For most buyers, the 2027 Toyota Camry is the smarter buy. Every Camry is a hybrid, it costs about $2,700 less to own over five years than the entry-level 2026 Honda Accord, and you can add all-wheel drive. The Accord starts $1,305 lower in price, but it is a gas car at that price. Choose the Accord if you want a roomier back seat, a bigger trunk, a better-built cabin or a sportier drive.
Key takeaways
- The Toyota Camry costs about $2,700 less to own over five years than the entry-level Honda Accord, even though the Accord starts $1,305 lower.
- Every Camry is a hybrid and can add all-wheel drive for $1,525; every Accord is front-wheel drive and only four of six trims are hybrids.
- The Accord has almost three inches more rear legroom (40.8 vs 38.0 in) and a bigger trunk (16.7 vs 15.1 cu ft).
- Real-world tests show the Camry near its EPA mpg while the Accord Hybrid falls short of its rating.
- The Camry hybrid battery is covered for 10 years or 150,000 miles, against 8 years or 100,000 for the Accord.
Side by side
| 2027 Toyota Camry | 2026 Honda Accord | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $29,700 (LE) | $28,395 (LX, gas) |
| Trims | 5, all hybrid | 6: 2 gas, 4 hybrid |
| Power | 225 hp (232 hp with AWD) | 192 hp gas, 204 hp hybrid |
| EPA combined mpg | 46 to 51 | 32 (gas LX), 44 to 48 (hybrid) |
| All-wheel drive | Yes, +$1,525 | No |
| Length | 193.5 in | 195.7 in |
| Rear legroom | 38.0 in | 40.8 in |
| Trunk | 15.1 cu ft | 16.7 cu ft |
| Hybrid battery warranty | 10 years / 150,000 miles | 8 years / 100,000 miles (most states) |
| IIHS award (2026) | Top Safety Pick+ | Top Safety Pick |
Prices are MSRP checked in October 2026, without the $1,295 destination charge that both cars add, plus taxes and dealer fees. This article covers the 2027 Camry, which Toyota has just priced, and the 2026 Accord, Honda's current model, the two cars in our video.
Prices and trims
The Camry comes in five trims, from the LE to the XSE, and every one has a hybrid engine. The Accord has six: the LX and SE are plain gas cars, and the Sport, EX-L, Sport-L and Touring are hybrids. Only the Camry offers all-wheel drive, for $1,525 more on any trim. Every Accord is front-wheel drive, so if you live where it snows, that alone may decide it.
| Camry trim | MSRP | Accord trim | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|
| LE | $29,700 | LX (gas) | $28,395 |
| SE | $32,200 | SE (gas) | $30,695 |
| Nightshade | $33,200 | Sport Hybrid | $33,795 |
| XLE | $34,900 | EX-L Hybrid | $35,095 |
| XSE | $36,100 | Sport-L Hybrid | $35,495 |
| Touring Hybrid | $39,495 |
The Camry's hybrid system makes 225 hp, or 232 hp with all-wheel drive. The Accord Hybrid makes 204 hp and the gas Accord 192 hp.
Size and looks
The two sedans are close in size. The Accord is about 2.2 inches longer (195.7 against 193.5) and a little wider, and both sit low, with about 5.3 to 5.4 inches of ground clearance. Watch steep driveways in either one.
Reviewers agree the current Camry looks bolder than before, with a sharp, angular nose, and the sporty SE, Nightshade and XSE add black details. The Accord is cleaner and more understated. One more difference: in IIHS headlight tests, the Accord's LED lights are rated Good on every trim, while the Camry's are rated Acceptable.
