Honda Accord vs. Toyota Camry: A Comprehensive Breakdown
Source: Pixabay
Over the years, the midsize family sedan market has been dominated by a couple of household names. Year after year, two of the most popular midsize sedans find themselves in a skirmish: The Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
Honda Accord vs. Toyota Camry, which midsize sedan should you buy?
Choosing between the Honda Accord vs. Toyota Camry is never easy. For today’s head-to-head comparison, we’ll take a look at the 2022 versions for both sedans. Which midsize family sedan comes out on top? Keep reading to find out!
Exterior Features
If you’re familiar with the Camry, you’ll know that it’s not exactly known for its sophistication. However, that’s not saying that the Camry is a dullard on the road; on the contrary, it tries its best to be a head-turner. Thanks to its sharp lines and creases, the 2022 Camry carries a level of freshness not seen on this lineup - gone are the days of the plain beige Camrys of yore.
Style-wise, the spiciest of the bunch has got to be the athletic TRD trim that boasts an aerodynamic body kit and lower stance. Moreover, the Nightshade edition with its blacked-out exterior accents should appeal to most people. Overall, the new Camry design may be polarizing, but it’s arguably different.
Meanwhile, the 2022 Honda Accord may not be a top design contender, but it’s handsome enough for widespread appeal. The familiar elongated profile, shoulder creases, and tapered roofline are still here, and they complement each other well. Honda did a great job of balancing the headlights and tail grille that add to the Accord’s presence.
The bold front of the Accord is adorned with LED low-beam headlights and available LED fog lights. Over to the rear, the Accord’s back has a muscular, fastback-inspired design that delivers both beauty and ample space. In addition, the Sport and Touring trims ride on 19-inch alloy wheels that send a strong aesthetic statement.
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Performance and Fuel Economy
The base 2022 Accord is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that doles out 192 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque. All Accord models are only available in front-wheel-drive, which is disappointing considering its prominent rivals (including the Camry) have AWD options now. The turbocharged 1.5-liter engine is hooked up to a CVT transmission.
In Sport and Touring trims, you’ll find a 2.0-liter turbo-4 unit with an output of 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, these are some of the most fun models the Accord has to offer. The hybrid versions house a non-turbo 4-cylinder paired with two electric motors plus a lithium-ion battery, delivering 212 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque.
Conversely, the 2022 Camry can range from a lukewarm commuter to an energetic thrill ride, depending on which model you choose. Lower trims are powered by a 2.5L Inline-4 gas engine providing 203 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque with a front-wheel setup. Unlike the Accord, all-wheel drive is available even for the base engine.
The real Camry fun starts with the optional 3.5-liter V-6 gas engine that significantly boosts the car’s power and torque at 301 hp and 267 lb-ft. You’re getting Lexus-level sophistication for Camry pricing. The Camry’s hybrid version lags a bit compared to the Accord with 208 hp and CVT transmission.
As expected, all versions of the Camry are fuel economy champs with the base 4-cylinder models rated at 28 mpg city, 39 highway, and 32 combined. The XLE and XSE are a tiny bit less efficient, with 27/38/31 mpg combined. The most efficient Camry is the Hybrid LE which clocks in at an impressive 51/53/52 mpg combined.
Meanwhile, the most popular Accord LX and EX-L trims boast EPA ratings of 30 mpg city, 38 highway, and 33 combined - slightly better than the Camry lower trims. The most efficient Hybrid LX offers the best ratings at 48/47/47 mpg.
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Interior and Cargo Space
The interior of the Camry feels funky and modern. However, as expected, there’s quite a disparity in the quality of the materials between the lower and upper trims. Lower Camry trims have glaring hard plastic areas, but thankfully, the tech elements are done well. Moving up the trim levels, starting with the XSE, you’ll get soft-touch materials and leather upholstery. Plus, upper trims are fully decked out with cutting-edge tech and convenience features.
The Camry is a five-seater, but it’s likely not a comfortable place for full-grown adults to be in. For four adults and their cargo, the Camry offers a spacious cabin with 42.1 inches of front legroom and 38.0 inches of rear legroom. For trunk and cargo space, the Camry provides a decent 15.1 cu-ft of space.
On the other hand, the Accord features an organized and well-laid-out interior, albeit less dramatic. The interior looks and feels modern and utilizes quality soft-touch materials, making it such a treat for all occupants. The infotainment system (more on this later) and dash controls are laid out thoughtfully and can be operated with ease. However, the controls in the steering wheel could be more intuitive.
As a midsize sedan, the Accord can accommodate up to five passengers, but we would be hesitant to sit five full-grown adults inside. However, for four adult passengers, it offers cavernous space with ample legroom and headroom, even for taller adults. For cargo space, the Accord trumps the Camry with its generous 16.7-cubic-foot trunk, and the rear seats can be folded to access more storage space.
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Infotainment and Safety Features
In-car entertainment is on-point with the Accord, which comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The infotainment screen is very easy to use, and smartphone integration works like a dream. Available features include HD Radio, satellite radio, in-car Wi-Fi, wireless charging, a 10-speaker premium audio system, and more.
The 2022 Honda Accord is a recipient of IIHS’ Top Safety Pick+ award and went green on almost all the crashworthiness tests. The Accord comes with plenty of standard safety features via the Honda Sensing suite, such as adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, and lane-keep assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are not available on lower trims.
Meanwhile, the Camry also nailed its infotainment features with the standard 7-inch touchscreen that supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The system can be upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen with a six-speaker audio system which can also be upgraded to a premium JBL nine-speaker sound system. Wi-Fi hotspot is standard but requires a subscription after the 3 months trial.
The 2022 Toyota Camry is also an IIHS’ Top Safety Pick+ recipient as well as a five-star awardee by the NHTSA. Under the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ suite, drivers have access to an array of standard safety, and driver assistance features like the pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, automatic high beam, road sign assist, etc. Optional features like blind-spot monitoring and bird’s eye view camera are also available.
Honda Accord vs. Toyota Camry: Which Midsize Sedan to Pick?
Let’s end this comparison between the Honda Accord vs. Toyota Camry with their introductory pricing. The 2022 Honda Accord starts at $25,470 MSRP, while the 2022 Toyota Camry starts at $25,295 MSRP.
Again, this head-to-head is about as close as it gets, and there’s a reason why the Accord and Camry are longtime rivals. If you’re looking for the best safety features and better hybrid fuel economy, the Camry makes sense. In terms of comfort and utility, and infotainment tech, the Accord has the upper hand. Again, it’s hard to go wrong with their midsize sedans.
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