The Honda Civic and Honda Accord are long-time mainstays in the automotive market. Both cars are known for durability, reliability, and value. In the last ten years, the cars grew in size, comfort, and features. How else do these vehicles compare, and which one is best for you? Let’s take a closer look at the Honda Accord versus the Honda Civic.
About Honda Accord:
The Honda Accord is a front-wheel-drive four-door sedan with seating for five. The current and tenth generation of the Accord launched for model year 2018. The coupe version was discontinued. The Accord is equipped with an efficient 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. A hybrid version provides even better fuel economy. The Accord is a rarity in the market as it offers an optional manual transmission in the Sport trim for an engaging driving experience. Starting in 1982, the Accord was the first Japanese vehicle manufactured in the U.S. Production continues today at Honda’s plant in Marysville, Ohio. The Accord sold over 13 million vehicles through 2018. The 2019 Honda Accord has won several awards. The Accord is one of the 2019 10Best cars from Car & Driver and a top five pick from U.S. News & World Report.
About Honda Civic:
The Honda Civic also seats five passengers, although the middle seat in the back is not very comfortable. Like the Accord, the Civic is front-wheel-drive. Unlike the Accord, the Civic comes in a variety of body styles. The two-door Civic coupe is a fun and sporty variant but limits access to the back seat. The four-door hatchback has the most utility and comes with more power. The Type R hatchback trim combines that functionality with loads of sporty driving engagement. Like the Accord, the Civic also offers a manual transmission. The Civic is also on its tenth generation since its introduction in 1973. Honda reports sales of 19 million Civics over the years, making it America’s best-selling retail car. The Civic coupe and sedan are both produced in Canada and the U.S. The hatchback (Civic and Civic Type R) are produced in Swindon, U.K., a plant slated for closure in 2022, when production will move to North America. The Civic captured one of Car & Driver’s 2019 10Best trophies and a host of other awards.
Honda Civic versus Honda Accord: What has Better Interior Quality, Space, and Comfort?
Since both the Civic and Accord seat five passengers, the comparison comes down to size preference and use. The Accord is better suited for multiple people for longer drives, such as a carpool commute. If you’re more frequently driving solo, but sometimes need additional room, then the Civic is a fine choice and easier on the budget. Surprisingly, the Civic sedan has an inch more headroom than the Accord but 3 inches less legroom. Passenger volume for the Accord is 5 cubic feet more than the Civic sedan. The Civic hatchback has 3 cubic feet less volume than its sedan sibling, but it’s different space. If you sometimes carry bigger, taller, boxier items and fewer people, then the hatch is a good choice. The 2019 Honda Accord sedan trunk fits up to 16.7 cubic feet of luggage compared to the Civic sedan’s 15.1 cubic feet. With the seats up, the Civic hatch carries between 22.6 and 25.7 cubic feet, a number that stretches to 46.2 cubic feet with the seats down. The Accord’s rear seat folds down (except in base LX) and splits 60/40, maximizing its utility. Interior materials on the more expensive Accord are of better quality, but the Civic’s sportier feel has its own appeal. The Accord provides dual-zone automatic climate control, two front power outlets, and a 7.0-inch screen for the infotainment system standard, unlike the Civic. There are more opportunities to upgrade features on the Accord as well. The Accord offers a hybrid model, while the Civic does not. The Accord Hybrid gets a whopping 48 mpg in city or highway driving, so if fuel economy is your top priority, then the hybrid Accord is the clear choice in the game of Civic versus Accord.
Honda Civic versus Honda Accord: What has Better Safety Equipment and Ratings?
Both the current Civic and Accord are equipped with Honda Sensing, a key benefit over an older model. This package features:
- Automatic high beams.
- Lane departure warning.
- Forward collision warning.
- Adaptive Cruise Control: In traffic, set the cruise control and the Accord will follow the car ahead keeping a safe distance.
- Lane keeping assist: This system keeps the Accord in the center of its lane.
The lane-keep assist system can be a bit aggressive with a strong wheel shake if you veer out of your lane. In contrast, the same system will also gently guide you back into the lane as needed. With a higher price point, the Accord naturally comes with more standard features, but the Civic has a lot of optional features available. The Civic doesn’t offer memory seats, adjustable lumbar, or overhead storage. The 2019 Honda Civic and Accord both earned “Good” ratings from the IIHS. NHTSA gave both Hondas five-star ratings.
Honda Civic versus Honda Accord: What has Better Technology?
The Honda Accord and Civic each feature a host of standard conveniences. These include a rearview camera, a 160-watt 4-speaker sound system with an auxiliary audio input jack, and variable assisted steering. The Accord’s 8.0-inch screen in upper trims is superior to the maximum 7.0-inch available in the Civic. However, if some of the more advanced amenities aren’t appealing, the Civic sedan is a fine choice.
Honda Civic versus Honda Accord: Which is Better to Drive?
Both the Civic and Accord are excellent vehicles to drive, featuring Honda’s signature driving dynamics, comforts, and conveniences for good value. There’s an elegance and smoothness to the Accord that makes it one of the best sedans in its class, and the modern technology only enhances the experience. The Honda Sensing technology is helpful and the stop-start feature mostly transparent to the vehicle occupants. The infotainment is intuitive and both cockpits are laid out well. The Civic’s shorter wheelbase and sporty tuning provide a more engaging ride, but the Accord can hold its own on more challenging roads. The choice really comes down to utility as both vehicles are fine examples of today’s Honda brand. However, if you’re a driving purist, it’s hard to pass up the Civic Type R with its manual transmission, sexy coupe-like profile, and hatchback utility. The Type R is a rare breed these days.
Honda Civic versus Honda Accord: Which Car is Priced Better?
The Honda Civic starts at $19,450 and the base Accord LX at $23,720. From a budgetary standpoint, the question is whether the Civic is large enough for your current and future lifestyle needs. Both vehicles are covered under Honda’s 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty including Honda Genuine Accessories installed at the time of purchase. There’s also a 5-year/60,000 mile on powertrain.
Honda Civic versus Honda Accord: Which Car Should I Buy?
When it comes to choosing whether the Honda Accord or Honda Civic works best for you, the final decision mostly depends on your preferences. If an efficient, affordable sedan is what you’re after, the 2019 Honda Civic sedan and hatchback offers good value with a lot of driving engagement. The elegance and timelessness of the Honda Accord sedan provides long-term appeal and life stage versatility. And let’s not forget about that hybrid. As mentioned, if fuel economy is the most important feature, then the Accord Hybrid choice is clear. In either case, buyer will enjoy Honda’s durability and reliability, as well as highly reputable sales and service dealerships.