Accord Coupe > Malibu (all)

Malibu (top trim level) > Accord.

Both are good cars, but if I were spending for a top of the trim level, every option kind of car, it'd be the Accord, I think.

 

I would go with the malibu, It's certainly a classier design, and I generally prefer classy over sporty.

Having said that, I am willing to bet that the accord is the overall superior car, judging by first impressions, but I'll have to go see and drive both for myself before I draw any conclusions.

 

I'd take the Malibu. The question is will there be enough people to say that, when they are both on the same lot, side-by-side?

 

It depends how GM does it. If they put a base model, bare bones 4 cylinder Accord next to a souped up, top of the line Malibu, I think more people will like the Malibu.

Personally, I like the Malibu's look more.

 

Accord coupe owns the sedan.

 

Accord coupe is awfully ungainly, almost as bad as the Pontiac G6 - it has this "coming or going" effect I despise. It looks like a badly redone Tiburon.

The Accord sedan has all it would take to look awful and suddenly it's looking good. Who would have thought that a combination of Ridgeline front end, BMW profile and Audi A6 rear end would end up looking good? I'd love to hate it, but I somehow like it. And yes, in all its hodgepodgeness, it does give Malibu a bit of "conservative" side.

The real reason, however, I voted the Accord is that I've learned Malibu doesn't offer rear armrests. Are they serious??? Who cares about leather and all, even a Skoda Fabia can be had with a rear armrest! I also have to admit that while I am not enamoured with Honda's design theme, it is more coherent than the Malibu's. While Malibu has e.g. a great, luxurious-looking shifter (compare to Accord's simplistic unit), The protruding boxes in the central console and the oh-so-cost-cutting steering wheel spoil the impression stylist worked so hard for...

I still love the Malibu though. It was a tough choice and I guess Accord got my vote only because I was expecting it to be absolutely horrible and it wasn't.

 

It's hard to compare these two cars because they're aiming for different markets. The Malibu is more of a conservative, luxerious design to compete mainly with the Camry. The Accord is more of an aggressive sports sedan. Might need to wait until the next G6 to do an apples-to-apples.

If we were just talking about the level of execution however, i'd give the edge to Malibu for exterior and the Accord for interior, even though I prefer the Accord all-around.

 

It's hard to compare these two cars because they're aiming for different markets. The Malibu is more of a conservative, luxerious design to compete mainly with the Camry. The Accord is more of an aggressive sports sedan. Might need to wait until the next G6 to do an apples-to-apples.

The market isn't as distinct as you suggest... the Accord and Malibu square off for the same huge portion of the market. You can split hairs and say one is conservative and one is sporty, but most big sedan consumers don't break the vehicles down into two columns like that.

I find it interesting how close these cars actually are. Even the interior design isn't all that different, with a big swoop across the dash. Placement of the vents and controls is similar (well I guess that can be said for most vehicles these days). I really see these two as quite closely matched, though the Malibu has a few weak points (like Bravada pointed out) that I don't see on the Accord.

Does anyone like the shift boot around the Malibu shifter? I never liked that except on a standard. The trim around the radio isn't nice... GM HAS to find the money for different radio faces and better integration. I like the steering wheel, but not on this car... I think a four spoke would have worked better. Nit-picky stuff, of course... overall it's a very well done car. Exterior design is excellent, and while I also like the Honda it certainly isn't unquestionably better.

I'd buy the Malibu, but I'm not sure if there's enough there to convince Honda buyers to switch teams.

 

Can I have the Malibu exterior with the accord interior? hahaha

Frankly the Accord Interior is still way better than the Malibu's but for once in a long time the Malibu isnt the ugly duckling among the two.

 

The market isn't as distinct as you suggest... the Accord and Malibu square off for the same huge portion of the market. You can split hairs and say one is conservative and one is sporty, but most big sedan consumers don't break the vehicles down into two columns like that.

Oh, I agree there's a ton of buyer cross-over. I'm just saying the Chevy designers were trying to do A, while the Honda designers were trying to do B. So which one you might like the best depends a lot on your own personal ideals for a car. While I find the Malibu very attractive, it doesn't strike me as the the kind of car that I myself would buy (that is, if they sell a manual).

 

I have a feeling that the Accord can really take up and clean up the Malibu anyday. But, maybe I am wrong, hopefully I am wrong.

 

No comparison can be made without, at the very least, reading a review of both cars. None are out yet. No one here driven both, read reviews of both (real reviews, not just "first drives"), or even sat in both or seen them both in person.

When you judge by the pictures and by the badges on a GM site, is the poll even necessary to choose a winner?

