2018 Toyota Camry vs. 2018 Honda Accord: Head to Head

Camry vs. Accord: Which All-New Midsize Car Reigns Supreme?

The front-runners of the midsize car class have been completely redesigned for 2018, and the decision between the two is tougher than ever. As of this writing, the Toyota Camry occupies the top spot in our midsize car rankings, and the Honda Accord is hot on its heels at number two. If you’re shopping for one of these cars, there’s a lot of new information to absorb, so we put these models together to help you make your decision.

With U.S. News scoring data, we figured out which model is better in the categories that are most important to shoppers in the midsize car segment. By highlighting the differences and similarities between these cars, we can help potential buyers figure out which car is the better option.

Keep in mind that U.S. News scores are updated constantly as new expert reviews and data become available. Therefore, the scores mentioned in this comparison may not match the scores in our new car reviews.

• Read the 2018 Toyota Camry Full Review
• See 2018 Toyota Camry Photos
• See Midsize Cars Rankings

Price

Winner: 2018 Toyota Camry

These sedans both have entry prices that are about average for the class and within a few hundred dollars of each other. The Honda Accord starts at $23,570, which might catch the eye of potential buyers, but the Toyota Camry’s price starts at $23,495. In other words, base price shouldn’t be the deciding factor between these two cars.

• Read the 2018 Toyota Camry Full Review
• See 2018 Toyota Camry Photos
• See Midsize Cars Rankings

Reliability

Winner: To Be Determined

Neither of these cars has received a reliability rating from J.D. Power and Associates for the 2018 model year and, since they are both fully redesigned, the 2017 reliability ratings aren’t applicable.

The Accord and Camry both come with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

• Read the 2018 Toyota Camry Full Review
• See 2018 Toyota Camry Photos
• See Midsize Cars Rankings

Seat Comfort

Winner: Tie

Honda and Toyota both did a great job redesigning the interiors of the Accord and the Camry. The seats in both cars are comfortable and supportive, and it’s easy for the driver to find a position with good visibility. Both cars come standard with cloth upholstery. The Accord can be upgraded with leather, power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats. The Camry’s options include leatherette, leather, power-adjustable front seats, and heated front seats.

Critics noted that, because both cars’ redesigns make them lower than in previous years, it’s a little harder to climb in than it was before. This is the main complaint about these cars’ seating accommodations, and it applies to both of them.

• Read the 2018 Honda Accord Full Review
• See 2018 Honda Accord Photos
• See Midsize Cars Rankings

Cargo Space

Winner: 2018 Honda Accord

All Honda Accord models offer 16.7 cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk. That’s larger than the Camry’s trunk, which measures 14.1 cubic feet in the base model and 15.1 cubic feet in all other models. Both cars offer a split-folding rear seat to help accommodate larger items.

• Read the 2018 Honda Accord Full Review
• See 2018 Honda Accord Photos
• See Midsize Cars Rankings

Interior Quality

Winner: 2018 Toyota Camry

Thanks to this year’s redesigns, the Camry and Accord both feature modern and stylish interiors. Critics say the cabin designs are good-looking yet functional, and most agree that these cars are among the best in the class in this area.

Most of the previous generations’ hard plastics were replaced with higher-quality soft-touch materials, although some lower-grade materials are still evident. Both cars’ interiors are very good, but the Accord’s plastic trim pieces were more bothersome than those found in the Camry. That’s enough to give Toyota a win in this category.

• Read the 2018 Toyota Camry Full Review
• See 2018 Toyota Camry Photos
• See Midsize Cars Rankings

Interior Features

Winner: 2018 Toyota Camry

The Camry and Accord both come with an infotainment system with a 7-inch screen, Bluetooth, and Siri Eyes Free. The display is a touch screen in the Camry, but not so in the Accord. The Camry’s audio system has six speakers, while the Accord’s has four. The Accord has two USB ports, while the Camry has one. The Accord also includes dual-zone automatic climate control and push-button start; the Camry comes with voice recognition. Which combination of standard features is better? Thanks largely to the standard touch screen, this point goes to Toyota.

