Price
Winner: 2021 Honda Accord
The 2021 Camry starts at $24,970, which is high for the midsize car class. There are several other trims to choose from, with prices ranging from about $27,000 to over $30,000. The performance-oriented V6-powered TRD model starts at over $32,000. If you choose one of the range-topping trims and add the V6, starting prices climb past $35,000.
The 2021 Accord wins this category (but just barely) as it has a base price of $24,770, which is just slightly less than the base Camry. Mid-level trims carry starting MSRPs from about $27,000 to $31,000. However, the top-of-the-line Accord Touring will set you back at least $36,700.
Reliability
Winner: 2021 Toyota Camry
The 2021 Toyota Camry has a slightly above-average predicted reliability rating. The 2021 Honda Accord, on the other hand, gets a below-average predicted reliability rating.
Both cars are covered by a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Seat Comfort
Winner: 2021 Honda Accord
Both the Camry and Accord seat five people in two rows. No matter which of these midsize sedans you choose, you’ll have ample head- and legroom for most passengers in both rows. With that said, the Accord offers more overall passenger volume, and its interior measurements are slightly larger than the Camry’s in almost all cases.
These midsize cars have comfortable and supportive seats. Cloth upholstery is standard, though leather is available. The Camry and Accord both offer plenty of available niceties, such as heated and ventilated front seats.
Cargo Space
Winner: 2021 Honda Accord
The 2021 Camry has a 15.1-cubic foot trunk, which is a bit small for the class. You can fold down the rear seats, which creates more space for longer items. However, reviewers noted that the Camry is a bit difficult to load with the rear seats folded down since the trunk floor is lower than the rear seatbacks.
The 2021 Accord has one of the roomiest trunks among midsize sedans, at 16.7 cubic feet. It also has folding rear seats as standard.
Interior Quality
Winner: 2021 Honda Accord
These midsize sedans both have interiors filled with high-quality materials. However, you’ll find some hard plastics in lower trims. Moving up the trim ladder adds more premium materials and upscale touches.
While the Camry is nice inside, its cabin isn’t as well-insulated as the Accord’s, so you’ll hear more engine and road noise. Also, critics noted that the Accord’s higher trims are almost as premium inside as some luxury vehicles.
Interior Technology
Winner: Tie
The Camry and Accord each come with an intuitive and up-to-date touch-screen infotainment system, both of which support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Camry has a smaller standard screen, at 7 inches compared to the Accord’s 8-inch screen. However, you can opt for a 9-inch touch screen in the Camry.
The Camry comes standard with Amazon Alexa and a Wi-Fi hot spot. Wireless device charging is available. While you can’t get Amazon Alexa in the Accord, you can choose to upgrade for the wireless features.
Since these systems are so similar and offer most of the same features, we declare this category a tie.
Powertrain
Winner: 2021 Toyota Camry
Both the Camry and Accord offer two engine options. The Toyota comes equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 202 to 206 horsepower, depending on the trim. A 301-horsepower V6 is available. Regardless of your engine choice, you get a slick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, though all-wheel drive is available.
The Accord gets its power from a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder and a continuously variable automatic transmission that combine to deliver 192 horsepower. The optional 2.0-liter turbo-four comes mated to a 10-speed automatic and cranks out 252 horsepower. All-wheel drive isn’t available on the Accord.
Fuel Economy
Winner: 2021 Honda Accord
The base 2021 Camry returns 28 mpg in the city and 39 on the highway, which are excellent ratings for a non-hybrid midsize sedan. According to the EPA, the best fuel economy estimates for the Camry V6 are 22 mpg in the city and 33 on the highway.
With its base engine, the Accord fares even better than the Camry, at 30 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway. Choosing the larger turbo-four drops fuel economy ratings to 22 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway, which is nearly on target with the Camry V6.
If you prioritize fuel economy, you may want to consider the Camry Hybrid or Accord Hybrid models, which we review separately.
Ride and Handling
Winner: 2021 Toyota Camry
There are few midsize sedans as sporty as the Accord, but its suspension is firm and its ride can feel a bit bumpy over rough pavement. Meanwhile, the Camry delivers composed handling and has a smooth ride.
