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We’re looking at two of the most popular sedans available. It’s the Honda Accord vs Toyota Camry! Find out which one is better for under $15K.
Comparing the Camry and the Accord
It’s a tale as old as time. OK, maybe this battle hasn’t been going on that long, but for more than two decades the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord have been duking it out for dominance in the mid-size vehicle market. The Mazda6, Hyundai Sonata, and Nissan Altima all fit in that category, too, but today we’re focusing on two of the most popular in the category: the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
These two cars have found a spot on many of our best car lists. The Honda Accord is one of our 20 Best Commuter Cars of 2022, the Toyota Camry is listed as one of the Best Cars for under $30,000, and both vehicles can be found on our list of the Best Mid-Size Cars of 2022. “The Accord provides quality, reliability, and commendable performance,” is what we said in our 2022 Honda Accord review, and our review of the 2023 Toyota Camry review points out some new features in that sedan, but what if you’re on a budget? Thankfully, both vehicles wear well over time, and there are some well-equipped models still out there.
I found one 2018 Honda Accord listed for $14,999 with 174,253 miles on it. A 2017 Accord has 79,000 miles and costs $15,000. There are some 2016 models, too. One has 49,433 miles on it. That one is also $15,000 on the dot. Those primarily have some junk and salvage history behind them, though. To get a good Honda Accord for under $15,000, which is our chosen budget for this comparison, you’re probably going to have to go back to a 2015 model. When trying to find a Toyota Camry for the same price, you’re going to end up with the same model year. There are newer models available, but those are harder to find. Let’s take a deeper look at which car does better on a budget.
Honda Accord vs Toyota Camry Specs
The 2015 Honda Accord has several different options for interested car buyers. It’s available as a midsize sedan or a coupe. It’s also available in multiple trim levels: the LX, the LX-S, the Sport, the EX-, the EX-L, or the EX-L with Navi and Touring.
There are three engine options, depending on which body style and trim level is chosen. The first is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that will make 185 horsepower with 181 lb-ft of torque. Moving up to the Honda Accord Sport gets 189 horsepower and 182 lb-ft of torque with a dual exhaust 2.4-liter engine. Finally, there’s an available 3.5-liter V6 that makes 278 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, but a six-speed automatic or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) are both available. Front-wheel Drive (FWD) is standard.
A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine comes standard in every 2015 Toyota Camry. This engine makes 178 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque. Then there’s a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 268 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque, which is available with the 2015 Camry XSE and XLE trims. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard with both engines. FWD is standard in the 2015 Camry, too.
There’s also a Toyota Camry hybrid. It utilizes the 2.5-liter inline-4 cylinder to put out a combined 200 horsepower. It’ll earn 43 MPG in the city and 39 MPG on the highway with the LE model. Unfortunately, a good portion of the 2015 Toyota Camry hybrid models fall outside of that $15,000 budget, but it’s worth looking around to see what you can find.
Driving and Performance
The standard four-cylinder with 185 horsepower runs smoothly and gets up to speed quickly enough, but the V6 is the engine that will maintain its speed. It feels much quicker than some of the competitors in the same class. As long as your expectations are within reason (this is no sports car), then you shouldn’t be disappointed. Honda delivered good handling in the 2015 Accord, whether it’s going over a few bumps or potholes, or taking some curves and corners. The ride is level, the steering is pleasant, and the feedback is minimal.
In terms of fuel economy, the Accord scores well on that topic, too. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rated the four-cylinder 2015 Honda Accord as getting 27 miles per gallon (MPG) in the city and 36 MPG on the highway. When the six-speed automatic transmission is swapped with a CVT, the 2015 Honda Accord Sport gets 26 MPG in the city and 35 MPG on the highway. The models equipped with the manual transmission dip to 24 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway.
If the V6 is under the hood of the 2015 Honda Accord sedan, it’ll get 21 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway. The coupe version gets the same 21 MPG in the city and drops a little to 32 MPG on the highway. Finally, the combination of the V6 and a six-speed manual in a 2015 Accord coupe get 18 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway.
The 2015 Toyota Camry gas pedal and brakes are responsive. It’s also got good suspension and steering. The SE and XSE are a little firmer since they are more sport-tuned than the other trims. None of the trims are exactly engaging, though. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine doesn’t have much power, so it’ll take some pushing down on the gas pedal to accelerate up to highway speed.
