2013 Honda Accord EX-L V6 vs. 2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 SL Track Test

The 2013 Honda Accord has a monumental task ahead of it. The past few years have not been kind to Honda and this eighth and newest iteration of the Accord needs to prove to the American public that Honda is focused on building capable, high-quality cars again.

It also needs to sell in big numbers, and the first vehicle it needs to leapfrog is the Nissan Altima.

For 2013 the Nissan Altima got a full redesign. The already athletic Altima shed 80 pounds and got Nissan's next-generation CVT that allows for better acceleration and improved fuel economy.

The Altima has always been the driver's choice in the midsize sedan segment, but can the 2013 Honda Accord EX-L V6 with less weight, a six-speed automatic, a new front suspension and 7 more horsepower pull off an upset?


2013 Honda Accord 2013 Nissan Altima
0-30 (sec.): 2.5 2.8
0-45 (sec.): 4.1 4.3
0-60 (sec.): 6.1 6.2
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec.): 5.7 5.9
0-75 (sec.): 8.6 8.6
1/4-mile (sec @ mph): 14.3 @ 98.1 14.4 @ 100.1
30-0 (ft): 33 28
60-0 (ft): 128 114
Skid Pad Lateral Accel (g): 0.82 0.86
Slalom: 63.5 66.6

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Codeus - 9/12/2012 5:48:29 PM

-1 Boost

LOL...not with this tired design. The 2006 Sonata looks just as good. Honda has really dropped the ball with its current line up as far as how they look. Comming from a company that used to set the bar..honda is now chasing the bar. What a tired design period.

cidflekken - 9/12/2012 6:57:58 PM

+2 Boost

Codeus, have you been living under a rock? Honda has never "set the bar" with regards to design with the Accord. It's always been criticized for its conservative approach, with maybe the exception of its pop-up headlights at one point. But why would Honda stray and try to design cars like the Sonata and Optima, especially when it's still crushing each of them in sales?

mini22 - 9/13/2012 12:06:15 AM

+2 Boost

You could say the exact same thing in regard to the Camry.It as well does not stretch the boundry of design. However it sells like hotcakes.To me and this is subjective the Optima so far has the best looking design. I do think the Mazda 6 will top it, however. The Accord reminds me of 90's 5 series BMW's before the Bangle era.Conservative but crisp design both inside and out. I like it much better then the previous 2009-2012 version.

Holydude - 9/13/2012 5:58:56 AM

+3 Boost

The design looks good enough for its class.

lexworld - 9/13/2012 12:48:24 PM

+2 Boost

...Kudos to Honda thought, they have to do somethin to off set the sales kill because that new Camry will trump the competion in sales no doubt.