Comparing the Honda Civic and Honda Accord

The Honda Civic and Honda Accord are two of Honda’s most popular vehicles and have each earned numerous awards, not to mention a loyal customer following. Designed to be both economical and enjoyable, these vehicles are fantastic choices for any car buyer. Honda continues to update them in line with modern vehicle trends, and they are consistently the most popular in both the compact and midsize markets. However, many people get the two mixed up. We’ve created a brief tutorial on the differences and similarities between the Civic and Accord vehicles to help you get acquainted with the brands and pick which is best for you.

Size
The biggest difference between the Civic and the Accord is the difference in size. The Civic is a compact vehicle and has 97 cubic feet of passenger space on average, which makes for a roomy and comfortable ride, even for a compact vehicle. There are 42.3 inches of leg room in the front seat and 37.4 for backseat passengers, plenty of room to sprawl.

For those concerned about luggage, the standard Civic has 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space in the rear, plus 60/40 folding seats for extra space. The Civic hatchback has a little more flexibility with storage, of course.

In comparison, the Accord is a midsize vehicle and therefore a little more spacious. It gets an average of 103.2 cubic feet of passenger space. The leg room increases only slightly: 42.5 in the front and 38.5 in the rear, but those extra inches make a ton of difference.

The Accord has the best storage capacity in its class with an impressive 15.8 cubic feet of storage space that can be extended with the same 60/40 seat layout as the Civic.

Price Point
Due to its bigger size and upgraded features, which we’ll discuss next, the Accord is pricier than the Civic. The base model for the Civic starts at MSRP $18,740 while the Accord starts at $22,455 MSRP.

Standard Features
The Civic is designed as a more budget-friendly option, so it understandably has fewer features in its base model than the Accord to reduce price point. The base LX Civic comes standard with Bluetooth and automatic climate control while the Accord steps it up with a rearview camera and 8-inch infotainment display screen.

The Touring model of the Civic comes loaded with features and starts at MSRP $26,225, including navigation and the Honda Sensing Package, as well as an upgraded interior. Maxing out at $34,930 MSRP, the Accord Touring also has navigation plus front and rear sensors, plus the premium audio system and a luxury interior.

Driving Style
The Accord has a significantly more powerful motor than the Civic to help power its larger frame, but the Civic is the more entertaining vehicle to drive, with a snappy response and quick pickup in contrast to the Accord’s quiet power. Both have a smooth, responsive ride, but the Civic is definitely more sports-oriented while the Accord makes the ideal commuter car.

These are just a few points of distinction between the Civic and Accord, both of which are forerunners in their respective size classes.

*MSRP’s do not include the D&H fees*

Image via Flickr by Yonkers Honda under use of CC BY-SA 2.0/Cropped from original

*Based on 2016 EPA mileage/highway estimates and driving range ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your MPGe/MPG and driving range will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery age/condition, and other factors. For additional information about EPA ratings, visit http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/label/learn-more-PHEV-label.shtml

*MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.