We won’t go so far as to say the Accord is “better” than the Altima coupe, but it definitely has a few advantages that make everyday living easier. The Accord’s trunk is larger than the Altima’s and you can actually fit adults in the backseat. In the Altima coupe, Cars.com reviewer David Thomas, who is 5-foot-10, had to sit hunched over in the backseat from the lack of headroom.
If you don’t have to carry luggage or adult passengers in the back, then obviously those attributes won’t be much of an issue. The remaining characteristics will likely be subject to personal preference, along the lines of styling, pricing, options and interior amenities.
Altima coupes have a sporty interior akin to the 350Z sports car, while the Accord can be outfitted with Acura-like high-quality leather and interior materials. As far as ride and handling, the Altima rides on the rougher side compared to other cars in the segment. The Accord is all-around a very comfortable car, even on the highway.
The Accord isn’t without its quirks, though. The backseat doesn’t fold down in a split like the Altima’s does. Split backseats give you the advantage of being able to put a passenger on one side and cargo overflow from the trunk on the other.
Pricing starts in the low $20K range for both four-cylinder models: $21,860 for the Accord and $20,950 for the Altima; both can also have a more powerful six-cylinder, with which prices jump to $28,310 and $25,350, respectively. The Accord Coupe with the V-6 engine comes in only one trim, the EX-L which has leather leather and an electronic stability control system standard. Those are features you can opt without on the Altima, making it an uneven battle. To match the Accord's features the Altima needs a premium package ($3,200) and optional electronic stability system ($600) that brings the price to $29,150. Both match their sports appeal with the option of a manual transmission. Automatic-equipped Nissans come with a continuously variable transmission and the Honda gets a five-speed auto.
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2008 Honda Accord
2008 Nissan Altima
Tony,
Not to argue with Edmunds but were they looking at coupes only?
I don't think it's a hands down win when you look at the pricing. I mean for $25K the Altima coupe is pretty darn nice with a throaty V-6 that offers a much more sporty feel. And you keep $3K in your pocket.
The Accord's is more refined but I can see sport oriented guys going for the Altima.
Me personally I'd probably go with the Accord anyway because I prefer the looks and the leather, but I don't think it would be an overwhelming win in any way.
So, a loaded Altima is less than a loaded Accord.
So can you live with the quality slights for an extra $3k in pocket?
That's up to you.
Dave T,
apperantly you're wrong about the price:
"Problem is that to compete on content, the 2008 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE Coupe's $25,595 base price had to be inflated to $29,490 with the $3,200 premium package and $600 optional stability control system. That means the 2008 Honda Accord EX-L V6's $28,945 base (and as-tested) price merely serves to underscore this coupe's overall superiority in this contest. "
They tested V-6
The link: http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/vdp/articleId=123357/pageNumber=1
Quote:
"What appeared to be a near-perfect matchup, right down to the blue paint jobs, turned out to be a rather resounding win for the Accord coupe over the Altima coupe."
Quote:
"The Altima's driveline also proved to be something of a mess. Clutch uptake was sticky and unpredictable. The transmission shift linkage felt like it was made of cartilage, and quickly moving the long-throw shifter felt as if we were dislocating the leg of some small animal. Eeew. The engine rocked in its spongy mounts, and each acceleration run produced so much drivetrain lash that the little barn door for the cubby at the base of the center stack popped open.
The Altima coupe's suspension tuning doesn't suit us at all. It's oversprung and underdamped, so the car hops over every pavement seam, then thumps against its damper bumpstops on the other side. Afterwards, the Altima refuses to settle down for some time, and once it does, another seam or pothole inevitably presents itself."
Quote:
"Whereas the Altima coupe bucked and protested as it ran up and down the test track, the Accord coupe was the picture of poise."
Quote:
"The 2008 Honda Accord Coupe not only outperforms the Nissan Altima coupe, but also easily surpasses the performance of previous Accord sedans and coupes.
"
Quote:
"Accord's admirable 11.9 cubic feet is both larger and more sensibly shaped than the Altima's mere 7.4-cubic-foot cargo hold "
So, why to re-make the song? Somebody tested the car and results are convincing enough not to go and do it yourself.
good point on the premium package forgot about that. I still prefer Nissan's 3.5 V-6 to the Honda's V-6 from a fun-to-drive factor. Otherwise, like I said before, the Honda's is more refined.
They also might have gotten a bad transmission. However I drove the CVT version of the Altima coupe not the manual. And auto in the Accord as well.
Again, I still think there's a place for the Altima coupe. And if you read both reviews maybe you'd get a very similar opinion.
But it sounds like you Tony would like us to just wrap up shop here and go home and everyone can just go by one source for automotive information? Good idea.
Please remember though that at Cars.com our editorial policy is a tad different than Edmunds...
And obviously Victor in Miami wanted our opinion, hence this post.
Dave T,
my argument was about the car and ONLY about the car.
This is nice that there are many sourses of information. And thank you for being flexible enough to recognize that pricing is also not exactly in favor of Altima.
Last week I drove new Accord sedan and I can tell you - this is somethig. I didn't like the plasticky dash ornament of LX-P but the driveline and suspention - you can write text books.
Considering my test drive experience, Nissan's recall record, my car show seat-in experience, and results of Edmunds's test, I said, "Accord is much better".
I heard your voice about Altima and I though you were not comparing apple to apple. But I don't think, you need to close your shop. I like it. Actually, in discussions like this the true answer migh be born.
Tony: we added a line about the Altima's pricing difference on V-6 equipped models, and that it's not an entirely even match because the Accord V6 comes in one trim with leather and a stability system as standard equipment, while those are optional on the Altima.
The Honda automatics don't drive well. (okay, with any sporting character) The transmission detent are D5 D3 2 1
Not very useful.
They should have D5 I L (and a button for top gear lockout) so you can get 4th gear for mountain driving.
'I' for intermediate gears (locks out 1st & 5th) perfect for sporty driving when it is wet out. and for winter driving with all seasons.
AND you can lock out 4th for 3rd gear (for extra braking if you are overdriving the small Honda brakes)
Nissan offers a manumatic gate
http://www.nissannews.com/image.do;jsessionid=8C3BEF10990B492C42FEDF237CE8CD0C?id=2276
(forward is supposed for downshift)
So, for a stick get the Honda, for the auto get the Nissan.
George, I think some Hondas do offer that sort of setup that you say they should. Can't remember for sure, but some of them (like the Odyssey, and IIRC the CR-V) have such a button on the shifter, that puts it in D4 (indicated on the dash).
The question is do you want a massive coupe that is based on a full sized sedan (the Accord) or do you want a coupe that is essentially a fwd G37 (the Altima)?
All I have seen is comparisons of the V-6 Accord Coupe vs. the Altima Coupe. Has anyone done a comparison on the 4 cylinder versions? I would think the extra 300 lbs of the Accord would make a big difference in performance and gas mileage. I have driven the automatic Accord and found it a bit sluggish, but I haven’t been able to find a manual 4c to test drive yet. Also wondering if the 6sp manual on the Altima would give it an advantage on highway MPGs?
Altima Coupe blows the accord away in looks who wants a big lump of junk tryin to look like aa sports car anyway ?
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I say definately better. So much better that Edmund's said, "...It won hands down".