10 Honda Accord Competitors to Consider

2018 Honda Accord Touring silver driving ・ Photo by Honda

While the mid-size sedan segment isn’t what it used to be, it remains a giant battleground in the car wars that rage globally. For years, the Honda Accord has reigned as the standard of comparison in the segment. As the 2018 North American Car of the Year, it is as good a choice now as it’s ever been.

At the same time, the segment is so loaded with great sedans that it is worth examining alternatives to the Accord. We did just that and found a wealth of great choices. Whether you’re shopping for an import or a domestic vehicle, you have a choice of at least 10 very viable alternatives to the Accord. Let’s take a look.

1. 2018 Toyota Camry

When you think of dependability, the name Toyota immediately surfaces. So it is no surprise that the Toyota Camry sedan notched a five-out-of-five scoring in J.D. Power’s most recent Vehicle Dependability Study. That study looked at 2015 vehicles. Now there is a new-generation Camry, and it is better-looking and more feature-filled than ever before.

The Camry is offered in five trim levels, including the sporty SE and XSE. The three powertrains in the Camry include a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a 3.5-liter V6, both paired to an eight-speed Direct-Shift automatic transmission, and a gas-electric hybrid. The standard Toyota Safety Sense P suite is one of the most comprehensive sets of safety technologies offered on any sedan in the class.

Photo by Toyota

2. 2018 Nissan Altima

The Nissan Altima has lately been overshadowed by the introductions of all-new versions of its chief rivals, the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry, as it nears a makeover of its own for 2019. At the same time, the well-regarded 2018 Altima sedan has a lot to offer, including a top finish in its segment in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study.

While other midsize sedans have driven away from V6 engines, you can still buy a 3.5-liter V-6 in the 2018 Altima. The top-level 3.5 SL sedan also offers adaptive cruise control. On the safety front, Nissan has made a forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking a standard feature. We like the Altima package, especially its attractive interior, but you should be aware a new version is imminent.

Photo by Nissan

3. 2018 Kia Optima

The Kia Optima won’t bowl you over with its exterior styling, but we like the handsome, understated look it presents to the world. The exterior is matched by an equally functional and good-looking interior, including its easy-to-use UVO infotainment system. The Optima offers the choice of three four-cylinder engines: a 185-horsepower 2.4-liter, a 178-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter, and a 245-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter. Both 2.4-liter and 2.0-liter turbo have six-speed automatic transmissions. The 1.6-liter turbo is mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Driver assistance features include blind-spot monitoring, a rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking assist. Autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and smart cruise control are available, too.

Photo by Kia

4. 2018 Ford Fusion

In a sea of nice but plain-vanilla cars, the Ford Fusion offers a dose of espresso with its V6 Sport trim level. The well-drawn sedan with a hint of Aston Martin in its design offers 325 horsepower from its 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6. With that power, all-wheel-drive is a nice idea. The impressive list of available safety features includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection and blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert.

A 2.5-liter four-cylinder, 2.0-liter EcoBoost (turbocharged) four-cylinder and the aforementioned 2.7-liter V6 are the engine choices. While the interior is attractively designed and comfy for the front-seat passengers, the back seat can seem a bit cramped. Still, the Fusion has a good initial quality story to tell.

Photo by Ford

5. 2018 Hyundai Sonata

The Hyundai Sonata has become a significant success story as a vehicle that has improved the brand’s reputation for quality. While a decade or so ago, Hyundai products weren’t known for their dependability, the Sonata registered a strong showing in J.D. Power’s most recent Vehicle Dependability Study. Consumers consistently give its instrumentation, layout, and controls high marks for clarity.

In all but the hybrid version, power comes from a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engine that delivers 185 horsepower. Motive force is transferred to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. The Sonata’s standard safety features are highlighted by blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and lane-change assistance. Smart cruise control with stop/start and lane-keeping are optionally available on some trim levels.

Photo by Hyundai

6. 2018 Subaru Legacy

The big differentiator between the Subaru Legacy and other Honda Accord competitors is its standard all-wheel-drive system. This makes the Legacy an extremely good choice in places that experience inclement weather. A less obvious difference is in the engine compartment. Subaru favors horizontally opposed “boxer” engines, and the Legacy offers two of them — a 175-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder or a 256-horsepower 3.6-liter six-cylinder. Both are teamed with a continuously variable automatic transmission.

Previous editions of the Legacy suffered from poor ergonomics, but Subaru has stepped up its game. Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology is a very comprehensive suite of optional safety aids. For 2018, reverse automatic braking and steering responsive headlight joined the list of available features.

Photo by Subaru

7. 2018 Chevrolet Malibu

The Chevrolet Malibu is one of the best-looking sedans in the segment. It also topped the mid-size segment in J.D. Power’s most recent Vehicle Dependability Study, adding credence to the claim that today’s domestic-brand cars are the equal of the import brands in reliability.

The Malibu’s V8 days are gone, as the sedan instead offers two modern turbocharged four-cylinder engines: a 1.5-liter with six-speed automatic and a 2.0-liter with nine-speed automatic. A hybrid version is also available. The Malibu's impressive safety story includes 10 airbags, a rearview camera, electronic stability control, all-speed traction control, and a hill-hold feature as standard features. Two optional packages enable the Malibu to be equipped with the broadest array of driver aids in the segment.

Photo by General Motors

8. 2018 Volkswagen Passat

The Volkswagen Passat pulls off a very neat trick — it is one of the roomiest, most accommodating of the Accord’s direct competitors, yet it handles like a very agile, European sports sedan. Of course, it has European heritage, but it’s built in Tennessee. This year, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine has been substituted for the previous 1.8-liter. The new motor delivers 174 horsepower, while an optional 3.6-liter V6 engine brings 280 horsepower. We also like the Passat’s very accommodating rear seat and its 15.9-cubic-foot trunk.

The Passat offers a standard rearview camera, and its available driver assistance systems include a forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking. Adaptive cruise control is available only on the performance-oriented R-Line trim.

Photo by Volkswagen

9. 2018 Nissan Maxima

The Nissan Maxima has typically occupied a spot one segment above the Honda Accord. But as the Accord has gotten roomier and the large-car segment has lost competitors, the current Maxima is worth a look as an Accord alternative. In an odd turnabout, the Environmental Protection Agency considers the Accord a “large car,” while it considers the Maxima a “midsize car.”

The Maxima's 300-horsepower naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine is one big item in the Nissan's favor, but we have mixed feelings about its continuously variable transmission. It delivers good fuel economy, but some drivers don’t like its behavior. Pluses for the Maxima are its upscale interior and its sports-sedan handling and performance. A slight negative is its relatively small trunk.

Photo by Nissan

10. 2018 Honda Clarity PHEV

If you like the Honda Accord, odds are you will also like the Honda Clarity PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle). The Clarity shares virtually all the Accord’s virtues. It is accommodating, technologically advanced, and well-constructed. While it’s easy to dismiss the Clarity as “the Accord Hybrid,” it rides on a 3-inch shorter wheelbase. The shorter wheelbase doesn’t make it more agile, however. The added weight of the battery pack assures that the Clarity’s performance is a tad more staid than the Accord.

The Clarity can motor for about 47 miles on electric power alone before the 103-horsepower Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine kicks in to start generating more juice. With a 240-volt charger, recharging takes about two and a half hours. Trunk space is a generous 16 cubic feet.

Photo by Honda