That 2.5-liter engine gets 25 MPG in the city and 35 MPG on the highway. In the XSE and XLE with the 3.5-liter V6, the numbers are 21 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway. The V6 does much better in the speed department, but it takes a hit on efficiency. The question is: do you want better acceleration or better gas mileage?
Interior and Comfort
The Honda Accord may win this category. Seats are cushioned, tech is impressive, and, when it comes to materials in the 2015 Honda Accord, they have a high-quality feel. This all helps make the Honda Accord look like it’s more expensive than it actually is. An 8-inch touchscreen is in place to display a variety of information. USB ports, a four or seven-speaker stereo system, available satellite radio, and optional navigation all add to the upscale atmosphere of the 2015 Honda Accord.
Not only does the cabin have a little bit of fancy in it, but it’s also functional. Legroom measures 42.5 inches in the front and 38.5 inches in the back. That’s more than some competitors in the front, but not as impressive in the second row. In the trunk is 13.4 cu-ft of space. The seatback does fold down to make loading larger items a possibility, but, unlike competitors, the seat doesn’t fold in a 60/40 split. It’s all or nothing when it comes to getting that extra trunk space.
The Toyota Camry has comfortable seats and the interior is reasonably spacious. Up front is 41.6 inches of leg room. Second-row passengers have 38.9 inches. There is 15.4 cu-ft of space in the trunk as well. The back row can be folded down in a 60/40 split. Hard plastics are found throughout the Camry’s cabin, but the seat fabric is good quality. A six-inch touchscreen controls many of the vehicle’s functions.
Even though the 2015 Toyota Camry is several years old already, the vehicle is still pretty stacked with infotainment. iPods and a variety of other devices will work via multiple USB ports. The 2015 Camry is also Bluetooth capable. Navigation is optional on all trims starting at the SE level.
Trims and Features
The LX with the four-cylinder has 16-inch alloy wheels, a rearview camera, and cruise control. 8-inch infotainment screen, Bluetooth connectivity, a four-speaker sound system with a CD player, iPod and USB connections, and Pandora radio control. It also comes with dual-zone automatic climate control and a height-adjustable driver seat. For the 2015 Honda Accord coupe, the LX-S has 17-inch wheels and a six-speaker stereo.
The 2015 Honda Accord Sport adds 18-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, and paddle shifts for the CVT. Drivers can also enjoy the Sport’s leather-wrapped steering wheel and an eight-way power driver seat. Benefits of moving up to the Accord EX include heated mirrors, blind-spot monitoring, and a six-speaker stereo system. It also has a sunroof and keyless ignition and entry. The wheels are 17 inches on the EX trim.
At the top of the 2015 Honda Accord ladder is the EX-L trim. It has leather upholstery in the cabin, heated front seats, driver-seat memory functions, and a four-way power passenger seat. A forward collision warning and lane-departure warning increase safety measures at this level. The sound system has seven speakers. Plus, there’s satellite radio connectivity. An auto-dimming rearview mirror comes with every EX-L, but the EX-L with Navi adds navigation and voice recognition to the mix. In coupe form, the EX-L adds on 18-inch wheels.
The base 2015 Toyota Camry LE trim has some impressive features already. It comes with 16-inch steel wheels, heated mirrors, automatic headlights, and keyless entry. Inside is an eight-way power driver seat, Bluetooth connectivity, a 6.1-inch touchscreen, and a six-speaker audio system that supports CDs or iPods through an auxiliary audio jack or a USB port. The LE also includes a rearview camera and cruise control.
The next trim, the SE, adds some exclusive features like 17-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, and simulated leather upholstery. Sport fabric is also used in places. The steering wheel is trimmed with leather, and the outside of the vehicle has specific SE styling elements.
Those alloy wheels are upgraded to 18 inches in the XSE trim. LED running lamps are added, too. A four-way power passenger seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather and simulated suede upholstery, and heated front seats all come with the XSE. HD and satellite radio are available in the LE and SE, but they’re standard in the XSE trim. Full leather upholstery is used in the XLE.
Honda Accord vs Toyota Camry Conclusions
The 2015 Toyota Camry does have more legroom for second-row, the benefit of a 60/40 split seatback, and a hybrid option, but, as nice as those things are, the 2015 Honda Accord shines in too many of these categories. It handles better, rides better, accelerates better, and is outfitted with good infotainment features. The entire cabin feels like a higher-grade environment, too. Both cars have proven to be reliable and long-lasting, but the 2015 Camry is too good to overlook in this instance.
