Compare the2023 Nissan MaximaVS 2022 Honda Accord

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

Safety

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The Maxima has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Accord doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Maxima SR/Platinum has a standard Around View® Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Accord only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Maxima has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Accord Sport 2.0T/EX/EX-L/Touring offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Maxima has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Accord Sport 2.0T/EX-L/Touring has a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Maxima and the Accord 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

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

	Maxima	Accord
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	252	261
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	74 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	31%	34%
Neck Stress	124 lbs.	140 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 Nissan Maxima is safer than the Honda Accord:

	Maxima	Accord
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	119	140
Hip Force	337 lbs.	431 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	242	386
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	62 G’s
Hip Force	349 lbs.	428 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	480 lbs.	756 lbs.

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

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Honda With 25 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Honda.

Engine

The Maxima’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 108 more horsepower (300 vs. 192) and 69 lbs.-ft. more torque (261 vs. 192) than the Accord’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Maxima’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 48 more horsepower (300 vs. 252) than the Accord’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Nissan Maxima is faster than the Honda Accord:

	Maxima	Accord 1.5	Accord 2.0
Zero to 60 MPH	5.7 sec	7.6 sec	5.8 sec
Quarter Mile	14.2 sec	15.9 sec	14.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	100.5 MPH	89.3 MPH	97.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Maxima has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Accord (18 vs. 14.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Maxima	Accord	Accord Sport/Touring
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	11.5 inches	12.3 inches
Rear Rotors	12.13 inches	11.1 inches	11.1 inches

The Maxima’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Accord are solid, not vented.

The Maxima stops much shorter than the Accord:

	Maxima	Accord
70 to 0 MPH	168 feet	176 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	135 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	141 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Maxima has larger tires than the Accord (245/45R18 vs. 225/50R17). The Maxima SV’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Accord (245/45R18 vs. 235/40R19).

The Maxima SV’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Accord’s standard 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Maxima SV has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Accord.

The Maxima has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Accord doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Maxima offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Accord; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

The Maxima SR handles at .86 G’s, while the Accord pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Maxima SR executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Accord (26.6 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Maxima’s turning circle is .1 feet tighter than the Accord LX/EX-L’s (38.1 feet vs. 38.2 feet). The Maxima’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the Accord 2.0T’s (38.1 feet vs. 39.6 feet).

Chassis

The Maxima is 3.3 inches shorter than the Accord, making the Maxima easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The front step up height for the Maxima is 1.4 inches lower than the Accord (15.1” vs. 16.5”).

Cargo Capacity

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Maxima’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. The Accord’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

The Maxima’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Accord LX’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

Servicing Ease

The Maxima uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Accord uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The Maxima’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Accord does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Maxima’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Accord’s power window (except driver window), power lock and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

A power rear sunshade is standard in the Maxima Platinum to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Accord doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The Maxima’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Accord Sport 2.0T/Sport SE/EX-L/Touring.

The Maxima’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Accord offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

On extremely cold winter days, the Maxima SR/Platinum’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Accord doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the Maxima and the Accord offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Maxima has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Accord doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Maxima owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Maxima with a number “1” insurance rate while the Accord is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Maxima is less expensive to operate than the Accord because typical repairs cost less on the Maxima than the Accord, including $128 less for a starter, $61 less for fuel injection, $119 less for a fuel pump, $29 less for front struts and $181 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

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