2014 Mazda 6 vs 2013 Nissan Altima vs 2013 Honda Accord: A Comprehensive Comparison

YallaMotor.com is the first publication in the Middle East to feature a three-way comparison between the 2014 Mazda 6 2.5L, the 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5L, and the 2013 Honda Accord 2.4L. This comparison is crucial because a significant proportion of car buyers in the Middle East purchase midsize sedans, particularly Japanese midsize sedans, known for their reliability and good resale value, especially in Gulf countries.

The launch of the 2014 Mazda 6 provided us an opportunity to test it against two of the most popular midsize sedans, recently released within the last 12 months: the 2013 Nissan Altima and 2013 Honda Accord. We decided to exclude the Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, and Ford Fusion since they are over a year old, and their newer models will launch soon. The Chevrolet Malibu was also omitted as comparing three Japanese sedans against one American model would lead to an apple-to-orange comparison. My friends Zaran and Ahmad accompanied me for this comparison, and their feedback was invaluable. Now, let's begin.

Exterior Styling

No question about it, the Mazda 6 has far superior styling compared to its rivals. The Mazda 6 recently won the Red Dot Design Award for a reason: it looks stunning. I have never used the word 'stunning' to describe a 2.5-liter midsize sedan! To be fair, the Altima and Accord both exhibit good styling, but the Mazda 6 takes it to a different level altogether. The blood red color choice was spot on as well, showcasing the Kodo design philosophy focused on intense and aggressive styling.

Forget everything else; it has the sportiest front bumper in the segment. It features daytime running lights, which are stylishly integrated, along with body-colored bumpers, door handles, mirrors, and, most importantly, 19-inch alloy wheels in the top-spec version. Only the Mazda 6 has dual exhaust pipe finishers, setting it apart from the competition.

Additionally, the Mazda 6 incorporates an Adaptive Front Light System that adjusts the front lights when turning corners. For dense fogs on Dubai - Abu Dhabi drives, there is a rear defogger and front fog lamps too. This was a unanimous and undisputed verdict.

Winner: Mazda 6 2.5

Price Comparison

Basic Version:

• Nissan Altima 2.5 S: 79,600 AED
• Honda Accord 2.4 DX: 85,500 AED
• Mazda 6 2.5 V: 83,000 AED

Mid Range Version:

• Nissan Altima 2.5 SV: 89,400 AED
• Honda Accord 2.4 LX-B: 92,500 AED
• Mazda 6 2.5 V S/R: 95,000 AED

Full Options Version:

• Nissan Altima 2.5 SL: 98,100 AED
• Honda Accord 2.4 EX-B: 112,999 AED
• Mazda 6 2.5 R: 110,000 AED

As evident from the prices above, the Nissan Altima is the undisputed winner in all price brackets. It must be noted, however, that the Nissan Altima does not come with leather seats in the full options version.

Winner: Nissan Altima 2.5

Interior Features and Technology

For simplicity's sake, we are comparing the top-spec version of each car in our review. We identified six areas of comparison:

1. Sound System
2. Touchscreen and Connectivity
3. Material Quality and Finishing
4. Air Conditioning System
5. Control and Convenience Features
6. Interior Space

Sound System

The Nissan Altima has the best sound system quality, followed by Honda Accord and then Mazda 6. The difference is not huge, but it's enough to discern the winners. It shows that having a higher number of speakers is not necessarily better. The Altima has six speakers, fewer than the Accord (seven) and the Mazda 6 (eleven in top spec). Still, the Altima delivers crisper sound quality, with minimal crackling at high volumes and sharp radio reception.

Touchscreen and Connectivity

The Honda Accord boasts the largest touchscreen at 8 inches, followed by the Nissan Altima (7 inches), and the Mazda 6 at 5.8 inches. All three models feature rear-view cameras with Bluetooth, USB, and AUX connectivity. Notably, the Nissan Altima is the only model with a remote engine start option, allowing you to pre-cool your car before entering. The Altima convincingly won this battle.

