The mid-size sedan market might be shrinking, but the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry remain titans. They consistently outshine similarly priced crossovers, offering superior style, engaging driving dynamics, feature-rich interiors, and impressive fuel efficiency. Stepping up to the hybrid versions, the Accord Hybrid and Camry Hybrid, elevates these attributes even further. For a modest price increase over their gasoline counterparts, you unlock significantly better gas mileage without sacrificing space, comfort, or performance. The question then becomes: in the battle of the hybrid sedans, Camry Hybrid Vs Accord Hybrid, which one emerges as the ultimate choice? While both received updates for the 2021 model year, they present distinct strengths catering to different driver preferences. Based on thorough testing, we delve into a detailed comparison to determine the winner in key categories and declare our overall top pick.
Fuel Efficiency Face-Off
For many hybrid car buyers, fuel economy is paramount. Both the Accord Hybrid and Camry Hybrid excel in this domain, delivering exceptional thriftiness for their size and performance. However, Toyota takes the lead in fuel efficiency, both according to EPA estimates and real-world testing.
The base Toyota Camry Hybrid LE boasts an EPA rating of 51 mpg city and 53 mpg highway, surpassing the Honda Accord Hybrid’s 48 mpg city and 48 mpg highway for most trim levels. Other Camry Hybrid trims, including the SE test model, achieve 44 mpg city and 47 mpg highway. The Accord Hybrid Touring, tested for this comparison, is rated at 44 mpg city and 41 mpg highway. Real-world testing echoed these figures, with the Camry Hybrid achieving 44 mpg in mixed driving compared to the Accord Hybrid’s 41 mpg. While both cars surpassed 50 mpg at lower speeds, the Honda Accord Hybrid’s highway mileage closely mirrored its gasoline-only counterpart on open freeways. For drivers primarily focused on long highway journeys, the standard gasoline models might suffice.
Pricing and Feature Analysis
The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid enters the market with a starting MSRP of $26,570, slightly undercutting the 2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid’s base price of $27,270. The base Accord Hybrid features alloy wheels, a step up from the Camry Hybrid LE’s steel wheels with plastic covers. However, Toyota equips the base Camry Hybrid LE with a standard power driver’s seat, a feature Honda reserves for the higher-tier Accord Hybrid EX trim, priced at $30,520.
As you ascend through the trim levels, the Camry Hybrid generally maintains a slightly higher price point than the comparable Accord Hybrid. Both hybrid sedans offer a comprehensive array of features, including heated and ventilated leather seats, premium sound systems, and head-up displays. However, the Honda Accord Hybrid generally provides these features at a somewhat lower cost.
Exterior Styling and Design
Both the Accord Hybrid and Camry Hybrid closely mirror the exterior aesthetics of their gasoline-powered counterparts. However, distinct design philosophies set these two sedans apart. The Accord Hybrid embraces a long and low profile, characterized by a sloping roofline, sleek headlights, and a narrow grille, projecting an image of sophisticated elegance.
In contrast, the Camry Hybrid adopts a more upright yet rounded stance. Toyota offers two distinct design themes for the Camry: a more refined grille and rear bumper for the LE and XLE trims, and a sportier aesthetic for the SE and the newly introduced XSE trims. Both models received subtle styling refreshes for the 2021 model year, requiring a keen eye to discern the updates. Ultimately, exterior design preference is subjective, making this category a tie.
Interior Design and Cabin Quality
The 2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid boasts a refreshed interior design for the model year. Toyota redesigned the dashboard to integrate a larger infotainment touchscreen, now positioned slightly raised above the dash. Base models feature a 7-inch touchscreen, while a larger 9-inch screen is newly available. The Camry Hybrid’s interior is user-friendly, with the dashboard gracefully flowing into the center console, enveloping the gear selector.
