Honda Accord vs Toyota Camry Hybrid comparison

The hybrid versions of the new Honda Accord and Toyota Camry may be green but the rivalry between them is as mean as ever.

Published on Jan 03, 2017 01:13:00 PM

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Honda Accord vs Toyota Camry Hybrid comparison

Luxury quotient

As premium executive sedans, these cars better offer comfort and space in abundance. And they do. The Honda has the nicer back seat and offers the sofa-like comfort Accords of the past were famous for. Sure, seat cushioning is on the softer side but the seating position is better than what you get in the Camry and the ambience inside is nicer too. The Camry seats rear occupants lower resulting in a slightly knees-up seating position. There is, however, more headroom on offer, a far more usable middle seat and also the option to electrically recline the outer seat’s backrests by up to eight degrees. The Camry and the Accord do give the option to adjust the front passenger seat from the back to free up more legroom.

Camry's seating position isn’t perfect but electric backrest angle adjust a boon.

What both cars also offer are comfortable and rather generous-sized front seats. Still, you’ll have a higher opinion of the Accord’s cabin. It is far better finished and the multi-layer dash, replete with dual screens, also has a more modern air about it. Like the Camry there’s no tachometer on the Accord. But unlike the Camry, it doesn’t really need one. Remember, the engine only comes into play to drive the wheels at higher speeds. The speedo dial and information displays do add to the look. There’s also a certain feeling of solidity that the thunk on door shut imparts.

The Camry is well built too, but the cabin just doesn’t feel special enough for the price. The dash isn’t anything out of the ordinary, the touchscreen looks like an aftermarket add-on and there’s way too much shiny faux wood and too many plain buttons in what should be a premium cabin. The old-school shift gate is also at odds with the modern instrument cluster that houses a colour display that tells the source of propulsion in real time.

What Toyota has done is equipped the Camry Hybrid rather well. In addition to the adjustable rear-seat backrests mentioned earlier, there’s also three-zone climate control, audio controls in the rear armrest, electric rear sun shade, ventilated front seats and powered steering adjust. The Accord has some highlights of its own too. Its driver’s seat gets a memory function, there’s a sunroof, satellite navigation is standard, and the infotainment system also comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Both cars get seven airbags and a whole host of electronic safety aids. The Accord additionally features what Honda calls LaneWatch. Here, the centre screen relays images from the left side mirror thus giving a visual of any blind spots.

Dash’s layered look and twin screens are very contemporary Honda touches. Overall cabin ambience is nicer.

An important point to bring in is that only the Camry features a full-size spare tyre. Honda only supplies a puncture repair kit with the Accord Hybrid. Even so, it’s the Accord that has the marginally smaller boot with the battery pack eating into luggage space.