It may surprise you to learn that the Honda Accord Coupe is one of the most cross-shopped cars with the Chevrolet Camaro. After all, one is a front-drive two-door version of a family sedan, while the other is a purpose-built Muscle car.
And yet the two stack up quite closely in many respects, though certainly not in all of them. Here’s a list of four ways the Accord is a better car… and one way it most certainly is not.
It may be hard to believe but the Accord will out drag-race a Camaro.
Now we’re not talking about a 426 hp Camaro SS, but just a regular old V6 model. Still, with 312-hp on tap the Camaro’s numbers are bigger than the Accord at 278-hp, but it also weighs 350-lbs more.
According to Chevrolet the Camaro will hit 60 mph in just under 6.0 seconds while Honda says the Accord will do it in 5.5 seconds, if not better. And if that’s not enough, comparing the Accord’s six-speed manual transmission to that of the Camaro’s is like comparing a Swiss watch to a sun dial.
The difference may be small but the Accord manages to deliver better fuel economy as well. With a six-speed manual the Honda outdoes the Chevy, though not by much with an 18/28-mpg (city/highway) rating compared to 17/28 in the Camaro. A slightly larger gap comes with the automatic with the Honda at 21/32 compared to a best of 19/30 for the base LS model and 19/29 for the rest.
The fuel economy argument might seem like a stretch if you’re looking at a Camaro, but if the V6 is what you’re after then chances are it’s less of a Sunday driver and more of a regular use machine.
That said, the ability to live with the Accord on a daily basis is vastly superior.
A feature the coupe shares with the sedan is its excellent lines of sight. The Camaro on the other hand is as claustrophobic as a submarine. It’s nearly impossible to see out of and for such a mammoth machine has very little headroom. The Accord has an airy cabin, and being so easy to see out of it inspires confidence when driven hard while also being easy to park.
It also comes with all the functionality an ease of use you’d expect from a mid-size sedan, not to mention more trunk space.
The Camaro’s interior is so bad, GMs decision to swap out the original steering wheel for one from a $14K Cruze was considered a big improvement. And that’s one of the Camaro’s highlights. The down sides are the massive swathes of cheap plastic and a fit and finish that makes it obvious the Camaro isn’t secretly a futuristic alien robot from another galaxy.
The Accord is near-luxury by comparison. V6 models come equipped with leather standard, a push-button ignition and an interior design that’s elegant and modern.
The Honda isn’t a victor in all categories, however. For starters it’s expensive and starts at $30,350 for a V6 model compared to just $23,345 for a Camaro. One could argue the Accord gets better content for the price, but that doesn’t change the fact that you have to pony up over $30K to get a V6.
Other factors that weigh in the Camaro’s favor include the fact that its rear-wheel drive. The Honda might be a bit more tossable but without a limited slip differential good luck putting the power down on this front-driver in a corner.
One can’t overlook styling either. The Accord may be handsome but it’s not what you’d call cool.
A genuine hoot to drive the single biggest factor against the Accord Coupe is that it is… an Accord Coupe. A genuine fun-to-drive, front-drive rival to the V6-powered pony cars, were it restyled and rebadged it might get more takers. As it stands, the biggest knock against the Accord Coupe is that it’s the exact car you expect your mother to drive.
Thinking of buying a Honda Accord Coupe? Shop for your new Honda here or search for another vehicle in the AutoGuide New Cars section here.