Options in both vehicles are similar but might be enough to sway buyers to one side or the other. The big one is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are available in the Accord but not in the Camry. Both cars do offer an upgraded infotainment system, an upgraded audio system, a moonroof, wireless device charging, satellite radio, and HD Radio.

• Read the 2018 Toyota Camry Full Review
• See 2018 Toyota Camry Photos
• See Midsize Cars Rankings

Acceleration

Winner: 2018 Toyota Camry

If you’re looking for better acceleration in day-to-day driving, stick with the Toyota Camry. Its base engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 203 horsepower, which makes it one of the best non-turbo engines in the class. The Honda Accord comes with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 192 horsepower. It provides smooth and pleasant acceleration but isn’t as peppy as the Camry.

Both cars can be upgraded for more power. The Camry is offered with a 301-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine, and the Accord can be equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 252 horsepower.

• Read the 2018 Toyota Camry Full Review
• See 2018 Toyota Camry Photos
• See Midsize Cars Rankings

Fuel Economy

Winner: 2018 Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry, when equipped with its base four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission, earns better fuel economy than the Honda Accord.

The Camry checks in at 29 mpg in the city, 41 mpg on the highway, and 34 mpg combined, which is very good for this class.

The base Honda, featuring a four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission, is also very good. It has EPA estimates of 30 mpg in the city, 38 mpg on the highway, and 33 mpg combined.

• Read the 2018 Toyota Camry Full Review
• See 2018 Toyota Camry Photos
• See Midsize Cars Rankings

Ride and Handling

Winner: Tie

According to professional automotive critics, the Accord and Camry are among the most fun-to-drive cars in the midsize class. The Camry, in particular, shows huge improvements in this area compared to the previous generation. Both sedans are described as having a smooth ride, agile handling, and precise steering.

Both cars come standard with front-wheel drive. The Accord also features selectable driving modes in every model, so the driver can adjust the driving dynamics to suit current road conditions.

• Read the 2018 Honda Accord Full Review
• See 2018 Honda Accord Photos
• See Midsize Cars Rankings

Safety

Winner: To Be Determined

So far, only the Toyota Camry has been tested for crashworthiness, and only by one of the two organizations that conducts these tests. The Camry fares very well in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testing program, earning a score of Good in all five of the IIHS’ individual tests. However, until the Honda Accord receives scores from the IIHS and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), we can’t conclude which of these vehicles is safer.

The Camry and Accord both include more safety features than many competitors. Both cars come with a rearview camera, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Camry includes pedestrian detection and automatic high beams, while the Accord includes driver drowsiness monitoring and traffic sign recognition. Both cars are offered with blind spot monitoring, a head-up display, and rear cross traffic alert.

• Read the 2018 Honda Accord Full Review
• See 2018 Honda Accord Photos
• See Midsize Cars Rankings

The Winner Is …

2018 Toyota Camry

Aside from its larger trunk, the redesigned Honda Accord isn’t quite as good as the redesigned Toyota Camry. The Accord is still a close second to the Camry in our current midsize car rankings and is far better than most competitors in the midsize class. There are plenty of legitimate reasons to buy the Accord instead of the Camry, such as styling, availability of specific features, or simply preferring a turbocharged engine.

That said, the Camry is the more logical choice. It shares many of the Accord’s class-leading qualities and also provides better power, better fuel economy, and a nicer interior. Both of these midsize cars are good choices, but the Toyota is the better of the two.

• Read the 2018 Toyota Camry Full Review
• See 2018 Toyota Camry Photos
• See Midsize Cars Rankings

More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report

Eager to learn more about the redesigned Toyota Camry and Honda Accord? Your next step is to check out our reviews. If you want to learn more about the competition, you’ll see more of your options in our rankings.

When you are ready to buy, use our U.S. News Best Price Program to find the dealership with the best prices near you. Shoppers who use the program save an average of $3,279 off their new car purchase.