Four price-matched rounds
We matched each Camry with the Accord closest in price. Five-year cost is the MSRP, the $1,295 destination charge and five years of EPA fuel cost.
| Round | Matchup | MSRP | 5-year cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camry LE vs Accord LX | $29,700 vs $28,395 | $37,245 vs $39,940 |
| 2 | Camry SE vs Accord Sport Hybrid | $32,200 vs $33,795 | $40,495 vs $42,590 |
| 3 | Camry XLE vs Accord EX-L Hybrid | $34,900 vs $35,095 | $43,195 vs $43,140 |
| 4 | Camry XSE vs Accord Touring Hybrid | $36,100 vs $39,495 | $44,395 vs $48,290 |
Round 1: the Camry LE wins. The Accord LX costs $1,305 less up front, but the EPA rates it at 32 mpg combined against 51 for the Camry LE. That is about $2,050 a year in fuel against about $1,250. Over five years the Camry ends up costing about $2,700 less to own, and even an all-wheel-drive Camry LE ($39,020 over five years) costs less than the Accord LX. The Camry LE also has blind-spot warning and dual-zone climate control, which the LX lacks. The Accord brings a bigger screen and remote start.
Round 2: a tie. The Camry SE is about $1,600 lower in price and rated 46 mpg against 44, which makes it cost about $2,100 less over five years. But the Accord Sport Hybrid gives you more for the money: heated seats, a sunroof, a 12.3-inch screen and eight speakers, all options on the SE.
Round 3: a dead heat. The XLE and the EX-L Hybrid cost almost the same, and their five-year cost differs by only $55. The EX-L is the most efficient Accord at 48 mpg. Both have heated leather-trimmed seats and a 12.3-inch screen. The Camry adds a heated steering wheel and a bigger digital dashboard; the Accord adds a sunroof, a memory seat and front and rear parking sensors. Pick the car you like.
Round 4: the Camry wins on price. The Accord Touring comes fully loaded: ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, a 12-speaker Bose stereo and Google built in, with no option packages. The Camry XSE costs about $3,400 less, but many of those extras sit in its option packages, and Toyota does not publish package prices online. Ask the dealer to price each one separately.
What only the Camry offers
The Camry's Premium packages bring things no Accord offers: a panoramic glass roof, a 360-degree camera, parking sensors that brake for you, lane change assist, front cross-traffic alert and a 10-inch head-up display, bigger than the Touring's 6-inch one. Every Camry also has Safe Exit Alert, which warns you before you open a door into a passing car or bike. The upper Camrys offer a nine-speaker JBL stereo, while the Accord Touring has the 12-speaker Bose.
Cabin, back seat and trunk
Both cars have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a wireless phone charger on every trim. The lower Camrys have an 8-inch touchscreen and a 7-inch digital gauge display, and the XLE and XSE move up to 12.3 inches for both. Every Accord has a 10.2-inch gauge display, with a 9-inch screen on the gas trims and 12.3 inches on the hybrids. Reviewers agree the Accord's cabin is better built, with solid materials and simple physical buttons and knobs, while the Camry's screens are easy to use but the cabin feels less upscale.
The back seat is the Accord's biggest win. It has 40.8 inches of rear legroom against 38.0, almost three inches more. One catch: its sloping roof cuts headroom for very tall passengers, and the Camry has a little more rear headroom (37.6 against 37.2 inches). The trunk goes to the Accord too, 16.7 cubic feet against 15.1, about one more carry-on bag. Every Camry has rear air vents, and only the top Accord Touring offers heated rear seats.
How they drive
Reviewers agree the Accord is the sharper, more fun car to drive, though on its 19-inch wheels it can feel firm over sharp bumps. The new Camry rides comfortably, handles far better than older Camrys, has smooth, natural-feeling brakes and is quiet at highway speeds, although its engine gets loud under hard acceleration. Our research found no clear winner on 0 to 60 mph times, because tests of the Accord Hybrid ranged from about 7.0 to 8.0 seconds, so we do not name a quicker car.
Real-world fuel economy
Spec sheets do not tell the whole story here. In independent real-world tests from Edmunds and Consumer Reports, the Camry averaged about 46 to 48 mpg, close to its EPA rating, while the Accord Hybrid managed about 40 to 42, short of its 44 mpg rating. The Camry's fuel advantage is real, and bigger on the road than on paper.
Safety, warranty and maintenance
Both get five stars overall from NHTSA. At the IIHS, the 2026 Camry earned the higher Top Safety Pick+ award and the 2026 Accord a Top Safety Pick; the Accord's pedestrian braking system scored Acceptable. IIHS has not rated the 2027 Camry yet. The Accord has 10 airbags, including rear side airbags, against eight in the Camry, but every Camry has blind-spot monitoring and the entry-level Accord does not.
