2021 Toyota Camry vs 2020 Honda Accord

In 2020, the Honda Accord was one of the most stylish Accords in history. Despite some divisive opinions regarding its front styling and rounded roofline, many admired its sleek and upscale appearance, a standout for a mainstream family sedan. When equipped with 19-inch wheels that came with the Sport and Touring trim levels, the Accord boasted a visual presence that was hard to ignore. Other versions featured 17-inch wheels, which, while less expensive and more practical in the long run, did not provide the same visual appeal.

Key trim levels included the LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring, along with an Accord Hybrid variant. Prices ranged from $24,270 to $36,400 MSRP, with our test car, a Radiant Red Honda Accord Touring, priced at $37,355 including a destination charge. Inside, the Ivory interior contrasted sharply with the black dashboard and carpets, giving it a luxurious appearance. The interior materials were high quality, with soft touchpoints, leather upholstery, and matte-finish simulated wood that looked authentic.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Camry aimed to break away from its previously generic design. Designers enhanced its visual appeal with flared wheel arches and sleek head and taillights that widened the car's appearance. However, trims like SE, XSE, and TRD featured fake vents that added visual clutter, whereas the LE and XLE trims offered a simpler but still massive grille design.

Toyota's slight front-fascia styling changes for 2021 were not universally dramatic except for the unique elements in the TRD performance model, which included a larger rear spoiler. The Nightshade Edition continued from 2020, based on the SE trim but featuring blacked-out exterior trim and wheels. Wheel options included 17-inch alloys standard on the LE, with 18-inch and 19-inch wheels available on other models.

The Camry's interior design conflicted with its exterior attempts. The dashboard in our SE Nightshade Edition review model seemed mismatched, with various trim elements like contrast stitching, piano-black plastic, and faux carbon fiber. The materials felt and looked somewhat cheap. However, the Camry's interior was generally functional and comparatively chaotic.

The 2020 Honda Accord featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine standard across most trims, producing 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. It had a CVT with front-wheel drive. Alternatively, fuel economy enthusiasts could opt for the 212-horsepower hybrid powertrain which averaged 42.6 mpg in tests. Performance seekers had the choice of a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that made 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission. Notably, this would be the last year the Sport trim offered a manual transmission.

The Accord 2.0T reviewed as remarkably quick, particularly needing an all-wheel-drive system as the front tires struggled with power delivery under hard acceleration. Through Economy mode the car was relaxed and focused on mpg, while Sport mode significantly enhanced powertrain responsiveness, delivering 27.4 mpg during testing—better than the EPA estimate.

Honda's adaptive dampers contributed to balanced handling, with controlled body roll and impressive corner grip. Yet, the brakes, while generally effective, showed minor issues descending mountains.

The 2021 Toyota Camry offered multiple powertrains starting with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, named Dynamic Force, delivering 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque with FWD, or slightly less with AWD. The XSE trim provided a dual-exhaust system, raising output slightly. It had an eight-speed automatic regardless of the drivetrain. Toyota still offered a naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V6 producing 301 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque.

The Camry Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter engine with electric assistance to generate 208 horsepower, available only with FWD. Our test SE Nightshade Edition model, featuring the Dynamic Force engine and AWD, surprised with its rev-happy nature and commendable sound profile.

Steering in the Camry, while not as precise as in the Accord, was responsive and easy to manage in corners. Mention should be made of the TRD model with its V6 powertrain and performance upgrades like stiffer suspension, bigger brakes, and summer tires, which emphasized sporty attributes. The Camry's AWD system, derived from the RAV4, provided up to 50% rear-wheel torque distribution for added traction, reverting to FWD when not needed.

The 2020 Honda Accord, essentially a full-size car, offered more rear legroom and cargo space compared to the Camry. The Accord's rear seat was exceptionally comfortable, enhanced by wide doors for easy access, outboard heating in Touring trim, air vents, and optional quick-charge USB ports.

The trunk was spacious at 16.7 cubic feet, capable of accommodating full-size suitcases, perfect for family trips, though it lacked a handle to close the lid. Inside, it featured ample storage, clear instruments, and ergonomic controls. However, the front passenger seat fell short without a height adjuster.

The 2021 Toyota Camry favored generous rear headroom and legroom but compromised on front space. The front seats, though adjustable for comfort, still lagged in the segment. Visibility was excellent, with seats offering support.

Cargo capacity for the Camry stood at 15.1 cubic feet, leading to a disadvantage compared to the Accord's larger 16.7 cubic feet. In-cabin storage was limited with small cupholders and door bottle holders. While Toyota provided analog controls, their placement was inconvenient, with essential controls like the audio tuning knob located far from the driver. Dual-zone climate control was available in higher trims.

The 2020 Honda Accord boasted an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that was intuitive and well-designed, with volume and tuning knobs, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and text-messaging support. Higher trims featured a premium ten-speaker sound system, HondaLink subscription services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, and wireless device charging. The Touring came with a head-up display, despite lacking natural voice recognition.

The 2021 Toyota Camry's base infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, and SiriusXM. Higher trims upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi, navigation, and a JBL audio system with nine speakers. A 10-inch head-up display was available on XSE and XLE trims.

While the touchscreen's functionality was easy to use, the graphics were plain. The Camry system was efficient but less impressive than the Accord's.

The 2020 Honda Accord earned stellar safety ratings: a Top Safety Pick from IIHS and five stars across the board from NHTSA. Standard on every trim was the Honda Sensing suite, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, and traffic sign recognition. However, advanced features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were limited to higher trims. Adaptive cruise control lacked smooth response, and lane departure warning had issues with detection accuracy.

The 2021 Toyota Camry also received outstanding safety accolades: a “Top Safety Pick+” from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. New for 2021 was the TSS 2.5+ package which improved features like adaptive cruise control, forward-collision detection, and lane-keeping assist. Notably, the package included enhanced forward-collision detection for pedestrians and cyclists. The Camry introduced a Rear Seat Reminder to prevent leaving children or pets in the car. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were optional or standard based on trim level.