2016 Honda Accord vs. 2016 Toyota Camry: Which Is Better

It is impossible to choose between the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry as the superior vehicle. It’s impossible because, in the end, the benefits of one car over the other are determined by personal preference, not by quality. It’s like choosing between a rock and a hard place. No matter how much effort is made to demonstrate one’s superiority over the other, whether rational or irrational, it will never be successful; one side will never persuade the other side that it is incorrect.

The straightforward fact is that both are excellent, much like everyone’s favourite. The design of mid-size family sedans has been perfected by Toyota and Honda. Both of the cars are wise choices because they are so similar overall. Instead of ranting about how one car is better than the other and praising worn-out platitudes, we are going to break down the differences between the two, however slight, so you can choose which one best meets your needs and lifestyle.

2016 Honda Accord vs. 2016 Toyota Camry: Engine  Performance 

Both the Accord and the Camry have a four-cylinder engine as standard equipment or a V6 engine as an option. Honda and Toyota continue to use the more conventional V6 in their mid-size sedans, while a lot of the competition is moving toward turbocharged four-cylinders as the upgrade engine choice.

The Accord’s 3.5-litre V6 engine produces 278 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque, compared to the Camry’s 268 horsepower and 248 lb-ft. Additionally, both vehicles have six-speed automatic transmissions that drive the front wheels.

2016 Honda Accord vs. 2016 Toyota Camry: Fuel Economy 

Despite having somewhat more horsepower, the Accord also manages to get slightly better gas mileage, with ratings of 21 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, as opposed to the Camry’s 21 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.

Things are a little bit different with the base engines. Honda chose a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with 185 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. That outperforms the larger 2.5-litre, four-cylinder Camry engine, which generates 178 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque.

For the four-cylinder engine, Honda provides a six-speed manual or continuously variable transmission, whereas Camry consumers must make do with a six-speed automatic. Once more, the Accord has a fuel efficiency advantage over the Camry since, when fitted with the CVT, it should deliver 27 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway, a 2 mpg improvement in both categories.

2016 Honda Accord vs. 2016 Toyota Camry: Interior and Comfort

Looking at the specs above, it’s easy to conclude the Accord has a powertrain advantage. But out on the road, that’s not the case. Both cars are set up to offer a compliant, easy-to-operate driving experience, and any perceived gap in performance shrinks when driven back to back.

There are differences in how the cars operate, though. The Camry is the softer car. It’s smoother in all its primary controls, like steering, acceleration, and braking. It also offers a softer ride. This fluid softness does have a downside, though, as the Camry is ever so slightly more susceptible to crosswinds.

The Accord is the better handling car of the two and features a slightly sporty edge that’s not as buttery smooth as the Camry. The Honda allows more vibrations to make their way into the cabin, and even if it does feel like a more responsive car than the Camry, the Accord still doesn’t have the eagerness of a Mazda6 or Volkswagen Passat.

2016 Honda Accord vs. 2016 Toyota Camry: Size and Design

Calling the Camry and Accord mid-size cars is an understatement. At 190.9-inches in length, the Camry is a large car, and the Accord, well, it’s even bigger. Both cars come standard with 16-inch wheels, but the Accord trumps the Camry by offering upwards of 19-inch wheels compared to the Toyota’s largest size, which caps out at 18 inches.

At 3,170 lbs, a base Accord is roughly 70 pounds lighter than the most svelte Camry, but remember, the base Accord also includes a much lighter manual transmission. For 2016, the Accord’s exterior design has been refreshed and features an overabundance of chrome, specifically the large strip across the grille. Still, with the LED headlights and larger 19-inch wheels, the Accord does look more modern.

2016 Honda Accord vs. 2016 Toyota Camry: Usability and Technology

Maybe the biggest separation between the two cars has to do with technology and usability. In short, the Accord is stuffed with extra technological wonders like Apple Carplay, Android Auto, active lane keep, a lane watch camera, and rain-sensing wipers. And it comes with dual screens, the lower of which can finally do more than just display audio information.

But a lot of Honda’s technology comes attached to the somewhat complicated HondaLink infotainment system that not everyone is a fan of. The Camry’s primary controls, on the other hand, are much easier to use thanks to large, well-marked buttons and dials. Plus, it still comes with a lot of advanced features like navigation, expandable apps, adaptive cruise control and rear cross-traffic alert.

2016 Honda Accord vs. 2016 Toyota Camry: Price

Things are deeply muddled in deciding between the Accord and Camry, as both offer their advantages and disadvantages. You can’t even look at pricing to be the deciding factor; an automatic transmission-equipped 2016 used Accord LX begins at ₦6,000,000.00, while a base Camry LE begins at ₦7,000,000.00. At the top end, an Accord Touring V6 costs seven points ₦1,000,000.00; the Camry XLE V6 comes in at ₦8,000,000.00

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion 

What it ultimately comes down to is the slightest of separations, and choosing one can be as easy as asking yourself this question. Does the Camry, with its comfort and usability advantage, appeal more to you, or is it the Accord with the technological and driving edge? So what’s it going to be: crunchy or smooth?