The Honda Accord and the Nissan Altima have been battling it out for years. Even in the used-car market, these are two names that come up time and time again. The 2018 Accord is known for being a reliable, premium option—while the 2018 Altima is an affordable, well-equipped midsize car. Compare the 2018 Honda Accord vs. 2018 Nissan Altima to see which of these sedans is the better fit for you.

The 2018 Honda Accord was completely redesigned while the Altima gets stale

In 2018, the Honda Accord received a full redesign from the ground up. It arrived with new engine options and a seriously upgraded look and feel. Though the 2018 Altima was loved by consumers, it was a bit behind the times. This model year saw only a few minor changes after last receiving a major makeover in 2013. When searching for a good used car, the Altima is a fine choice—but it won’t be very exciting.

The 2018 Accord takes the win in base power, the Altima is more powerful overall

The entry-level 2018 Honda Accord takes the lead in power. Base Accord models come standard with a 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder engine making 192 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque. Meanwhile, 2018 Nissan Altima base models only offer 179 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque from a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine.

Things get interesting in the upper levels, though. Upper grades of the 2018 Altima line boast a 3.5-liter V6 engine good for 270 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque. This peppy engine option makes the Altima one of the best used sedans to buy. Higher trim levels in the 2018 Accord lineup offer a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, but it’s only good for 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque.

The 2018 Accord is a safer choice than the Altima

Though the 2018 Honda Accord was once called a “happy compromise,” it packed a punch in the features department. This is particularly true with its safety and driver-assistance features. Autotrader reported that this model came with standard adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, front automated emergency braking, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, and lane-keep assist, with available blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors.

In comparison, the base 2018 Altima only gives you forward-collision warning and front automated emergency braking standard on its entry-level model. You can pay more for available adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors. However, the rest of the features found on the Accord are missing in the 2018 Altima.

Which is better, the 2018 Altima or Accord?

Though the 2018 Altima received praise from consumers, it’s hard to compare the last model in one generation to the first in another. The older Altima just can’t hold a candle to the updated features, improved safety, and upgraded styling of the 2018 Honda Accord. Even as a used car, this Accord model year brings a lot to the table.

So, will a used 2018 Honda Accord or a 2018 Nissan Altima sedan be the better choice for you?