2023 Honda Accord vs 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid

Toyota’s history in the United States spanned over 60 years, with the Camry standing as one of the three most important vehicles in the company’s history, alongside the Corolla and the Prius. The Camry earned its place as the default family sedan in the mid-1990s and continued to sell in respectable numbers. The 2022 Camry Hybrid, mostly a carryover from the previous year, featured a futuristic and expressive exterior design with a sneering face and muscular features. The interior was similarly futuristic, with a wild dashboard design and a spacious second row, maintaining Toyota’s high level of fit and finish.

Honda reconfigured the 2023 Accord, making the hybrid powertrain standard on most trim levels, except for the base LX and EX variants. The 2023 Accord LX had a base price of $27,295, while the EX cost $29,060, with a destination charge of $1,095. The Accord’s new design was more modern but conservative, with a technical look that ditched most of the shiny chrome. Inside, the Accord EX featured durable cloth seats, stylish metal mesh dashboard trim, and digital instrumentation paired with a touchscreen infotainment system, reflecting attention to detail and refinement.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid was designed for fuel efficiency rather than track days. The entry-level LE models achieved an EPA-rated fuel economy of 51 mpg city/53 mpg highway/52 mpg combined, while other trim levels got 44 mpg city/47 mpg highway/46 mpg combined. The hybrid used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with two electric motors, boasting a total system output of 208 horsepower. An electronically controlled CVT sent power to the front wheels, with paddle shifters available on SE and XSE models. Handling was good, thanks to a lower center of gravity, although keeping the car in EV mode was challenging, and there was some occasional droning from the drivetrain.

The 2023 Honda Accord LX and EX were equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 192 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) powered the front wheels, and the car featured a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension. The Accord EX returned 28.7 mpg on the evaluation route, slightly below the EPA’s combined rating of 32 mpg. The Accord’s ride quality was tactilely communicative but aurally quiet, with excellent brake pedal modulation and nimble handling. However, the CVT’s Sport mode was less satisfying, and the Michelin Energy tires felt squishy when rounding curves.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid excelled in ride height, seating position, and general ease of use. The driver and front passenger had ample storage options, and the second row was comfortable and roomy. The Camry Hybrid had 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space, with a passthrough for long items and fold-down second-row seats for oversized cargo. Toyota’s basic warranty covered the Camry Hybrid for three years/36,000 miles, with a powertrain warranty of five years/60,000 miles and a hybrid battery warranty of 10 years/100,000 miles.

The 2023 Honda Accord EX added features like heated exterior mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a 60/40-split folding rear seat. However, it lacked a height-adjustable front passenger’s seat, rear air conditioning vents, and rear USB charging ports. The back seat was comfortable and easy to enter and exit, with decent storage space. The Accord had a 16.7 cubic-foot trunk, with easy loading and a handle to swing the lid shut.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid was loaded with advanced technology features, including a premium audio system tuned by Harman International’s JBL division. The system included nine speakers and sophisticated algorithms for extracting audio information from compressed digital sources. Embedded navigation was available on XLE and XSE models, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa standard on all models. The Camry Hybrid also featured a smart key system, push-button start, and a projected-path feature for the rearview camera.

The 2023 Honda Accord LX and EX came with a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The system included Bluetooth connectivity, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, text-messaging support, and HondaLink connected services. The EX trim level featured an eight-speaker audio system, but lacked SiriusXM satellite radio. The voice recognition system provided access to Siri, and the physical controls for the stereo were a delight, despite some minor issues.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), including a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, Lane Tracing Assist, automatic high beams, and traffic-sign recognition. The Camry Hybrid also featured Toyota’s Star safety system, 10 airbags, and a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert. The 2022 Camry Hybrid received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was expected to receive the highest Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Every 2023 Accord had Honda Sensing, a collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Accord also featured a reversing camera, automatic high-beam headlights, traffic sign recognition, and a driver monitoring system. The EX trim offered an affordable option package adding blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The 2023 Accord earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.