2021 Honda Accord Hybrid vs 2020 Toyota Prius

The 2020 Toyota Prius retained its iconic jellybean-like shape, a design optimized for aerodynamics. Over the years, Toyota made subtle changes to give it a more sedan-like appearance while maintaining its hatchback functionality. The Prius's futuristic style remained contemporary, with a cabin defined by its central instrumentation and gauges, a hallmark since its inception. The trim levels ranged from L Eco to Limited, each adding more features and luxury, such as synthetic leather upholstery and a large 11.6-inch touchscreen in the Limited trim.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid showcased a more traditional yet stylish design. The Accord's proportions, stance, and detailing were praised, with minor front styling changes for 2021, including a new grille and revised bumper. The Touring trim featured new 19-inch aluminum wheels and a new Sonic Gray Pearl paint color. The interior of the Accord was upscale, with high-quality materials and logically arranged controls. The Lunar Silver exterior with a Black interior was particularly noted for its sophisticated appearance.

The 2020 Toyota Prius featured a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, producing a combined 121 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque. It offered both front-wheel drive and an all-wheel-drive variant, the latter using a second electric motor for the rear wheels. The Prius had three drive modes—EV, Eco, and Power—each catering to different driving needs. The unique shifter design and Engine Braking mode added to its distinctive driving experience. The Prius was known for its smooth acceleration, seamless power transition, and engaging handling, making it ideal for daily commutes.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid, on the other hand, combined a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a generator/starter motor and a separate electric drive motor, producing 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. The Accord Hybrid's powertrain allowed for quick acceleration, reaching 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. It offered three operational modes—EV Drive, Hybrid Drive, and Engine Drive—along with selectable EV Mode, Econ Mode, and Sport mode. The Accord Hybrid Touring, with its 19-inch wheels, provided excellent handling and a compliant ride. Despite its complex powertrain, the Accord Hybrid delivered a natural driving experience with impressive fuel efficiency.

The 2020 Toyota Prius made excellent use of its compact platform, offering spacious and comfortable front seats with good visibility. The rear seats also provided ample space, though taller passengers needed to be cautious when entering. The Prius boasted 50.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and up to 27.4 cubic feet with the seats up, making it one of the most versatile hybrids. The hatchback design facilitated easy loading of large items.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid, classified as a midsize sedan, offered a surprisingly spacious interior, comparable to a full-size sedan. The 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat and enormous back seat provided excellent comfort and leg support. The Touring trim added heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. Interior storage was generous, with a large center console bin, hidden storage compartments, and ample door panel bins. The Accord Hybrid's trunk was a standout feature, offering 16.7 cubic feet of space, larger than any competitor in its segment, and 60/40 split-folding rear seats for added utility.

The 2020 Toyota Prius came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, featuring Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity, a WiFi hotspot, and three USB ports. The Limited trim upgraded to an 11.6-inch screen with a customizable layout, though it lacked Android Auto. The Prius also offered satellite radio, HD Radio, a head-up display (HUD), and a 10-speaker JBL premium audio system. The top-center instrument panel, a defining feature of the Prius, provided critical readouts and hybrid drivetrain status.

For 2021, the Honda Accord Hybrid made its 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system standard across all trims, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The EX trim and higher offered wireless connectivity for these platforms, along with improved USB port access and quick-charge USB ports for rear passengers. The EX-L trim added a premium sound system, while the Touring trim included navigation, HondaLink subscription services, and a WiFi hotspot. The system worked well, though voice commands required specific prompts for successful operation.

The 2020 Toyota Prius came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, and active park assist. The Prius earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" from the IIHS, though it fell short of the highest rating due to "average" scores in certain tests.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid aimed to improve its safety ratings by redesigning its LED headlights and making them standard across all trims. The Accord Hybrid included a rear-seat reminder, rear seatbelt reminder system, and low-speed braking control on the Touring model. The Honda Sensing suite of advanced driving assistance systems received refinements for smoother operation. Despite these improvements, the system's operation remained somewhat intrusive, and the low-speed automatic braking required recalibration.