2011 Altima vs. 2011 Honda Accord

[nissangirl74]

Nissan gets slammed for its use of the CVT in the 2011 Altima. The author doesn't hold back on this one. He reiterates what most of us have been saying since the reveal of the CVT: it sucks.

http://www.insidercarreviews.com/news/1 ... -accord-se

[AppleBonker]

6MT FTW? Though I suppose if we're limiting the discussion to sedans that isn't an option (unless you're interested in the 4-banger Accord sans leather interior).

[Kompresshun]

One of the main reasons I have no interest in a newer Nissan sedan is due to the CVT. It's really a shame because I love my I30, but I feel like I have to get pre-CVT sedan, buy something more expensive, or look elsewhere in most cases. Thankfully the G sedan and coupe still haven't ended up with the CVT's, but I would've been more likely to consider an Altima due to it's slightly smaller size and FWD layout being more similar to what I have now. I will never buy a car with a CVT in it, there's too many other good alternatives out there to settle for one.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Nissan gets slammed for its use of the CVT in the 2011 Altima. The author doesn't hold back on this one. He reiterates what most of us have been saying since the reveal of the CVT: it sucks.

http://www.insidercarreviews.com/news/1 ... -accord-se

Once again, I find myself thinking that Nissan must never EVER pay attention to the reception of its cars. It just spends money on the development and HANG the results. We spent that money, we're going to get it back. Know where else I've seen that? Nineties GM. The Impala is the result of that attitude. Not being able to admit a mistake is worse than the mistake itself. You don't just plow determinedly ahead in your wrongness. You take a step back and say "oooops, there's some money down the tube, let's not do that again," and you start over again and try to do it right this time.

That said, the Accord is a special brand of ugly and not even original ugly at that. It looks like a 10 year old Saturn that had an ugly tree fall on both ends. It's also outgrowing itself; where the Altima found the right mix of midsizedness, the Accord is thoroughly "big" and because of that sheds much of its predecessors' appeal.

I wouldn't even consider either, though. I'd get a Malibu or a 6.

[Bubba1]

One of the main reasons I have no interest in a newer Nissan sedan is due to the CVT. It's really a shame because I love my I30, but I feel like I have to get pre-CVT sedan, buy something more expensive, or look elsewhere in most cases. Thankfully the G sedan and coupe still haven't ended up with the CVT's, but I would've been more likely to consider an Altima due to it's slightly smaller size and FWD layout being more similar to what I have now. I will never buy a car with a CVT in it, there's too many other good alternatives out there to settle for one.

Same here. when I recently replaced my wife's old fashioned reliable auto-trannied Altima, I did not consider a new one mostly because my long term reliability concerns with CVT. I suppose once we see how CVT's hold up over time, that will help determine whether Nissan's infatuation with it was wise.

[corn322]

Where's page 2? I was looking for more than just "CVTs suck."

[VQPathy01]

I think I'm one of the few that actually doesn't mind the CVT. Of course if I had the option of a manual or 6-speed auto I'd choose those, but I think that Nissan's CVT is a lot sportier then those offered by Mitsubishi or Toyota. I've driven all the Nissan models and I think their CVT works really well in some of their cars. Its quite nice on their V6 models like the 3.5 Altima, Max, and Murano, but it tends to be a bit annoying on the 4's due to the whining of the engines. Maybe if he had compared the V6 models he would have come to like it a bit more?

Plus I've driven the accords and my parents happen to have a Coupe version as well, and I completely disagree with his statement that the Accord is more fun to drive. It's nice, but it doesn't have the dynamics of the Altima. Not even close.

Just my $.02

[Encryptshun]

Where's page 2? I was looking for more than just "CVTs suck."

I'm with you there. That article was a "comparitive review" in about the same way that a CVT is a "sporty transmission".

[King Ranzo]

My old automotive teacher loves the CVT in his wifes new Maxima. I respect the man too much to have smacked him.

[nissangirl74]

It works well in the new Quest. It's just horrible paired with anything low horsepower.

[InfinitiEric]

I agree with all that he said so far, but where's the actual comparison between the Alti and Accord? Lost in the interwebs?

[marlin29311]

Am I the only one that prefers a CVT over a 5spd Auto?

[nissangirl74]

Am I the only one that prefers a CVT over a 5spd Auto?

I think so.

[Bubba1]

Am I the only one that prefers a CVT over a 5spd Auto?

uh, yep.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Am I the only one that prefers a CVT over a 5spd Auto?

Definitely. Well, maybe you and the 1 guy calling the shots for transmissions at Nissan, unless of course they simply flipped a coin, then yes, you're the only one.

[marlin29311]

I dunno...I enjoy the quicker response of the CVT vs a traditional auto...yea, sure it dampens the 'shift' but other than that, it's much more responsive, and having the car just sit in the powerband while accelerating is just plain sweet getting onto a highway...

[IBCoupe]

Having driven my CVT Coupe and my wife's former roommate's (what does that make us? Absolutely nothing) G35 sedan, I have to say that I prefer the shiftable CVT to the shiftable automatic.

In my Nissan, the car does what I want when I want it to, in manual mode. In the Infiniti, I have to learn to only ask the car to do something when it wants to.

Chalk up one more in favor of the CVT over a traditional automatic transmission.

[Jesda]

Nissan gets slammed for its use of the CVT in the 2011 Altima. The author doesn't hold back on this one. He reiterates what most of us have been saying since the reveal of the CVT: it sucks.

http://www.insidercarreviews.com/news/1 ... -accord-se

Once again, I find myself thinking that Nissan must never EVER pay attention to the reception of its cars. It just spends money on the development and HANG the results. We spent that money, we're going to get it back. Know where else I've seen that? Nineties GM. The Impala is the result of that attitude. Not being able to admit a mistake is worse than the mistake itself. You don't just plow determinedly ahead in your wrongness. You take a step back and say "oooops, there's some money down the tube, let's not do that again," and you start over again and try to do it right this time.

That said, the Accord is a special brand of ugly and not even original ugly at that. It looks like a 10 year old Saturn that had an ugly tree fall on both ends. It's also outgrowing itself; where the Altima found the right mix of midsizedness, the Accord is thoroughly "big" and because of that sheds much of its predecessors' appeal.

I wouldn't even consider either, though. I'd get a Malibu or a 6.

Yes to all of this. This mirrors my opinion exactly.