If you have decided to go with a Honda or you’re already a loyal fan, you might be cross-shopping two of its most popular models, the Accord and Civic sedans.
Both cars have been highly awarded: The Honda Civic won as AutoGuide.com Car of the Year in 2016 when the new 10th-generation model debuted and the 10th-generation Honda Accord won as the 2018 North American Car of the Year from the prestigious NACTOY jury, of which I am a proud member. Both Hondas really raised the bar for their respective segments and you really can’t go wrong with either. With Honda’s excellent reputation for reliability and high resale values, the Honda Accord and the Honda Civic are both very smart and practical choices.
But which one might be better for you? We’ll walk you through the differences between the two cars and the pros and cons of each to help you decide.
ALSO SEE: 2018 Honda Accord Review
Honda Accord vs Honda Civic Comparison
Body Styles/Design
Accord: The Honda Accord is currently only available as a sedan. In the past, it used to be available as a coupe and even a jacked-up Crosstour model, but they have since been discontinued. The design is quite handsome and tasteful from all angles and should age pretty gracefully, though some people think it’s too conservative.
Civic: The Honda Civic, meanwhile, is available as a coupe, sedan, hatchback, and even high-performance Si (sedan and coupe only) and Type R models (hatch only) that come exclusively with manual transmissions. The Honda Civic is available in way more variants, but for this article, we will be talking about the sedan and not the performance variants. To some, the Civic’s style might be a bit overwrought with the many angles and fake vents, though the sedan is the more tasteful of the trio.
Bottom Line: If you wanted a coupe or a hatchback, you’d have to go for the Civic, as the Accord only comes as a sedan. Both cars look to have a liftback style but have traditional trunks. I prefer the Accord’s exterior styling.
ALSO SEE: 2018 Honda Accord Pros and Cons
Powertrains/Fuel Economy
Accord: The Accord is available with two turbocharged engines. The base engine is a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder with 192 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque. The upgraded engine is a 2.0L turbo four-cylinder with 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. The 1.5L is available with a six-speed manual transmission (only in the Sport model) or a CVT. The 2.0L is available with the six-speed manual (only in the Sport model) or a 10-speed automatic.
The 1.5L with the CVT is rated at 33 mpg combined and 30 with the manual. The 2.0L with the 10-speed is rated at 27 combined and 26 with the manual. The Accord has a 14.8-gallon fuel tank capacity.
Civic: The base Honda Civic is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. This engine can be paired with a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Fuel economy for the manual model is 29 mpg combined, while the CVT gets 33 for the LX trim and 32 for the Sport trim.
There is also an available turbocharged 1.5L engine with 174 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. This engine can only be had with a CVT. Fuel economy for this setup rings in at 36 mpg combined for the EX and EX-L trims and 33 for the Touring model. The Civic sedan has a 12.39-gallon tank capacity.
Bottom Line: Honda says both the Accord and the Civic can run on regular unleaded fuel, even in the turbo engines, which typically require premium fuel. If your priority is better fuel economy, the Civic is the way to go. You get better performance with the Accord, but it comes with a slight fuel economy penalty and it is more expensive. If you specifically want a hybrid, we’ll highlight that in the next section.
Hybrid Models
The Honda Accord has a hybrid model and the Civic doesn’t, but the Honda Insight fills the role of a Honda Civic Hybrid.
Accord: The Honda Accord Hybrid has three driving modes (Econ, Sport, and EV) and is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0L engine (129 hp and 232 lb-ft) paired with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery for a total system output of 212 hp. The Accord Hybrid gets a combined 47 mpg and starts at $25,320 (not including destination).
Insight: The Honda Insight also has three driving modes (Econ, Sport, and EV) but is powered by a 1.5L naturally aspirated four-cylinder (107 hp and 99 lb-ft) paired with an electric motor (129 hp and 197 lb-ft) and a lithium-ion battery for a total system output of 151 hp. The Honda Insight gets a combined 52 mpg and starts at $22,830 (not including destination).
Bottom Line: If fuel economy is your main concern, the Insight gets better fuel economy than the Accord Hybrid and is more affordable. Both hybrid models feel, drive, and look extremely similar to their gas-powered variants, which is a good thing.
Space/Practicality
Accord: The Accord holds 5 passengers and has a very large trunk that holds 16.8 cubic feet of cargo. The rear seats fold down 60/40 so you can hold longer items in the trunk. Legroom measures a maximum 40.4 inches, but keep in mind that that figure only applies if you have shorter drivers up front.
