When it comes to mid-size sedans, two names are normally at the top of everyone's list: Camry and Accord.
These two models dominate the segment as Toyota sold 388,616 Camry's in the United States last year, while Honda moved 345,225 Accords. As Honda pointed out in its press briefing in New Hampshire, the Accord alone outsells 30 different brands such as Mazda, MINI, and Fiat.
The two models have a bit of sales rivalry and since they were both redesigned for the 2018 model year, we couldn't resist pitting the two vehicles against one another. While the test was short and only good for some initial observations, its clear consumers are going to benefit from the improvements made to both sedans.
Without further ado, let's meet out contenders. The Accord I drove for this test was a Touring model equipped with the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine developing 192 hp (143 kW) and 192 lb-ft (260 Nm) of torque. It was pitted against a Camry SE featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 203 hp (151 kW) and 184 lb-ft (249 Nm) of torque.
The performance figures are pretty close and the driving experience reflects that as both models offered decent acceleration. However, a closer look at the numbers really a weighty difference as the Accord tips the scales at 3,294 lbs (1,494 kg) while the Camry comes in at 3,340 lbs (1,515 kg).
Most drivers probably won't notice the difference and surprisingly the Camry is more fuel-efficient as it has an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 28 mpg city / 39 mpg highway / 32 mpg combined. For comparison, the Accord gets 29 mpg city / 35 mpg highway / 31 mpg combined.
Since it's not fair to compare a rental fleet Camry SE to a luxurious Accord Touring, we'll skip over the tech features and confirm both models have well-built interiors but the Accord has a slight edge in the styling department. That's a tad subjective but I've never been a fan of Toyota's overwrought interior design.
As for the driving experience, both models offer a comfortable and compliant ride. However, the Accord seems to have the edge in the handling department as the Camry didn't feel quite as connected to the road. The latter model also seemed to exhibit a tad more body roll but, again, this was just a very limited test.
We're not going to call a winner at this point but if history is any indication, the Accord and Camry will continue to dominate the sales chart and drivers will be well served with either vehicle.
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