Basic warranties match at 3 years or 36,000 miles, and so does the powertrain at 5 years or 60,000 miles. The big difference is the hybrid battery: Toyota covers it for 10 years or 150,000 miles, Honda for 8 years or 100,000. Free maintenance is close too. For 2027 Toyota cut its free scheduled maintenance to one year or 10,000 miles, and Honda gives one year or 12,000 miles. Kelley Blue Book also named the Camry its 2026 Best Buy in the midsize car category.
Our value picks
If it were our money, we would buy the Camry LE. It has the lowest five-year cost of all eleven trims, 51 mpg and the full safety kit; you mainly give up big screens and leather. If you want an Accord, our pick is the EX-L Hybrid at $35,095. It is the most efficient Accord, adds leather, heated seats, a sunroof and parking sensors, and saves about $3,500 in fuel over five years compared with the gas LX. We skip the gas Accords unless you drive very little. Our method is on the How we research page. For a Camry versus a crossover, see our Toyota Camry Hybrid vs Toyota RAV4 Hybrid comparison, and for every Accord trim, our 2026 Honda Accord trims explained.
Which one is right for you?
- Lowest cost to own, or you need all-wheel drive: Camry.
- Best fuel economy in a midsize sedan: Camry LE, 51 mpg.
- Sportiest look: Camry XSE or Nightshade.
- Adults in the back seat, or a big trunk: Accord.
- Nicer cabin and the most fun to drive: Accord.
- Every luxury feature without option packages: Accord Touring.
Before you sign, get the out-the-door price in writing and check it for add-ons you did not ask for. Ask for both prices on a 2026 Camry, which may still be on the lot. Ask the dealer to confirm any open recalls are fixed. Watch the full video above and see all our car comparisons.
Sources
All figures checked in October 2026.
- 2027 Toyota Camry prices, features and warranty: toyota.com Camry and Camry features
- 2026 Honda Accord prices and EPA ratings: Honda news release
- 2026 Honda Accord specifications, trims and warranty: Honda specs release, Honda trim comparison, Honda warranty
- EPA fuel economy and fuel cost: Camry LE, Accord LX, Accord EX-L Hybrid, Accord Sport Hybrid (fueleconomy.gov; Toyota's 2027 ratings match the 2026 records)
- Crash tests: NHTSA · IIHS 2026 Toyota Camry · IIHS 2026 Honda Accord
- Real-world mpg and driving impressions: Edmunds sedan comparison, Consumer Reports, Cars.com, Car and Driver
- Award: Kelley Blue Book 2026 Best Buy, Toyota Camry
Buy the 2027 Toyota Camry for most uses: it is a hybrid on every trim, costs less to own and offers all-wheel drive. Our pick is the Camry LE, the lowest five-year cost of all eleven trims. Choose the 2026 Honda Accord, best as the EX-L Hybrid at $35,095, if the roomy back seat, bigger trunk, better-built cabin and sportier drive matter more to you.
Common questions
Is the Toyota Camry or the Honda Accord the better car?
For most buyers, the Camry. It is a hybrid on every trim, costs less to own over five years and offers all-wheel drive. The Accord is roomier, better built inside and more fun to drive, so it is the better pick if those matter most.
Which costs less to own, the Camry or the Accord?
The Camry. The Camry LE costs about $2,700 less than the Accord LX over five years, counting price, destination and EPA fuel cost, because it gets 51 mpg against 32. The XLE and the EX-L Hybrid are within $55 of each other.
Does the Honda Accord have all-wheel drive?
No. Every Accord is front-wheel drive. The Toyota Camry offers all-wheel drive on every trim for $1,525.
Which has more room, the Camry or the Accord?
The Accord. It has 40.8 inches of rear legroom against 38.0 and a 16.7 cubic-foot trunk against 15.1. Very tall rear passengers may brush the Accord's sloping roof.
Which has the better warranty?
The basic and powertrain warranties match, 3 years or 36,000 miles and 5 years or 60,000 miles. Toyota covers the hybrid battery for 10 years or 150,000 miles, against 8 years or 100,000 for Honda.