If the Malibu isn't good enough to win legitimately, why try to hide that? And if it is, let it.

 

No comparison can be made without, at the very least, reading a review of both cars. None are out yet. No one here driven both, read reviews of both (real reviews, not just "first drives"), or even sat in both or seen them both in person.

When you judge by the pictures and by the badges on a GM site, is the poll even necessary to choose a winner?

No one ever claimed our polls are scientific. They're just for fun... and it's totally valid to give our opinions on pictures for these cars. Just as we can say if we prefer a picture of one woman over another, we can say if we prefer a picture of one car over another.

 

Considering the Accord is nearly as large as the outgoing Impala. I have a tough time saying it competes in the mid-size segment anymore.

It has basically moved from a Camry competitor to an Avalon competitor. So that means, the Taurus, Impala, Accord, Avalon, Maxima, and 300 all compete now.

The Accord isn't a Fusion, Malibu, Sebring competitor anymore. Honda has effectively left that market.

 

No one ever claimed our polls are scientific. They're just for fun... and it's totally valid to give our opinions on pictures for these cars. Just as we can say if we prefer a picture of one woman over another, we can say if we prefer a picture of one car over another.

That flys in the face of everything people like ifcar stand for. If you can't quantify a choice, then you must be wrong.

 

Considering the Accord is nearly as large as the outgoing Impala. I have a tough time saying it competes in the mid-size segment anymore.

It has basically moved from a Camry competitor to an Avalon competitor. So that means, the Taurus, Impala, Accord, Avalon, Maxima, and 300 all compete now.

The Accord isn't a Fusion, Malibu, Sebring competitor anymore. Honda has effectively left that market.

It's too late to get exact numbers for a comparo list like I usually do
but isn't the new Accord 194.1"?
so it's more in between Camry & Avalon?
wonder how that'll play out?
will people see it as the best of both sizes
or go to another brand cuz it's neither big enuf or compact enuf depending...
G'nite

 

The Malibu is light years better than the current one. I've always hated the exterior on it, and the interior wasn't much better. I like the new Malibu- alot! Would I buy one, hmmmm. I've had such good luck with Mazda that I don't think I would. My next sedan will probably be the 6 if they don't ruin it with this new body style. If it is ugly, then maybe I would consider the 'bu.

I certainly would pick the Malibu over the Accord. I like the exterior of the Accord, but hate the interior. I for one like the center stack better on the Malibu than the integrated unit on the Accord. Maybe I'm just getting older and like the old ways, but the Malibu gets a thumbs up IMO!

 

Considering the Accord is nearly as large as the outgoing Impala. I have a tough time saying it competes in the mid-size segment anymore.

It has basically moved from a Camry competitor to an Avalon competitor. So that means, the Taurus, Impala, Accord, Avalon, Maxima, and 300 all compete now.

The Accord isn't a Fusion, Malibu, Sebring competitor anymore. Honda has effectively left that market.

in terms of exterior size, it's 194 inches long, only 2-5 inches longer than the Fusion/Camry/Altima/Malibu (all between 189-192 inches long, with the Malibu as the biggest in the group). the Impala/Taurus/Avalon are both 3-6 inches longer than the Accord (197-200). given that it's historically in the Camry's class, and it's still just as close to the Camry in size as the Avalon, and comes with the 4-cyl engines of a small/midsized car... i'd say it's still a Camry (and Malibu) fighter, just it's the biggest in the class for right now.


as for which i'd choose... other/neither: if i've got to get a midsized sedan that Altima is 1st choice at the moment (hopefully only till the RWD Alpha-G6 shows up)

 

Malibu.

 

Accord, no competition. Malibu wouldn't even be my second choice (Ford Fusion).

 

I choose the Accord due to the interior - the Malibu steering wheel looks weak (though the Accord 'fangs' wheel isnt alot better) - I like the Malibu outside better - the Accord looks like a Hyundai at first glance in that silver color - kudos to Hyundai

 

The new Accord looks dated on the exterior and the interior looks too busy. I think the Malibu is superior, however, I don't know if that will translate into sales - perception will make the Accord sell.
If the Accord had a GM badge on it, some people would be crying about how ugly it is, and what is GM doing, I'm positive about that.

 

(though the Accord 'fangs' wheel isnt alot better)

Well then don't even look at the G8!

 

Overall I would chose the Accord coupe, it looks sporty plus offers more power and a manual tranny, but as for the sedan I would choose the Malibu.

 

Well then don't even look at the G8!

Must be the year of the Vampire