The Best Camry Trim vs. The Best Accord Trim In 2025

Some cars are faster, and some are more luxurious, but few are as well-balanced and competitive as the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. Manufacturers dream of having the brand loyalty and presence of the Accord or Camry. The Accord’s current generation was introduced in 2023 while the current Camry is new for 2025, but both have been good sellers for the brands. They go against other heavy hitters in the mainstream sedan market such as the Kia K5 and Hyundai Sonata, and while the current Camry isn’t exactly all new, it is still able to go toe-to-toe with the best. So what if you want the best, the nicest, and the most opulent Japanese midsize sedan? We will compare both the Toyota Camry XSE and Honda Accord Hybrid Touring to see which is worth your money.

2025 Camry Vs Accord Overview

What Is The Modern Camry?

At face value, the Camry is, and always has been, a midsize sedan that is aimed at making commuting as painless and efficient as possible, but the Camry has gone through some peaks and dips in its lifetime. With the SUV boom of the last decade, some people may not be aware that the current XV80 Camry is marketed and aimed at a different audience than its XV70 predecessor. The XV70, which was heralded for its surprisingly punchy 3.5 L V6 that could get it to 60 mph in under six seconds, is a thing of the past. It may come as a surprise to some, but the Camry now exclusively uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid, with no option of a more powerful engine. You can have your Camry in four base colors: Ocean Gem, Midnight Black Metallic, Reservoir Blue, and Underground. You can get higher trim models in Supersonic Red, Wind Pearl White, and Heavy Metal for $425.

What Is The Modern Accord?

The latest generation of Accord is sleeker, more luxurious and more expensive than any of its rivals. Honda seems to be doing this with a lot of its current models, pitching them as more expensive alternatives to contemporaries. To make up for the difference in price, Honda throws in more upscale materials, a longer list of features, and a more premium aesthetic. The Accord has also dropped any pretense of being a fast front-wheel-drive sedan, with the V6 dying two generations ago, and even the more potent Civic Type R-based turbo four-cylinder leaving with this generation. It is all about efficiency now, and while it is not quite as efficient as the Camry (something we will discuss later), it is still a very fuel-frugal car. The Accord range spans six trim levels, with the top model being the Touring Hybrid. The Accord is a pricey model in this market, but it attempts to make up for that by throwing all it can into being the most up-market option. Unlike the Camry, the Accord stands as the top car model in the Honda range, excluding the Type-R, so it isn’t constrained by having to be worse than the next model. This is a change from the Camry, which is slotted below the Crown and next to the Prius.

2025 Accord Vs Camry Powertrain Options

Turbocharging Or Hybridization

The new Camry is all about efficiency, with only a slight hint of sporting prowess still available, as we will discuss later. It relies on a refined engine and smooth shifts to offer better gas millage than both the Accord and the Sonata. The Honda especially suffers from poor highway fuel mileage when compared to its rivals, getting 41 mpg compared to the Camry’s 47 mpg. The Accord still offers an ICE powertrain but not on the top Touring trim. You instead get a 2.0L naturally aspirated four-cylinder hybrid. It isn’t as efficient as the Camry and is also less powerful, a testament to Toyota’s development of their hybrid powertrains. Surprisingly, the Camry is slower to 60 mph and has a lower top speed. It is after learning this that the aims of these two show true, with the Accord aimed at a sportier type of driver, and the Camry aimed at being more fuel-conscious for comfort-oriented buyers.

The Camry XSE

MSRP: $34,900

The XSE sits above the XLE. It is the priciest and most luxurious model in the Camry lineup, including everything you need short of a Lexus. It is basically a cross of the XLE and SE, combining all of their features into one. Along with all the sports features of the SE, you now get a fully leather-trimmed interior and multi-stage heated front seats. A color-keyed sport mesh front grille, a color-keyed rear sport lower diffuser, and gloss-black air curtains with color-keyed front side canards are also included in the exterior body kit. The XSE’s biggest selling point is that it’s the only trim level of the Camry available with two-tone paint options, coming with a black roof paired with another from the palette.

If you don’t want or can’t stretch for a Toyota Crown or Lexus IS, then the XSE is your best go-to for a nice-feeling Toyota sedan. It could be said that the extras, other than the leather, may be superficial, but for some, it will be a golden ratio of sporty looks and luxury features.

You can option all-wheel drive on every trim level of the Camry for an extra $1,525.

The Accord Touring Hybrid

MSRP: $39,300

Sitting at the top of the Accord range is the Touring Hybrid. It aims to be the most luxurious mainstream midsize sedan on the market. Unlike the Camry, the Accord really does nip at the heals of its luxury sub-brand, with the Accord Touring being more expensive than both the Acura ADX and Intergra. Honda does this by throwing everything bar an actual butler at the Accord, offering everything you could want. A good way to demonstrate this is with the configurator. You can add interior option packages to the Camry; you can’t with the Accord, since it already has everything. The only real option Honda offers is an appearance package to add a sporting look to the exterior, something built into the Camry XSE thanks to basis in the lower trim SE. The Accord Touring features all the standard luxury and convenience features that you would expect, such as leather, a larger infotainment system and heated steering wheel.

It’s the unique and exclusive features where the Accord Touring really shines. For one, it comes with Google Built-In as standard. This is basically like having Google-based Apple CarPlay or Android Auto built into the car, with the Google Assistant being just a voice command away. Heated rear seats are another feature that the Camry can’t match with the Accord, beating it in that regard. Lastly, a 12-speaker Bose sound system comes standard with the Accord, with the equivalent Camry JBL system featuring a lesser nine-speaker setup, with the added negative of not being standard.

Which Is The Better Choice?

That trend of needing to option things into the XSE is a constant nagging detail that hurts its perceived value. While the apparent $4,400 you save with the XSE can seem tempting, by the time you add the packages that bring it up to par with the Accord, it actually becomes the more expensive of the two at $41,095. This changes the narrative completely with the Camry going from a slightly less luxurious but better value alternative to the Accord, to a more expensive and not very compelling option. It is definitely the cheaper of the two to run, but you could end up paying more for what is generally considered to be the cheaper of the two interiors, and a less technically advanced car.

FAQs

How much does the most expensive Toyota Camry cost?

The most expensive Camry is a fully optioned XSE with AWD, costing $42,620.

What engine is in the Honda Accord Touring ?

The Accord Touring is powered by a 2.0L naturally aspirated four-cylinder hybrid making 204 hp.

What is the difference between Accord Sport and Accord Touring?

The Accord Sport puts a much larger emphasis on sporting driving and a sporty appearance, whereas the Touring is a luxury-focused trim with more technology and features.

Sources: Honda, Toyota, EPA