2020 Toyota Camry vs 2021 Honda Accord

The 2020 Toyota Camry had a renewed focus on quality and appeal, aiming to reclaim its status as a top contender in the sedan market. Its styling was more expressive than ever, with a bold front fascia and taut lines reminiscent of BMW's sport sedans. The Camry offered 13 exterior colour options, including a fashionable black roof. Inside, the Camry featured high-quality materials and a driver-focused dashboard, making even the base trims feel upscale. While it wasn't a luxury car, the Camry's top trims offered leather and wood finishes that rivaled entry-level Lexus models. Despite its sporty aspirations, the Camry remained a mainstream sedan with a starting price of $26,620.

The 2021 Honda Accord, meanwhile, received a mid-generation refresh to stay competitive in a crowded market. It was available in six trim levels, including the Canada-exclusive SE trim. The Accord's styling updates included a wider, restyled grille and LED headlights, giving it a sophisticated appearance. The interior was spacious, with high-quality materials and a well-designed cabin. The Accord offered a range of convenience features, such as dual-zone climate control and a power moonroof. Its trunk provided 473 litres of cargo space, surpassing many midsize sedans. The Accord's interior was both stylish and practical, with easy-to-reach controls and a user-friendly infotainment system.

The 2020 Toyota Camry offered four powertrains, including a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 301 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine provided a smooth and powerful driving experience, especially in the Camry XLE trim. The 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine delivered 203 horsepower (206 in XSE trim) and was available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The AWD system could send up to half of the engine's 184 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels when needed. The Camry's fuel consumption varied, with the front-drive four-cylinder models achieving 7.6 L/100 km, while the V6 models managed 9.0 L/100 km.

The 2021 Honda Accord offered two engine options: a 192-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a more powerful 2.0-litre turbo-four producing 252 horsepower. The 1.5-litre engine was paired with a CVT, while the 2.0-litre engine came with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Accord's fuel economy was competitive, with the 1.5-litre engine achieving 7.2 L/100 km combined in the SE and EX-L trims. The 2.0-litre engine consumed 9.1 L/100 km combined. The Accord's driving dynamics were engaging, with paddle shifters available in the Sport and Touring trims for added control.

The 2020 Toyota Camry was designed for ease of use, with intuitive controls and a comfortable driving position. The front seats offered increased legroom and hip room compared to the previous generation. However, the rear seat space was slightly reduced, resulting in less legroom and a smaller trunk with 428 litres of cargo space. The addition of AWD did not compromise the Camry's interior space, as Toyota made structural modifications to accommodate it.

The 2021 Honda Accord excelled in interior space and practicality. It comfortably seated five adults, with ample head-, hip-, and legroom in both the front and rear seats. The Accord's trunk offered 473 litres of cargo space, making it one of the most spacious in its class. The cabin was well-designed, with all essential controls within easy reach. The rear seats featured a 60/40 split and a centre armrest, allowing for pass-through access to the trunk. While small-item storage was limited, the Accord provided a convenient cubby for personal items.

The 2020 Toyota Camry included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, along with Bluetooth and a three-month trial of SiriusXM satellite radio. The standard infotainment system featured a 7-inch touchscreen, with an optional 8-inch upgrade. The system was responsive, with hard buttons for major functions. Higher trims offered a 10-inch head-up display and a 7-inch multi-information display. Remote Connect allowed smartphone users to lock, unlock, and start the vehicle remotely.

The 2021 Honda Accord boasted an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with physical volume and tuning knobs. Standard features included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and two USB ports. Higher trims added satellite radio, HD radio, a wireless phone charger, and a 10-speaker premium audio system. The Accord Touring and Touring 2.0 featured an on-board navigation system, rain-sensing wipers, and a head-up display, providing comprehensive information to the driver.

The 2020 Toyota Camry came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense, which included a pre-collision system, dynamic radar adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring was optional. The Camry received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. A recall for leaking engine coolant affected some models with the 2.5-litre engine.

The 2021 Honda Accord featured a comprehensive suite of safety features, including vehicle stability assist, brake assist, a rearview camera, and LED daytime running lights. The Honda Sensing suite included lane-keeping assist, road departure mitigation, blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. The Accord earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. It also offered two complete sets of LATCH connectors for child safety seats.