points higher than the Altima.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 8 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The Accord Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 30 more horsepower (212 vs. 182) and 54 lbs.-ft. more torque (232 vs. 178) than the Altima’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Accord Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 24 more horsepower (212 vs. 188) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (232 vs. 180) than the Altima’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Accord Hybrid gets better mileage than the Altima:

			MPG
Accord Hybrid
	FWD	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	48 city/47 hwy
		Sport/Touring 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	44 city/41 hwy
Altima
	FWD	S 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/39 hwy
		SV/SL/SR 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
	AWD	SV/SL 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/36 hwy
		SR/Platinum 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/35 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Accord Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Altima doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the Accord Hybrid’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The Altima doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Accord Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Altima SR requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Accord Hybrid has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Altima doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Accord Hybrid’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Altima:

	Accord Hybrid	Altima
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	11.65 inches
Rear Rotors	11.1 inches	11.02 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Accord Hybrid has larger standard tires than the Altima (225/50R17 vs. 215/60R16).

The Accord Hybrid’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Altima S’ standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Accord Hybrid has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Altima S.

Suspension and Handling

The Accord Hybrid offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Altima’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Accord Hybrid’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Altima doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Accord Hybrid a Large car, while the Altima is rated a Mid-size.

The Accord Hybrid has 4.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Altima (105.6 vs. 100.8).

The Accord Hybrid has .4 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 5.2 inches more rear legroom and .5 inches more rear hip room than the Altima.

Cargo Capacity

The Accord Hybrid has a much larger trunk than the Altima (16.7 vs. 15.4 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Accord Hybrid easier. The Accord Hybrid’s trunk lift-over height is 26.5 inches, while the Altima’s liftover is 28 inches.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the Accord Hybrid offers cargo security. The Altima’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

Ergonomics

The Accord Hybrid Touring has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Altima doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Accord Hybrid’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Altima’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Accord Hybrid’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Altima’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. The Altima SL/Platinum’s rear windows don’t close automatically.

The Accord Hybrid Touring’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Altima’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Consumer Reports rated the Accord Hybrid’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Altima’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

When the Accord Hybrid Touring is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Altima’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Accord Hybrid and the Altima offer available heated front seats. The Accord Hybrid Touring also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Altima.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Accord Hybrid Touring keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Altima doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Accord Hybrid has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Altima SL/Platinum.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda Accord Hybrid Sport/EX-L/Touring has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Altima doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Accord Hybrid owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Accord Hybrid will cost $320 less than the Altima over a five-year period.

The Accord Hybrid will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Accord Hybrid will retain 48.24% to 49.8% of its original price after five years, while the Altima only retains 43.64% to 47.47%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda Accord Hybrid will be $415 to $3777 less than for the Nissan Altima.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda Accord Hybrid and the Nissan Altima, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Accord was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 25 of the last 25 years. The Altima has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Honda Accord outsold the Nissan Altima by 82% during the 2021 model year.