2013-2014 Midsize Sedan Comparison
4th Place – Nissan Altima 2.5 SL
The Nissan Altima proves to be the old-school luxury cruiser of the group. It looks and feels much more premium than it really is. In fact, during the test we keep calling it the Maxima by mistake – a testament of how closely this car mimics its larger brother.
When it comes to coddling occupants, no other car in this comparison can match the Altima’s overall comfort. The massive soft leather front seats are comfortable for most passengers, but some in our group of testers found there to be too much built-in lumbar support. All the materials used inside the Altima are high quality and the controls are easy to use. The Altima is also incredibly quiet inside and wafts down the road; it is a great freeway cruiser.
COMFORTABLE CRUISER WITH AN UNREFINED ENGINE
For all that is great about the Altima inside, there are some issues under the hood. The 182 hp 4-cylinder engine produces decent power, but challenges the Legacy for worst engine noise and least refined transmission. The engine does not feel all that powerful when on throttle either, but is incredibly efficient, battling the Honda and the Mazda for lowest observed fuel consumption.
See Also: 2013 Nissan Altima Review
Ride comfort was also found to be mid-pack – not quite as good as the Mazda6 or Passat, but better than the Legacy and Camry. We did notice an odd trait with the Altima under hard cornering though; the steering would randomly fluctuate and soften up without warning. We get this car will most likely never be driven that hard, but it was a bit unnerving nonetheless.
STOP BEEPING AT ME!
Another annoyance with the Altima has to do with an excessive amount of warnings. Even with all the vehicle’s driving assists turned off, the Altima kept beeping and buzzing at us. We found after a while the culprit to be the navigation system, which had its own layer of built in warnings. We were able to turn most of the warnings off, but didn’t get them all, and the Altima never fully shut-up.
At $30,000, the Altima is priced in the middle of this comparison, which is fitting for a vehicle that finished right in the middle. If you want to be coddled in luxury, and do not care much about how a car drives, the Altima is the mid-size sedan for you.
Fast Facts:
- PRICE AS TESTED: $30,340
- ENGINE: 2.5L 4-cylinder, 182 hp, 180 lb-ft
- TRANSMISSION: Continuously Variable Transmission
- OBSERVED FUEL ECONOMY: 29.0 MPG
- TRUNK CAPACITY: 15.4 cu-ft
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3rd Place – Honda Accord EX-L w/ Navi
The Accord was all-new last year and Honda took great strides to ensure every aspect of the car was designed right. As a perennial top seller, Honda couldn’t afford to drastically change this bread and butter family sedan. So the manufacturer can be excused for the 2013 Accord looking so similar to the 2012 Accord. Although the exterior styling may not look drastically different, the updates do modernize the vehicle enough, while still remaining instantly recognizable as an Accord.
Inside the Accord receives soft front seats that easily contour to most drivers. Sightlines are great all around and if that’s not enough, there is the industry-exclusive lane watch camera (projecting what’s in your passenger-size blind spot onto the center screen) that should be available on every car. There are three customizable display screens and a fantastic looking gauge cluster as well as easy to use buttons throughout. The overall design of the interior is a bit busy, but most surfaces are finished in soft touch materials. The one sore point for us with the Accord’s interior is the steering wheel; it looks and feels a bit downmarket for this car.
HONDA: STILL DOING THE MECHANICAL BITS RIGHT
We were split when it came to ride quality as some found the Accord to be harsh while others found it to be perfectly acceptable. We could all agree that the Accord was very quiet inside and NHV levels were judged to be some of the best. Handling was also judged to be near the top thanks to good steering feedback and a compliant chassis that is predictable in its actions.
See Also: 2013 Honda Accord Review – Video
Powering the Accord is a 185 hp four-cylinder engine paired up to a continuously variable transmission. The drivetrain is responsive and powerful, but also quiet when off throttle. Despite the fact the Accord is equipped with a CVT, it still one of the best all-around drivetrains here. As a bonus, it’s also incredibly efficient and achieved the lowest as-tested fuel consumption in the comparison; impressive!
For decades the Accord has been one of the best all-around mid-size sedans on the market. It is just so good at everything it does. For 2013, the all-new model continues this tradition; but not quite good enough to match two others in this comparison.
Fast Facts:
- PRICE AS TESTED: $30,785
- ENGINE: 2.5L 4-cylinder, 185 hp, 181 lb-ft
- TRANSMISSION: Continuously Variable Transmission
- OBSERVED FUEL ECONOMY: 29.8 MPG
- TRUNK CAPACITY: 15.5 cu-ft
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