Accord vs. Altima vs. Camry - Full Article / Comparrisson
Accord is the complete package – safety, performance, comfort and convenience, quality, and value – making it the benchmark in the family sedan market. The 2007 Accord beat out the completely redesigned 2007 Toyota Camry and all-new 2007 Nissan Altima to win Car and Driver's 10Best Car award and to place first in a Car and Driver family sedan comparison.
Here are some of the top reasons your customers should buy the 2007 Honda Accord SE Sedan instead of the 2007 Toyota Camry LE or the Nissan Altima 2.5 S.
Accord Is Legendary!
"The Honda Accord is a legend in the automotive world, renowned for its reasonable price, excellent build quality, powerful yet fuel-efficient engines, and high resale value – and that doesn't even cover its exceptional reputation for overall pleasure of ownership." (KBB.com)
2007 Honda Accord SE vs. 2007 Toyota Camry LE
Performance:
Accord 4-cylinder engine produces more horsepower, yet is rated one mpg better on highway.
KBB.com has said of Accord's engine: "…arguably one of the best-built, smoothest running four-cylinder engines on the planet."
Accord handling is "Poised and predictable on twisty roads, with a sportier feel than most class rivals" vs. "marked body lean" for Camry. Accord steering is "quick, informative" vs. "overboosted and numb" for Camry. (Consumerguideauto.com)
Comfort and Convenience:
Accord offers "…interior amenities and all-around sophistication found in most luxury cars…" (KBB.com)
Accord offers more front seat headroom and legroom than Camry.
A CD Changer and alloy wheels are standard on Accord SE, but are optional on Camry LE.
Cost of Ownership:
Accord has a lower MSRP when comparably equipped.
Accord has slightly lower fuel cost estimate and lower maintenance and repair cost ($1,657 vs. $2,071) according to IntelliChoice.com.
Both have strong residuals, but Accord's is better.
"Safety for Everyone":
Camry lists nothing comparable to Accord's standard Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS).
Both have standard front, front-side, and side curtain airbags.
Both have received 5-star ratings (driver and front passenger) for frontal impacts from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).* Camry has received 5-star ratings (front seat and rear seat) for side impacts vs. 4-star ratings for Accord.
Both received "Good" ratings from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for offset frontal and side impact tests.
Note: Consumerguideauto.com noted about the 2007 Camry, "…recent test examples have suffered uncharacteristic lapses in materials and workmanship."
Note: Consumer car reviews at Cars.com (05/08/2007) gave Accord (all models) an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5. 100% of customers said they would recommend Accord to a friend. Consumer car reviewers gave Camry an overall rating of 3.8 out of 5. 63% of customers said they would recommend Camry to a friend. (Consumer car review numbers will change over time as additional reviews are added.)
2007 Honda Accord SE vs. 2007 Nissan Altima 2.5 S
Performance:
Altima has a slightly larger engine than Accord and produces slightly more horsepower and torque, resulting in slightly better acceleration. Based on the Consumerguideauto.com rating system (1 is low and 10 is high), the Altima 2.5 S CVT rated a 6 for acceleration vs. a 5 for Accord LX.
Accord offers a sophisticated automatic transmission vs. Altima's CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). Cars.com noted about Altima: "CVT bogs engine at lower speeds." KBB.com says, "…if you simply cannot get used to the gearless operation of a CVT, the Altima isn't likely to appeal to you unless it has a manual transmission…"
While Accord has been praised for its smooth-running 4-cylinder engine, Consumerguideauto.com said about Altima, "Neither the 4-cylinder nor V-6 sounds especially refined, but they are not overly intrusive either."
Despite Accord's slightly lower EPA ratings, Consumerguideauto.com reviewers scored Accord LX sedan with automatic transmission higher than Altima 2.5 S CVT for Fuel Economy (7 for Accord vs. 6 for Altima).
Consumerguideauto.com reviewers also rated Accord LX sedan automatic higher than Altima 2.5 S CVT for Steering/Handling/Braking (7 for Accord; 6 for Altima).
Overall Value:
IntelliChoice awarded Accord an "Excellent" Value Rating vs. a "Better than Average" Value Rating for Altima.
Consumerguideauto.com reviewers gave Accord LX automatic a rating of 10 for Value within Class – the highest possible; Altima received a rating of 8.
Accord SE's MSRP is significantly lower than that for Altima 2.5 S when they are comparably equipped (see feature and specification chart).
Both vehicles have strong ALG residual value ratings. Altima has a slight advantage after 60 months.
Comfort and Convenience:
Accord has more rear seat headroom and legroom. It was rated a 6 for Room/Comfort (rear) vs. 5 for Altima. Reviewers noted about Accord, "Head room is six-footer adequate. Leg and toe space good to generous…" About Altima, "Tall riders will find head room cramped and leg space lacking unless front seats are well forward."
Accord receives accolades for its interior amenities and all-around sophistication. Consumerguideauto.com reviewers rated Accord LX sedan automatic a 7 for Quietness (vs. a 6 for Altima) and an 8 for Controls/Materials (vs. a 7 for Altima).
Both Accord and Altima received ratings of 7 for Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front) from consumerguideauto.com. (Some testers complained that Altima's "seats lack supportive contour.")
As the feature and specification chart illustrates, many features that are standard on Accord are optional or not available on Altima.
"Safety for Everyone":
Both have standard front, front-side, and side curtain airbags.
Altima lists nothing comparable to Accord's standard OPDS.
ABS brakes are standard on Accord; optional on Altima 2.5 S. (ABS brakes are NOT offered at all on the base Altima 2.5.)
Both have received 5-star ratings (driver and front passenger) for frontal impacts from NHTSA.* Altima has received one 5-star rating (front seat) and one 4-star rating (rear seat) for side impacts vs. 4-star ratings (front and rear seats) for Accord.
Both received "Good" ratings from IIHS for the offset frontal test. Accord has also received a "Good" rating for the side impact test; Altima has not yet been tested.
Note: Consumer car reviews at Cars.com (05/08/2007) gave Altima (all models) an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5. 95% of customers said they would recommend Altima to a friend.
spancolor: #cc0066""Accord Is an Award-Winning Choice
Recent Accord awards and accolades include:
Car and Driver 10Best Award
Winner of February 2007 Car and Driver sedan comparison
Cars.com Lifestyle Award
Consumer Guide "Best Buy"
Parents Magazine/AAA "Best Family Car"
A leading consumer publication's "Top Pick"