Honda Accord vs Toyota Camry Hybrid comparison

The hybrid versions of the new Honda Accord and Toyota Camry may be green but the rivalry between them is as mean as ever.

Published on Jan 03, 2017 01:13:00 PM

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Honda Accord vs Toyota Camry Hybrid comparison

Since the engine only directly powers the driven wheels at cruising speeds and above, Honda has uniquely opted to use only a single-speed transmission with the gear (ratio) in question equivalent to a regular gearbox’s fifth or sixth gear. The advantage of this arrangement is minimal mechanical losses vis-à-vis a traditional transmission.

That’s the tech. But how are they from behind the wheel? Expectantly, both cars run silently on electric power but it’s the Honda that is clearly quicker to replenish its batteries in average city driving. As a result, it’s also the car that goes longer in full EV mode. The caveat here is you have to be very gentle with throttle inputs to keep the Accord running as an electric vehicle. Press down any harder on the throttle pedal and the engine comes to life with the system switching to Hybrid mode. Also, when the Honda engine does kick in, you can tell it’s the noisier one here. It also tends to groan when extended. While you will rarely have the Accord go into Engine mode in city conditions, what’s remarkable is how seamless the transition is from Hybrid to Engine mode. So much so that you can’t pinpoint the moment when the engine takes over as the primary source of propulsion from the electric motor.

The Camry may not have the Accord’s electric range but its EV mode does allow you to be a bit more liberal with throttle inputs before it hands over the reins to the engine. The Toyota engine itself runs quietly for the most part but get the Camry excited and there’s no escaping that there’s a CVT in the picture – revs rise faster than a corresponding rise in speed.

Both cars offer more than adequate performance in town but it’s the Accord that always feels a little bit more eager on the move. The Honda is also the only one here with a Sport mode that quickens up responses. Against the clock too, it was the Accord that was faster with a 0-100kph time of 8.32sec to the Camry’s time of 9.2sec. However, acceleration figures don’t help sell hybrid cars. Fuel economy figures do. And it’s here more than anywhere else that the Accord really shines. Its 17.4kpl city fuel efficiency not only significantly betters the Camry’s respectable 14.1kpl figure, but is also among the best we’ve ever recorded for a petrol car! The Accord’s exceptional fuel economy is all thanks to the engine playing no more than a supporting role to the electric motor in typical city driving conditions. Both cars did well on our highway cycle too, but once again the Accord, whose electric motor chips in during steady cruising, proved far more efficient.

The Accord feels peppier than the Camry in town and is the quicker of the two cars.

Efficient, green and powerful as these cars are, they are not exciting. They don’t change direction with particular gusto and their steerings don’t offer enough to excite the keen driver. There isn’t all that much between the duo in ride comfort either. The Accord has the marginally nicer low-speed ride and also feels a touch more planted at higher speeds.