The Honda Accord versus Toyota Camry. They rank among the most popular sedans on the market. These longtime rivals provide comfort, technology, and safety features that make either model attractive to millions of buyers. But with so many similarities, how do you know which reliable midsize sedan is the best fit for you? We’ve outlined key features below to help you choose between the 2019 Honda Accord and the 2019 Toyota Camry.
About the Honda Accord
Known for its style and reliability, the Honda Accord entered the market in 1976 as a hatchback. Honda has since sold more than 13 million units in the U.S. Over the past four decades, the Japanese automaker has built the Accord in several body styles, including wagon, coupe, and sedan. Currently in its tenth generation, the Honda Accord was redesigned for the 2018 model year and is available only as a four-door sedan. Honda offers the 2019 Accord in five trim levels: LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring. The Honda Accord has won numerous awards, including North American Car of the Year from the North American International Auto Show, Best-Buy award for midsize cars from KBB, best midsize car for families from U.S. News & World Report, and Best Retained Value award from Edmunds.
About the Toyota Camry
Introduced in the U.S. in 1983, the Toyota Camry has consistently remained one of the most popular cars on the market. Toyota has sold an estimated 11 million Camrys in the U.S. over the model’s lifetime. Now in its eighth generation, the Camry has proved popular with customers spanning a wide range of ages. Like the Accord, the Toyota Camry is a four-door, five-passenger car that was redesigned for the 2018 model year. It’s also offered in five trims — L, LE, SE, XLE, and XSE — to provide buyers with a range of powertrains and features across a variety of price points. The Toyota Camry has won many awards, including the dependability award from J.D. Power, best midsize car for the money from U.S. News & World Report, and Best Resale Value award from KBB.
The Honda Accord versus the Toyota Camry: What has Better Interior, Space, and Comfort?
Both the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry feature comfortable, supportive seats and well-designed cabins. There’s plenty of room for four adults, or five in a pinch. Cloth upholstery is standard, but either model can be optioned with heated, power front seats and leather upholstery. However, the look and feel of the Honda Accord’s refined interior is relatively consistent across trim levels, while the Toyota Camry’s base model feels notably cheaper than its higher trims. And the Accord also narrowly edges out the Camry in trunk space.
The Honda Accord versus the Toyota Camry: What has Better Safety Equipment and Ratings?
The Honda and Toyota brands are known for their safety features and excellent crash-test scores. The Accord and Camry offer a long list of standard safety features, and both models consistently receive high safety ratings. Both the 2019 Honda Accord and 2019 Toyota Camry received a Good rating in all crash tests by the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS). The both also got a five-star rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Camry was rated a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, while the Accord was rated a Top Safety Pick. All Honda Accord models come equipped with Honda Sensing. Features include:
- Driver drowsiness monitor. This features sounds a warning if the driver’s attention wanders.
- Adaptive cruise control. This system detects the location of the car in front to regulate speed and maintain a safe distance while cruise control is engaged.
- Rearview camera
- Forward collision warning with automatic braking
- Lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Automatic high beams
- Traffic sign recognition
Optional safety equipment in the Honda Accord includes such items as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Toyota Corolla comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which includes:
- Rearview camera
- Lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Pre-collision system with pedestrian detection
- Automatic high beams
- Traffic sign recognition
Optional safety equipment in the Toyota Camry includes a 360-degree surround-view camera, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Both the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry come with extensive advanced driver safety systems. However, note that the Camry earned a slightly higher designation from the IIHS in crash testing.
The Honda Accord versus the Toyota Camry: What has Better Technology?
The Honda Accord and Toyota Camry offer similar technology features. Both sedans come with amenities such as USB ports, large touchscreen displays, Bluetooth connectivity, and built-in Wi-Fi hotspots. Standard equipment in the Honda Accord includes:
- Infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen
- Bluetooth
- USB port
- Four-speaker audio system
Optional equipment includes such features as an eight-inch touchscreen, HD Radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an eight- or 10-speaker sound system. Standard equipment in the Toyota Camry includes:
- Toyota’s Entune infotainment system with a seven-inch touchscreen
- Bluetooth
- USB port
- Six-speaker audio system
- Siri Eyes Free voice control
- Apple CarPlay
- Built-in Wi-Fi hotspot
Optional equipment includes an upgraded infotainment system with eight-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, two additional USB ports, wireless smartphone charging, and a nine-speaker JBL sound system. The Toyota Camry comes with a longer list of standard and optional technology. However, since the Camry cannot support Android connectivity, Android users may want to opt for the Accord.
The Honda Accord versus the Toyota Camry: Which is Better to Drive?
Both the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry are engineered to handle smoothly and provide a comfortable ride. However, the Accord provides a heartier lineup of engines. The base powerplant for the Honda Accord is a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder, turbocharged engine that delivers 192 horsepower. But some trims can be optioned with a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 252 horsepower. The smaller engine is mated to Honda’s continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while the larger one — standard in the Touring trim — is paired with a 10-speed automatic. Honda also offers the Sport trim with an optional six-speed manual transmission. The Toyota Camry runs on a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that delivers 203 horsepower. Buyers of the top-level sporty XSE or luxury XLE trims can upgrade to a livelier 3.5-liter, V6 engine that achieves 301 horsepower. Both engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Though the two sedans may feature similar handling and driving dynamics in most conditions, the Honda Accord’s engine lineup feels smoother on most surfaces and more powerful than the Camry’s. The Accord’s larger turbocharged engine, in particular, provides more pep and an engaging, fun-to-drive quality that will appeal to enthusiasts.
The Honda Accord versus the Toyota Camry: Which Car is Priced Better?
The Honda Accord starts at $23,720, compared to the Toyota Camry’s $24,095 base price. The Accord’s top-of-the-line Touring trim begins at $35,950, while the Camry’s top XLE trim starts at $34,300. Both models offer similar levels of amenities, safety, and performance for roughly the same price, depending upon the trim. They each earn high reliability ratings and come with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
The Honda Accord versus the Toyota Camry: Which Should I Buy?
If you are deciding between the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry, you’re not alone. The 2019 Accord and 2019 Camry rate as the two top-selling sedans in the U.S. and the best midsize cars for the money. Both offer a smooth ride, an abundance of advanced driver-assistance safety features, and a cornucopia of amenities and technology once found only in luxury vehicles. The Toyota Camry bests the Accord in safety and technology, while the Accord offers a stronger powertrain lineup and sharper handling. Therefore, the model that’s best for you depends on your needs and what features you prioritize most highly in your midsize sedan.