When you know you want to buy a Honda sedan, which one should you choose? Will you drive home in the Honda Accord or the Honda Civic?
The Civic and Accord are two of the most popular and sporty sedans in the car market. Both are affordable models that date back to the 1970s. For generations, these Hondas have been two of the top cars in their respective segments, with the Civic sitting at or near the top of the compact car class and the Accord in the midsize sedan segment.
Let’s dig in and learn some differences between the Honda Accord and Honda Civic.
Which car is more comfortable?
By virtue of the size difference, the Accord is more comfortable than the Civic. Both of these Honda sedans feature impressive seats that are plush and well-bolstered. The Civic has plenty of head and legroom for front passengers, but rear occupants might feel a little cramped. The Accord fixes this issue, with more rear legroom for adults to ride along.
Does Honda offer good interior cabin quality?
Step inside the Civic, you’ll get a nice car with items that fit right and an infotainment system integrated into the dashboard. You’ll find some physical controls or the climate and volume, which are easy to use and understand.
Moving over to the Accord, you’ll find similar details and interior elements to admire. The Accord is a little more upscale, with fewer hard plastic surfaces and more premium items. Both cars have higher trims with leather upholstery, which makes them more comfortable.
When it comes to interior quality, the Honda Accord and Honda Civic are tied; both cars include high-quality materials and features that drivers are sure to admire.
Does one Honda have better tech than the other?
Both of these sedans start with a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a four-speaker audio system. You’ll enjoy Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in both cars, along with automatic climate controls and keyless entry.
The Honda Civic differentiates itself from its larger sibling with a 12-speaker Bose sound system and the option of a 9-inch touchscreen and wireless device charging. The Accord can be had with an 8-speaker audio system, but not the other upgrades.
Does one car offer more cargo space than the other?
If we look at only the sedan models of the Honda Accord and Honda Civic, it’s easy to see how the larger car has the lead in terms of cargo space. The Civic sedan includes a 14.8 cubic-foot trunk, while the Accord’s trunk measures 16.7 cubic feet. These figures are excellent for each class, but the Civic has a bit of a trick up its sleeve.
The Honda Civic comes as a hatchback, which increases the cargo room to 24.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats. The rear seats can be folded, much like a two-row SUV, opening up a massive cargo hold in this car.
Which car offers more power?
When we compare only the standard powertrains, the Accord leads the way with a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that makes 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. This engine mates with a CVT to provide good fuel mileage during the ride. The Civic’s standard powertrain features a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes 158 horsepower. The turbo-four is more lively but still only achieves 180 horsepower. However, the sporty Civic Si reaches 200 horsepower from a turbo-four, which puts the Civic ahead of the Accord for power.
Is the smaller Honda more efficient?
Although the Accord’s powertrain is turbocharged, it’s still not quite as efficient as the Civic. The Honda Civic reaches 33 city/42 hwy mpg, which is better than the 29 city/37 hwy mpg of the Honda Accord. The least efficient version of the Civic still achieves 26 city/36 hwy mpg.
Does one car have better handling characteristics than the other?
The Accord is a composed sedan with good comfort and a quality ride on twisty roads, thanks to its agile handling and well-tuned steering system. Still, the Accord is no match for the Civic, which has been tuned to be a sportier car. The combination of sporty handling and active suspension tuning helps make the smaller Honda more fun and capable on any road. The Civic Si firms up the car to make it even sharper in the corners.
And the winner is…
In nearly every comparison point, the Honda Civic is better than the Honda Accord. Still, if you’re looking for a comfortable sedan that drives right and gives you the daily feeling you want, the Accord is hard to beat. When you want something more, the Civic is ready to provide better power, tech, driving qualities, and fuel efficiency.
