2020 Lexus ES vs 2020 Honda Accord

The 2020 Lexus ES was a significant step up from its “boring” predecessor. Over the years, Lexus made substantial tweaks to its design, resulting in a more aggressive look by 2020. The car featured a large spindle grille that has grown even larger, blending well with the new, larger proportions of the 2020 model. While some might still find the grille overwhelming, it complemented the overall sleek and elongated design. Thin taillamps echoed the rakish headlights, and a pronounced kink at the back window broke up the long, low sedan design aesthetically.

Inside, the 2020 Lexus ES offered a sophisticated blend of modern technology with a touch of organic elegance. It sported soft-touch materials, a large infotainment screen integrated smoothly into the dashboard, and a design that only rivaled Mercedes-Benz in luxury sedans. Trim options included the base ES 350 FWD, Luxury, Ultra Luxury, and F Sport. Standard features ranged from synthetic leather upholstery and a power moonroof to 10-way power-adjustable seats and dual-zone automatic climate control.

Contrastingly, the 2020 Honda Accord presented as one of the most stylish Accords in history. It blended functional design with a sporty, upscale appearance. Especially eye-catching when equipped with 19-inch wheels in the Sport and Touring trims, the Accord Sported a more visually striking presence compared to versions with 17-inch wheels. Trim levels included LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring, plus an Accord Hybrid.

Our 2020 Honda Accord Touring test car, priced at $37,355, stood out with Radiant Red paint and an Ivory interior that offered a luxurious feel. Soft touchpoints, high-quality leather, and convincing faux wood made the interior an inviting space. Overall, the Accord balanced a mainstream family sedan appeal with a designer’s touch of sophistication.

The 2020 Lexus ES was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, generating 302 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque, delivered to the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. This combination allowed for a 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds with a top speed of 131 mph. While not a performance beast, the ES provided confident and smooth acceleration suitable for highway cruising and passing maneuvers. Its ride, thanks to Dynamic Control Shocks, offered comfort and refinement, absorbing road bumps without feeling “wallow-y.” The premium F Sport trim added Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS), which provided customizable suspension settings via Drive Mode Select, enhancing the overall driving experience.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda Accord had multiple powertrain options. The standard engine was a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. It used a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with front-wheel drive, boasting efficiency but adequate performance. Enthusiasts could opt for the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, offering an impressive 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque with a ten-speed automatic transmission. This drivetrain made the Accord notably quick, albeit front-wheel drive limited power delivery.

Honda's Economy and Sport driving modes, plus paddle shifters, allowed for a customizable driving experience. During tests, the Accord 2.0T averaged 27.4 mpg, bettering its EPA estimate. Besides being swift, the Accord Touring featured adaptive dampers for controlled body movements, enhancing both ride comfort and road handling. Some minor improvements could be made in braking performance, but overall, the Accord delivered a fun yet relaxed driving experience.

The 2020 Lexus ES offered a spacious cabin with ample headroom and legroom for both front and rear passengers. Front doors featured deep pockets, while the center console provided multiple storage options. However, the 16.7 cubic feet of trunk space, although average for its segment, lacked folding rear seats, which could limit versatility in carrying larger items.

Comparatively, the 2020 Honda Accord felt almost like a full-size car with impressive interior space, particularly in rear-seat legroom and cargo space. The 12-way power driver’s seat in the Accord Touring provided ample thigh support and comfort, although the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The rear seats were exceptionally comfortable, facilitating easy entry and exit, and offering good seating angles and heated outboard positions in the Touring trim. Trunk space measured an equally impressive 16.7 cubic feet, comfortably accommodating full-size suitcases on their sides for long trips.

Inside, both vehicles had their unique strengths. The Accord’s open and layered dashboard made it feel more expansive, whereas the Lexus ES focused on premium materials and elegant design. However, the lack of rear folding seats in the Lexus could be a dealbreaker for those with specific cargo needs.

Technology was a strong suit for both sedans. The 2020 Lexus ES featured the Lexus Remote Touch system, controlling either an 8-inch or an optional 12.3-inch display. Though not a touchscreen, its touchpad was relatively intuitive. Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto made navigation easy, displaying crisply on the wide screen. The ES also offered a premium 17-speaker Mark Levinson stereo system and a customizable head-up display, enhancing the tech-savvy interior.

Conversely, the 2020 Honda Accord’s 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system was arguably Honda’s best, featuring volume and tuning knobs, main menu shortcut buttons, and user-friendly graphics. Standard features included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with higher trims offering a ten-speaker premium sound system, HondaLink services, Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, and wireless charging. While voice recognition could be more intuitive, the system generally provided straightforward usability. The Accord’s head-up display in the Touring trim remained visible even through polarized sunglasses.

In terms of safety, the 2020 Lexus ES came standard with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0. This suite included forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, dynamic radar cruise control, and automatic high beams, among others. Advanced features like lane-keep assist and lane-tracing assist added semi-autonomous capabilities, supplementing standard airbags, traction control, stability control, and tire pressure monitoring.

The 2020 Honda Accord was lauded for its safety, earning a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA. It featured the standard Honda Sensing suite offering forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping, and lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, and traffic sign recognition. Higher trims included blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a consumer-favorite feature. The adaptive cruise control and collision systems could use minor refinements, but the comprehensive safety suite made the Accord a reliably safe vehicle.