Monday, December 18, 2017

Accord vs. Camry: The Epic Rivalry Returns

The 2018 Honda Accord and Toyota Camry are now available on dealer lots, bringing the decades-old rivalry into modern times.

Both cars have a long list of pros: They have strong reputations for reliability and quality, and both sport new designs that should have no problem turning heads.

While both cars come from Japanese automakers, they are built right here in the United States. Both have long and storied histories here, and both are virtually guaranteed to provide years of trouble-free driving while depreciating more slowly than other sedans.

Honda and Toyota face the same challenges too: They are trying hard to keep their sedans relevant in the age of the high-riding crossover.

But which car is better? That, of course, depends on who you are and what model year you buy.

2018 Camry vs. 2018 Accord
Some people prefer the tight finish and high quality of the Honda’s interior, while others choose the Camry for its smooth driving and intuitive controls.

For the 2018 cars, I’ll direct you to the Test Drive Reviews below.

Not everyone wants a brand new car, though. For those of us who want to save a few bucks, we can look back several years and take home an older model.

2013 Camry vs. 2013 Accord

You’ll drive yourself crazy looking for notable differences in value, safety, or quality between these two vehicles. What you will find are differences in ride and handling. The Hondas of this vintage are a bit sportier and provide more driver feedback than the Camry.

The Camry, though, can be a softer, more comfortable ride. The Accord will offer a choice between a manual, automatic, or slick continuously variable transmission, while the Camry’s default 6-speed automatic was installed in all cars.

The best choice? It’s too close to call. Instead of choosing, drive both and let the car choose you.

2008 Camry vs. 2008 Accord

Go back a decade and things start to change a bit. The 2008 Accord has a quiet cabin and tight build quality. The interior feels high-quality and well-built. The Camry interior, on the other hand, can feel unimpressive by comparison. Design of both cars is conservative, both offer a refined engine, and both are roomy and reliable.

The best choice? The Honda might have a slight edge here, but it all comes down to personal preference.

1998 Camry vs. 1998 Accord

I love cars from the 1990s. Both the Camry and Accord of this era were great. They are much smaller than today’s versions and can easily top 30 miles per gallon from their 130-hp 4-cylinder motors. When equipped with a 5-speed manual, which both offered, the cars are downright fun to drive. Is there one here that’s better than the other? When we’re talking cars that are 20 years old, it comes down to how well the car has been cared for over the years.

My personal summary?

Toyota builds a great Camry, but Honda builds the better car.

Are you on Team Camry or Team Accord?

-tgriffith

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Used Honda Accord
Used Toyota Camry

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Accord vs. Camry: The Epic Rivalry Returns posted first on http://www.cargurus.com/blog/

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