I rent cars all the time. I am always very happy to get an Altima, as they are very, very comfortable, and get fantastic highway MPG.
I'm 100% certain the Accord is a better car, but I hate renting them. Terrible seats, low and on the floor, uncomfortable for long trips, and intrusive nanny technology. Not only that, but the Altima gets better MPG, by a lot. I can easily go 600 miles per tank at very fast highway speeds in an Altima, all while being quite comfortable.
Tell me again how Nissan is going to make a capable $25,000 EV sedan, that can go 600 miles at 90MPH on one charge? Because quite simply, it CAN'T be done. Dropping the Altima is discontinuing one of the best inexpensive and capable long distance cars around.