The Honda Civic was the best-selling compact car as well as the third-best-selling car overall in 2012. With its unique blend of reliability, affordability and refinement, the Civic is a gold standard for transportation in general. While the Accord is considered more of a family sedan, its simple yet sophisticated design draws both families and young buyers to this safe and reliable 4-cylinder. Mid-size coupes like the Accord or Civic are generally chosen by families or younger consumers, who need a reliable commuter vehicle and are not willing to drop a fortune.
If you enjoy long-term driving satisfaction but aren’t looking for a super-stylish or sporty look, then you’ll love either of these solidly manufactured vehicles. The reliability and excellent driving dynamics as well as the roomy and comfortable passenger cabins make these family sedans satisfactory for a variety of different uses.
Overall Stats
Gas mileage on the Honda Accord is significantly lower than the Civic, with the Civic coming in at 28 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. While both are 5-seaters, the amount of headroom and passenger room in the Accord is quite a bit more expansive with the exception of the front leg room and cargo area, which are comparable between the two vehicles. Surprisingly, the fuel tank capacity in the Accord is over 5 gallons larger than the Civic, making your time between fill-ups even longer.
Pricing
The Civic wins the price war by a significant margin, with nearly a $6,000 difference between the two vehicles in their base models. While it is smaller and lighter, the better gas mileage, mostly comparable options and sizing make the Civic a clearly better option for purchase.
Engine and Performance
The larger engine of the Honda Accord at 2.4L versus the much smaller 1.8L engine of the Civic gives the Accord a clear advantage in acceleration tests.
Safety Features
Overall safety ratings for both vehicles are excellent, making them a solid purchase decision. The rollover rating for the Civic is very slightly lower than the Accord with 4/5 stars instead of 5/5 stars.
These two midsize sedans are both a great buy, with extra safety features, a number of different options including additional tech toys and colors, and great customer reviews. You can’t go wrong with either option, but if you’re looking for a little extra get-up-and-go, go with the Accord; otherwise the Civic is the more cost-effective option.
