2020 Toyota Camry vs Honda Accord Comparo: Spec Sheet Battle

Since the 1990s the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord have competed against each other in the midsize sedan segment. The current Philippine-spec versions of these two models now sit on top of their respective sedan totem poles. They now offer a great deal of luxury, and are filled to the brim with gadgets. And yes, they are still rivals in the same segment. 

So, which sedan is better on paper? To find out, we’ll be comparing the Accord EL 1.5 Turbo CVT with the Camry V 2.5 AT. Of note, the said Camry variant is the top-of-the-line trim in the local market. On the other hand, the aforementioned Accord is the only variant available locally. Moreover, both of these models exceed the Php 2 million mark, so they’re more or less within striking distance of each other in terms of price. 

Let's find out which of these two midsize sedans are better on paper

When it comes to size, the Toyota-made midsize sedan has a length of 4,885mm, a width of 1,840mm, and a height of 1,445mm. It also has a ground clearance of 145mm, as well as a wheelbase length of 2,825mm. 

The Toyota Camry 2.5 V AT

Meanwhile, the Accord measures 4,901mm in length, 1,862mm in width, and 1,450mm in height. Its wheelbase measures 2,830mm, and it has a ground clearance of 131mm. 

The Accord is overall the larger vehicle, and it also has a longer wheelbase length. However, the Camry has more in terms of ground clearance. 

The Honda Accord EL 1.5 Turbo CVT

As top-spec variants competing in the midsize sedan market, both the Camry and Accord come with a significant number of exterior features. Both come with automatic LED headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, LED taillights, front fog lamps, and LED turn signal lamps with side-mounted repeaters. Both cars also ride on a set of 18-inch alloy wheels.
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With regards to interiors, both of these midsize sedans offer tons of space for up to five occupants. They also come with automatic climate controls with rear vents, ambient lighting, leather-wrapped seats, and a lot of soft-touch surfaces.  

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As plush models, they also come with a lot of features meant to spoil the driver. They both have leather steering wheels, which are both tilt and telescopic adjustable. Both cars also come standard with a push-to-start button, an electronically adjustable driver’s seat, digital gauge clusters, and a digital trip computer. The Camry however, comes with a heads-up display, while the Accord does not. 

Compare the Toyota Camry's interior (left) with the Honda Accord's interior (right) using this slider

While both cars have cruise control, the one on the Accord is adaptive. The cruise control on the Camry is a standard type. Moreover, the Honda-made sedan has more in the way of on-board tech. For instance, its entertainment system is an eight-inch touchscreen capable of connecting via Bluetooth, USB, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. It is then linked to eight speakers. 

In contrast, the one on the Toyota Camry is a display audio unit with the T-Link smartphone mirroring software. It can also connect via USB and Bluetooth, but then again has fewer speakers numbering at six.  
 

As for what they have under the hood, these midsize come with grunty engines. Well, they need to since they weigh quite a bit more than the more common subcompact and compact sedans. To be specific, the Camry has a curb weight of 1,545 kg, while the Accord clocks in at 1,476 kg. 

The Toyota Camry from the side

For engines, the Toyota-made sedan uses the naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter 2AT-FE inline-4 DOHC gasoline engine. At most, it can produce up to 181 horsepower and 231 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the car’s rear wheels via a torque converter type six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. 

On the other side of the coin, the Accord’s powerplant is a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 DOHC gasoline mill with I-VTEC. It can produce 187 horsepower and 260 Nm of torque. The said engine is then paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with a paddle shifter manual mode, which sends power to the car’s front wheels. 

The Honda Accord's side profile

For suspensions, the Camry utilizes a MacPherson strut-type front suspension and a double-wishbone for its rear. In comparison, the Accord’s suspension system comprises a MacPherson strut-type front suspension, and a multi-link rear end. Both cars use disc brakes all around. Both also have an electronic type parking brake with an auto-brake hold function.

With regards to safety, both the Camry and the Accord come standard with anti-lock braking with electronic brake-force distribution, hill-start assist, ISOFIX child seat tethers, speed-sensing door locks, stability and traction control, a rear parking camera and parking sensors. Both cars also have a security alarm, and an engine immobilizer. The Toyota-made sedan however has seven airbags and a tire-pressure monitor, whereas the Honda-made sedan has four airbags and it lacks a tire pressure monitor. 

The Accord's Honda Sensing in action

For the Honda Accord however, it is equipped with several driver-assist functions that are absent on the Camry. It comes with lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and forward-collision warning. Together with the adaptive cruise control, these features make up the Honda Sensing safety suite. 
 

As you can see from the price section, the Camry has more variant options than the Accord. While that’s not as much as other sedan models in the Philippines, having a lower-spec variant means that it’s reachable by more buyers. 

Then again, the Accord just has more tech than the Camry. It has a better headunit, more speakers, and not to mention its array of driver-assist features. That however might account for the difference in price. However, remember that the Camry also has more airbags than the Accord. 

As for engines, the Accord also makes a bit more power than the Toyota-made sedan. On top of that, it is also lighter. This might potentially mean that it's more agile than the Camry. If you’re in the market for a midsize car however, we encourage you to take each of these for a test drive.  

So, do you think that the more high-tech Honda Accord is well worth its price tag, or do you prefer the less techy, but more affordable Toyota Camry? 

For more comparison articles like this, keep it here on Philkotse.com.