Honda or Nissan — what we actually found
Side by side from 492 Hondas and 247 Nissans buyers asked us to inspect before purchase. The average car we check scores 60/100.
Head to head
| Honda | Nissan | |
|---|---|---|
| Cars inspected | 492 | 247 |
| Average condition | 56/100 | 58/100 |
| In good shape (60+/100) | 43% | 53% |
| Holds up to (avg dips below decent) | ~118k mi | ~108k mi |
| Repainted or replaced panel | 81% | 77% |
| Structural repair found | 8% | 8% |
| Fault codes recently cleared | 28% | 23% |
Green = the better number of the pair. Condition reflects the mix of cars that came to us — age, price, model — so treat small gaps as a tie.
How they score
How long do they stay good?
Good cars by mileage
▬ Honda▬ Nissan▬ all cars
Good cars by age
▬ Honda▬ Nissan▬ all cars
Share in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). Dashed grey = all cars we check.
Most common faults
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
59%
Oil leaks · Engine
54%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
41%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
37%
Cracked or torn suspension bushings · Suspension
29%
Oil leaks · Engine
49%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
38%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
34%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
23%
Low coolant / cooling system issues · Engine
18%
Trajectory by generation
Honda
▼ Newer Hondas aren't holding up as well
Nissan
↘↗ Dipped in the mid-2010s — the newest generation recovered
Share in good shape when inspected at the same age (5–10 years, age-adjusted), by model-year generation; dashed = all-brand average. All brands →
Whichever badge wins on paper, the car in front of you is its own story. Get it inspected before you pay.
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Based on 739 inspections · updated Jul 12, 2026