Civic: The Honda Civic, though smaller than the Accord, also holds 5 passengers and still has a sizable trunk with 15.1 cu-ft of cargo space. The back seat will have less room for legs than the Accord, but it’s by no means uncomfortable. Legroom in the back of the Civic is a maximum 37.4 inches.
Bottom Line: The Accord is roomier for all passengers and has a bigger trunk, but the Civic doesn’t lag too far behind. If your family has adults who ride with you, they might appreciate the increased room in the back, but a Civic is probably big enough for a young family.
Driving Dynamics
Accord: Both engines in the Accord feel great: They’re smooth, punchy, and efficient, but the 2.0L with the 10-speed auto is legitimately quick! It’s enough to chirp the tires from a standstill and the transmission never leaves me in a bad spot. The suspension is set up so the sedan feels all-around comfortable but not sloppy. It can take a corner without getting too upset and can also iron out a rough road. The steering can be a bit dull but gets the job done.
Civic: The story is much the same for the Civic. Although it’s the “cheaper” option, the Civic doesn’t feel any less refined than the Accord, driving like a more expensive car. Being smaller and lighter than the Accord, it also feels more nimble. Although most people will buy it with a CVT, the one in the Civic isn’t terrible. It’s not nearly as “rubber-band-like” as others out there and just operates without much drama. The steering is some of the best in its segment and the Civic simply drives in a very well-rounded way.
ALSO SEE: 2018 Honda Civic Pros and Cons
Bottom Line: I prefer the driving dynamics of the Accord with the 2.0L and the 10-speed transmission, but the Civic still feels nimble and confident. Both cars have excellent, segment-leading driving dynamics.
Technology
Accord: Honda Sensing, the automaker’s suite of safety technology, comes standard in the Accord. It includes collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and auto high-beams.
Other cool available features include a head-up display, blind spot monitoring and cross traffic monitor, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 2.5 amp USB fast charger, wireless phone charger, and more. These are all things the Civic isn’t available with, except for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Civic: Honda Sensing, the automaker’s suite of safety technology, also comes standard in the Civic. It includes collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and auto high-beams. Something the Civic is available with that the Accord isn’t is the LaneWatch blind spot camera, which is a bit of a gimmick anyway. Traditional blind spot monitoring is much more effective.
Bottom Line: The Accord definitely has more tech and a lot of it is very useful. If you can afford the Accord, the tech upgrades and larger infotainment screen definitely make it worth your while.
Pricing
Accord: Pricing for the Honda Accord starts at $23,730 for the LX (only available with the 1.5T), $25,320 for the Hybrid, $26,180 for the Sport (no hybrid model), $27,620 for the EX (1.5T or Hybrid), and $30,120 for the EX-L (which is available with the 1.5T, the 2.0T, or as a Hybrid model), and $34,990 for the Touring (2.0T or Hybrid). (Pricing is in the U.S. and does not include the $895 destination fee.)
Civic: Pricing for the Honda Civic starts at $19,450 for a base LX model, $21,150 for the Sport, $23,400 for the EX, $24,600 for the EX-L and $27,300 for the top-of-the-line Touring. (Pricing is in the U.S. and does not include the $895 destination fee.) Manual transmissions are standard on the LX and Sport, but CVTs are available as an upgrade. The trim levels from EX and up get a standard CVT and the turbo engine.
Bottom Line: The Civic starts to encroach on Accord pricing pretty early on in the trim lines, but both cars offer a lot of value. If you can afford it, level up to the Accord. Instead of getting a topline Civic, for example, I’d personally pick a mid-range Accord instead for the same price.
ALSO SEE: 2018 Honda Civic Hatchback vs Volkswagen Golf Comparison
The Verdict: Honda Accord vs Honda Civic
Both cars align pretty well in terms of safety/driver assistance technology and driving dynamics, so the sedan you pick really comes down to your budget and how much space you need.
The Accord has better performance, is larger, has a bit more tech and has more room, but it also has slightly worse fuel economy and is more expensive. At the top trim, it does a very good impression of a luxury vehicle in terms of tech and driving dynamics.
The Civic would be a great pick if you were looking to save some money at the gas pumps and at the transaction stage, if you could do without some of the fancier tech and connectivity features. Although I love the extra tech the Accord is available with, the Civic makes a great value play.