When considering vehicles that balance looks with practicality and affordability, Nissan always delivers. Let's take a closer look at one of its most popular sedan models, the Altima, to see how it stacks up against the Honda Accord.
Key Takeaways:
- Nissan trims its Altima lineup to two models for 2026.
- The 2026 Nissan Altima changes are otherwise mostly cosmetic.
- The Accord also gets only minor tweaks for this year.
Changes and Pricing in the Altima and Accord for 2026
Nissan pairs the Altima lineup down to just two trim levels: the practical SV and the sporty SR. Aside from that change, Nissan debuts the Midnight Edition package for the SR trim, which features a black V-motion grille, a two-tone black roof, and dark accents. The addition of 19-inch black wheels, dual-zone climate control, and a moonroof to the SR rounds out this year's changes.
Accord LX and SE models get a larger infotainment screen, and two Sport models add more black exterior accents. The wheel size on the SE increases from 17 to 19 inches.
Altima vs. Accord Engine Options and Fuel Economy
The Altima features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which delivers a dependable 188 horsepower and mates to Nissan's Xtronic CVT. You can also opt for Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, which is available on both trims.
The Accord's LX and SE trims feature a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 192 horsepower and drive the front wheels through a CVT. All higher-level models use a hybrid powertrain.
Powertrains
| 2026 Nissan Altima |
2026 Honda Accord |
| Standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine |
Standard turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine; hybrid powertrains on higher trims |
| Paired with Nissan's Xtronic CVT |
CVT |
| FWD, Intelligent All-Wheel Drive available |
FWD |
The Case for AWD
Most people buying a midsize sedan aren't thinking about AWD. They buy a front-wheel-drive car, drive it fine through summer and fall, and then hit a wet highway in January and wonder why the front end is pushing wide through a curve. AWD doesn't just help in snow -- it helps in rain, on loose gravel, in any situation where traction matters and front-wheel drive is quietly working against you.
Nissan's Intelligent AWD system monitors conditions constantly and redistributes power between the front and rear wheels before you've even registered the slip. It's not a system you turn on when things get bad. It's already working. The Accord, regardless of trim, sends power only to the front wheels.
Top Tech in the Altima vs. the Accord
Every Pathfinder comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen running NissanConnect. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as is SiriusXM and built-in navigation. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, wireless charging pad, and head-up display are also available. Audio starts with a six-speaker setup, which gets the job done, but the available 13-speaker Bose system on the SL (it's standard on the Platinum) is a major step up.
Honda gives you a choice of a 9-inch or 12.3-inch touchscreen depending on trim, and every Accord comes with a 10.2-inch digital gauge display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the lineup, and a wireless charging pad comes standard here as well.
Why the Altima Is the Better Option
If you're chasing fuel economy, the Accord's hybrid trims are excellent. But a midsize sedan like the Altima is often a family's primary vehicle. It goes to school, to work, on road trips, through whatever the season throws at it. The Altima is the only car in this comparison that's built to handle all of that, not just the easy days. If you want to get behind the wheel, we've got you covered here at Alan Jay Nissan. It's the Alan Jay way!