2025 Toyota Camry Vs. Honda Accord: 5 Major Differences

Miami Herald

5 days ago

The midsize sedan segment is set to shrink yet again, with the Chevy Malibu and Subaru Legacy production ceasing following the 2025 model year. The Toyota Camry has maintained its position as the segment leader for quite a while now, with the Honda Accord not far behind. While both Japanese midsize sedans are competitive family cars, there are several major differences between the two that could be a game-changer for some drivers.
The Toyota Camry underwent a full redesign for the 2025 model year, and with those design updates came a new standard powertrain. The all-new Camry comes with a hybrid setup as the sole option. The old V6 engine was one of the last of its kind among the midsize segment, but it no longer fits the bill. Instead, the midsize sedan's hybrid powertrain consists of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors up front, producing 225 horsepower. Toyota (still) doesn't provide a combined system torque for its hybrid models.
Notably, the Toyota Camry is available with an all-wheel drive motor, one of only a few models to offer this feature. A third motor added to the rear of the vehicle increases total output to 232 horsepower. The Honda Accord isn't available with an all-wheel drivetrain at all; front-wheel drive is the sole option.
The Honda Accord comes with two engine options. The base model features a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. The Accord is also available in hybrid form, with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a high-torque electric motor. That combination produces 204 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque.
While both the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry come with hybrid powertrains, there's a pretty significant price difference between the two. All Camry models come equipped with a hybrid setup, which means even the base LE model, priced from $28,700, comes with a fuel-efficient powertrain. If you want a Honda Accord with a hybrid powertrain, you'll need to step up to the Sport Hybrid trim, which starts at $33,655, a near-$5,000 difference.
With that higher trim level comes a better list of standard equipment. The Honda Accord Sport Hybrid rides on 19-inch wheels complemented by full LED lighting and a black decklid spoiler. Inside, the Accord Sport Hybrid features a wireless phone charger, wireless smartphone compatibility, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display.
Comparatively, the hybrid Toyota Camry LE rides on 16-inch wheels with LED headlights with automatic on/off functionality. Inside, the base Camry is a close match to the Accord Sport Hybrid, with wireless phone charging and wireless smartphone compatibility. Notably, the Camry LE comes equipped with a smaller eight-inch touchscreen display.
At the top of the range, both the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord come equipped with hybrid powertrains. Each midsize sedan is available in four hybrid-powered trim levels, but there's a significant price difference at the top of the range. The top-spec Camry XSE starts at $34,900, while the Accord Touring Hybrid is priced from $39,300.
The Toyota Camry XSE rides on athletic 19-inch wheels with a smoked gray and black finish. LED lighting, a color sport mesh front grille, side canards, rear diffuser, and a black rear spoiler create an aggressive aesthetic. The Camry's interior follows the same upscale styling, with premium amenities that include leather trim throughout. Multi-stage heated front seats, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display are just a few other highlights.
Although more expensive, the Honda Accord Touring Hybrid comes with more premium amenities. Like the Camry XSE, the top-spec Accord Hybrid rides on 19-inch wheels complemented by full LED headlights. Inside, climate-controlled and leather-trimmed seats help create a comfortable driving experience. As for tech, a 12.3-inch touchscreen display comes standard. Notably, the Accord Touring Hybrid comes with a standard Bose audio system, an optional upgrade in the Camry XSE.
The Honda Accord and Toyota Camry have generally been around the same size - they're both midsize sedans, after all. The Accord features a 111.4-inch wheelbase, and the Camry nearly matches it, with a wheelbase measuring 111.2 inches. In terms of interior space, however, the Honda Accord leads the Camry.
The Honda Accord boasts up to 102.8 cu ft. of passenger space in most models, trumping the Camry's 98.8 cu ft. with relative ease. The Accord also offers around an inch more front headroom and nearly two inches of rear legroom compared to the Camry. In terms of cargo space, the Accord takes a win as well, with up to 16.7 cu ft. compared to the Camry's 15.1 cu ft.
There's no doubt that both the Camry and Accord Hybrid are incredibly efficient sedans, but the all-new Camry manages to top its Japanese rival thanks to its new powertrain. At the base level, the front-wheel drive Camry LE earns up to 53 mpg in the city, 50 mpg on the highway, and 51 mpg in combined driving. Upgrading to all-wheel drive reduces fuel economy by two miles per gallon in the city and one mile per gallon on the highway.
Fuel economy tends to vary across the range according to wheel size. Stepping up to the Camry SE, XLE, or XSE brings fuel economy to 48 mpg in the city and 47 mpg on the highway. Shifting gears to AWD reduces the Camry SE and XLE's fuel economy to 46 mpg across the board. On the upper end of the range, the XSE AWD remains incredibly efficient, earning up to 44 mpg in combined city/highway driving.
The Honda Accord EX-L Hybrid offers the highest efficiency in the range, earning up to 51 mpg in the city, 44 mpg on the highway, and 48 mpg in combined driving. All other Accord Hybrid models are rated for 46 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. As for the gas-only Accord models, they're fairly efficient, earning up to 29 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.
The midsize sedan segment is only getting more competitive as the years go by. With Chevy and Subaru withdrawing their midsize sedan offerings after this year, the segment drops to just five entries. The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord have held their own as the top two models on the market over the past decade. With manufacturers' belts tightening, however, only time will tell if the Japanese rivals will maintain their positions or fall by the wayside in favor of other, perhaps all-electric, competitors.
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