Inside Line (Edmunds) comparison: Altima second to new Accord

[mkaresh]

Rank:4. Camry XLE (notably not the SE)3. Chevrolet Malibu LTZ2. Nissan Altima SE (sport version)1. Honda Accord EX-L

On the Camry:

"Even in routine driving, the Camry's soft ride and deliberate chassis responses make it feel poorly controlled, as if it's wallowing down the road. Similarly, the Camry's steering is reasonably precise, yet it feels almost completely numb. The result is a limp driving character that seems even more pronounced in contrast to the far more engaging personalities of its rivals. The Malibu in particular demonstrates that body control and a compliant ride are not mutually exclusive...

"The build quality of our Camry test car trailed the others, and we noted more inconsistent interior panel gaps and interior squeaks and rattles than we'd expect from a car with fewer than 11,000 miles."

On the Altima:

"Of all the sedans tested here, the Nissan Altima is the most sporting of the bunch. Not just because it blasts past the competition with a 67.3-mph pass through the slalom, but also because it feels just right through the controls. Thanks to the weight of the steering effort and character of the response, the action and feel of the brake pedal, and the suspension's firm control of body motion, the Altima speaks more clearly to enthusiasts than any other car here."

On the Malibu:

"Freeway cruises are a treat in the Malibu, as it's extremely quiet and quells wind noise better than any other car in our test. The front seats were universally lauded as the best in this bunch thanks to a first-rate combination of both comfort and support. By contrast, the rear seat offers the least amount of useful space and the fewest frills of all the cars here...

"On the dynamic front, the Malibu's steering lacks feel, yet the effort loads up nicely in a corner and matches the well-controlled body motions. In fact, the Malibu sports the best compromise between ride and handling in our test, admirably dispensing with road harshness while still maintaining composure on winding bits of pavement."

On the Accord:

"The Accord is a full 2.4 inches wider than the Malibu and devotes all of this to interior space, and the result is a notable impression of spaciousness combined with excellent visibility. Rear seat passengers are likewise treated very well, with ample thigh support and space easily sufficient for 6-footers during long road trips...

"The quality of the materials is best in class...

"Though it has a large cabin, the Accord doesn't drive like a large car. Its steering manages to be quick and communicative right around center, and this helps make the driving experience feel natural and intuitive. As it goes down the road, the Accord responds to surface imperfections with crisp suspension action that has just enough compliance to minimize complaints from the passengers, yet keep the driver in touch with reality."

Essentially, the Accord won because it was the best combination of interior materials, room, ride, and handling. But they enjoyed driving the Altima the most.

Full review: http://www.edmunds.com/insidel...el..1.*

[generic808]

Finally, the Nissan getting some respect and actually beating the Toyota. For some reason, Edmunds never seems to like Nissan's. Glad to hear the Altima sedan beats out the Camry for once

[jmann]

On the Altima:

"Of all the sedans tested here, the Nissan Altima is the most sporting of the bunch. Not just because it blasts past the competition with a 67.3-mph pass through the slalom, but also because it feels just right through the controls."

Doesn't this contradict the test of the accord coupe vs. the altima coupe? They are getting a higher speed ont he sedan although the coupe has a lower center of gravity, is lighter and has a stiffer suspension. The coupe slalom test only got 64.5.

[generic808]

It all depends on the driver

[SHIFT_COUPE]

Nice review. Finally a respectful one from Edmunds. Fools.

[SHIFT_2.5S]

Nice review. Finally a respectful one from Edmunds. Fools.

They still show no respect for the A/C. Fools is right.

[gotak]

Wheel base in AC and AS is different. Might account for the difference in the performance.