The Camry offers the best of both worlds thanks to its various trims – especially the TRD model, which debuted for 2020. While the Camry LE and XLE are more coddling, the SE and XSE are sportier. Opt for the TRD, with its standard V6 engine, and you get a midsize car that’s a joy to drive. It features stiffer shocks, larger brakes, and an upgraded suspension system.
Safety
Winner: Tie
The 2021 Camry and 2021 Accord both earned a perfect five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). They also received five stars in the frontal, side, and rollover crash tests.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the 2021 Camry a 2020 Top Safety Pick+, which is the institute’s highest honor. Likewise, the 2021 Accord also received a 2020 Top Safety Pick+ accolade.
The Camry and Accord each come standard with a comparable suite of advanced driver assistance systems.
The Winner Is …
Tie
The 2021 Toyota Camry and 2021 Honda Accord are tied in the top spot in our competitive midsize cars ranking. No matter which model you choose, you’ll likely be happy with your decision. Both midsize sedans are similarly priced, safe, roomy, and upscale. Moreover, these rivals perform well and return good fuel economy.
If you’re looking for a more reliable midsize sedan, the Camry is the better choice here. It also offers more powerful engine options and well-balanced driving dynamics. Meanwhile, the Accord is more fuel-efficient, roomier overall, and arguably nicer inside.
As you can clearly see, the choice between the Camry and Accord comes down to your priorities and personal preferences. We suggest spending some time with both cars before making your final decision.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
To learn more about the Camry and Accord, check out their individual reviews. Visit our ranking of midsize cars to see how they stack up against the competition.
To see current incentives on these cars and their rivals, head over to our Honda deals and Toyota deals pages.
When you’re ready to move forward, use the U.S. News Best Price Program to find the dealer in your area with the lowest prices. Shoppers who use the program to buy or lease a new vehicle save an average of more than $3,000 off MSRP.
2021 Toyota Camry vs. 2021 Honda Accord: Head to Head
- Price: 2021 Honda Accord
- Reliability: 2021 Toyota Camry
- Seat Comfort: 2021 Honda Accord
- Cargo Space: 2021 Honda Accord
- Interior Quality: 2021 Honda Accord
- Interior Technology: Tie
- Powertrain: 2021 Toyota Camry
- Fuel Economy: 2021 Honda Accord
- Ride and Handling: 2021 Toyota Camry
- Safety: Tie
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Camry vs. Accord: Which Is Better?
The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are both safe, fuel-efficient, and well-equipped midsize sedans with upscale interiors, comfortable seats, and good overall driving dynamics. It comes as no surprise they both perform well in our ranking of midsize cars.
If you’re in the market for a midsize sedan, it would arguably be a mistake not to cross-shop these two rivals. Once you have a solid grasp of what each car offers and what sets them apart, it should be easier to decide which midsize car is the best choice for you.
Toyota completely redesigned the Camry for the 2018 model year. The latest generation comes with more safety features, an updated infotainment system, sportier handling, more powerful engines, and improved fuel economy. Since the redesign, Toyota has also made Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa standard. In addition, all-wheel drive and a performance-oriented TRD model are available.
The 2021 Accord sees some major updates over the 2020 model, including discontinuing the manual transmission, reshuffling trims, and adding a new Sport Special Edition trim. The latest Accord also gets an 8-inch touch screen, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay as standard. Honda last redesigned the Accord for 2018, improving the current generation with more cargo space, more standard safety aids, and new, fuel-sipping turbocharged engine options.
We used U.S. News Best Cars reviews and scoring data to compare these cars in the categories that matter most to midsize sedan shoppers. Whether you prioritize safety, reliability, price, performance, comfort, interior quality, or another key metric, you should find all the information you need on the following pages.
We regularly update our scores and rankings as new data and expert research become available. For this reason, the scores and category winners in this article may not always match up with the scores in our rankings and individual vehicle reviews.
Keep reading to learn which midsize sedan wins this head-to-head battle.