Material Quality and Finishing

The Honda Accord excels in material quality, slightly better than the Mazda 6. Its soft-touch materials and quality leather seats in the full options version highlight its strengths. While the Mazda 6 is close, it produces noticeable cheap plastic sounds when shifting gears. The Mazda 6 does have comfortable semi-bucket seats, but the beige color is prone to dirt marks. To summarize, choose the Mazda 6 for a sportier interior, and go for the Accord for a more premium feel. The Nissan Altima comes in third due to the absence of leather seat options and less soft-touch material compared to the Accord.

Air Conditioning System

Who has the best air conditioning? The Honda Accord takes the crown, followed by the Nissan Altima and Mazda 6. All models have decent A/C systems with rear A/C vents, but we had to choose one winner, and we picked the Honda Accord for its ice-cold air conditioning, even under the hot Ramadan afternoon sun!

Control and Convenience Features

This is the area where the Mazda 6 shines brightly. It packed more convenience features than one would expect in a midsize sedan. The Mazda 6 includes adaptive cruise control, paddle shifters, rain-sensing wipers, auto headlamps, map reading lamps, and even seat heating, which is somewhat unnecessary but still a welcome addition! The controls are adjusted via a Jaguar-style knob, and the steering and center armrest feature Volkswagen GTI-style red leather stitching. The cupholders are smaller than they should be, but overall, the Mazda 6 wins hands down for its tech and convenience features.

Interior Space

All models provide decent headroom and legroom for five adult passengers, with adequate boot space. However, when it comes to cargo capacity, the Honda Accord has the largest boot, followed by the Altima and then the Mazda 6. The Honda Accord also boasts the best rear legroom, again followed by the Altima and Mazda 6.

Overall Interior Verdict

After examining the interior features, the Honda Accord has a clear edge over its rivals. However, the Mazda 6 is not far behind, all while being more competitively priced.

Winner: 2013 Honda Accord 2.4

Drive Performance

Acceleration

Let's face it, these are 2.5-liter midsize sedans, so it's pointless to expect too much from an acceleration standpoint. Expectedly, the 2014 Mazda 6 is the sportiest of the three models, with a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 10.5 seconds, followed by the 2013 Nissan Altima at 10.8 seconds, and the Honda Accord at a paltry 11.5 seconds.

Handling

With 19-inch alloy wheels in the top spec version, the Mazda 6 again wins this round with superior road grip, handling, and cornering capabilities, followed by a too-close-to-call finish between the Altima and Accord.

Suspension

Choose the Mazda 6 if you're looking for a sporty suspension; both the Accord and Altima provide very comfortable suspensions.

Road Noise

The Honda Accord has the quietest cabin, followed by the Mazda 6, with the Nissan Altima being the noisiest due to its CVT drone when accelerating above 100 km/h.

Fuel Efficiency

Based on our tests, the Nissan Altima consumed the most fuel at 11.6 L/100 km, followed by the Mazda 6 at 10 L/100 km, with the Honda Accord being the most fuel-efficient at 9 L/100 km.

Overall Drive Verdict

With superior drive and handling, not to mention bigger wheels, adaptive cruise control, and decent road noise levels, the Mazda 6 has the upper hand.

Winner: Mazda 6 2.5

Overall Verdict

With a price lower than the Honda Accord, interior technology better than the Nissan Altima, and the hottest-looking midsize sedan by far, the Mazda 6 is our pick among these three models. It will face stiff competition from the upcoming launches of the 2014 Ford Fusion, 2014 Malibu, and 2014 Camry. Mazda has clearly done its homework, some might argue excessively, by including many unnecessary features like paddle shifters and heated seats. While it may not have the best interior, it comes close, and its driving performance is superior when compared to its rivals. Hence, for now, we believe it rules the midsize sedan segment. Good job!