The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid features a symmetrical dashboard layout, also incorporating a raised infotainment screen. While its controls are largely user-friendly, the Accord Hybrid’s 8-inch screen can appear more cluttered than the Camry Hybrid’s, with densely packed icons. However, the Accord Hybrid distinguishes itself with superior interior quality. While the Camry Hybrid offers commendable assembly and materials appropriate for its price point, blending pleasant materials in frequently触碰 areas with some less refined plastics, the Accord Hybrid elevates the cabin experience. The Honda Accord Hybrid’s interior consistently presents a premium look and feel, with high-quality buttons and knobs. Furthermore, its infotainment system now supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
Interior Space and Passenger Comfort
Drivers who appreciate the feel of a luxury sports sedan will likely favor the Honda Accord Hybrid’s low-slung, firm seats. The Accord Hybrid also provides more generous rear legroom and a larger trunk capacity than the Camry Hybrid, offering 16.7 cubic feet compared to 15.1 cubic feet.
Despite these spatial advantages, the Camry Hybrid takes the win in interior space and comfort overall. Its seats strike a more universally appealing balance of plushness and support, with a slightly higher seating position facilitating easier entry and exit. Surprisingly, despite its low-profile design, the Accord Hybrid lacks an available passenger-side seat-height adjuster, even as an optional feature. While the Honda Accord Hybrid excels in maximizing space and offering a sportier feel, the Toyota Camry Hybrid prioritizes everyday comfort, making it a more broadly appealing choice.
Acceleration and Powertrain Performance
Honda refined the Accord Hybrid’s powertrain for the 2021 model year, resulting in a remarkably seamless hybrid system. Pairing a 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, the Accord Hybrid delivers a combined 212 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid system operates with exceptional smoothness, with near-imperceptible transitions between gasoline and electric power. Acceleration is described as smooth, responsive, and even with a pleasing engine note.
The Camry Hybrid’s powertrain, producing 208 horsepower from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor, is commendable, balancing respectable acceleration with excellent fuel economy. However, the Camry Hybrid exhibits more noticeable transitions when the gasoline engine engages, and its acceleration doesn’t quite match the Accord Hybrid’s eagerness. While not slow or noisy, the Camry Hybrid powertrain lacks the spirited character of the Accord Hybrid. The Accord Hybrid, in contrast, offers a more engaging and enjoyable driving experience in terms of acceleration.
Ride Quality and Handling Dynamics
While the Camry has historically been perceived as a somewhat uninspired sedan, the current generation has shed the overly soft suspension of previous models. The Camry Hybrid delivers a ride that is both exceptionally smooth and surprisingly agile. Steering is responsive and well-weighted, providing confident cornering capabilities.
However, the Accord Hybrid again surpasses the Camry Hybrid in ride and handling. While drivers prioritizing ultimate smoothness might find the Accord Hybrid’s firmer ride less appealing, it achieves a superb balance of composure without excessive stiffness, even when equipped with the test vehicle’s larger 19-inch alloy wheels. The Accord Hybrid presents itself as a cohesive sports sedan, while the Camry Hybrid remains a competent family car. The Accord Hybrid exhibits precise and eager cornering, while maintaining agreeable comfort and quietness.
Safety Features and Ratings
Both the Camry Hybrid and Accord Hybrid achieve exceptional safety ratings. Both earned a 5-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ designation, the highest honor. They are also equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard safety technologies, including forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control.
The Camry Hybrid gains a slight edge in safety features by offering optional rear automatic emergency braking, a surround-view parking camera system, and cyclist detection for the forward automatic braking system. Both sedans offer optional blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, standard on all but the base Accord Hybrid and either standard or optional across the Camry Hybrid lineup.
Final Verdict: Choosing Between Hybrid Titans
The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid distinguishes itself as a rare hybrid that doesn’t overtly advertise its hybrid nature, while still delivering remarkable fuel efficiency. It offers a blend of quickness, quietness, agility, and refined interior finishing. The Accord Hybrid can be driven like any engaging sports sedan, yet still achieve fuel economy figures of 40 mpg or higher, particularly in stop-and-go traffic. Furthermore, it provides ample space for family transport.
For buyers prioritizing maximum fuel efficiency in a family sedan, the 2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid provides a more comfortable ride than the Accord Hybrid. It achieves superior fuel economy, especially on highways, and offers a few additional safety features. The Camry Hybrid is also a pleasant vehicle to drive in various conditions. However, for drivers who prioritize driving enjoyment and a more engaging experience, the Honda Accord Hybrid’s superior driving dynamics make it the preferred choice, even if it means a slight trade-off in absolute fuel efficiency.
