Compare the2022 Toyota Avalon HybridVS 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Avalon Hybrid have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Honda Accord Hybrid doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The Avalon Hybrid has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats (WIL), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WIL system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Accord Hybrid doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Avalon Hybrid has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Accord Hybrid doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Avalon Hybrid Limited offers an optional Bird’s Eye View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Accord Hybrid only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Avalon Hybrid has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Accord Hybrid EX/EX-L/Touring offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Avalon Hybrid has a standard cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Accord Hybrid EX/EX-L/Touring has a cross-path warning system.

Both the Avalon Hybrid and the Accord Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Avalon Hybrid is safer than the Honda Accord Hybrid:

	Avalon Hybrid	Accord Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.8 inches
Hip Force	318 lbs.	431 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	266	386
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	62 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches
Hip Force	719 lbs.	756 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Avalon Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 103 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Accord Hybrid is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Avalon Hybrid for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Honda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Accord Hybrid.

There are over 16 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Honda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Avalon Hybrid’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 47 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 27th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Honda is ranked fifth.

Engine

The Avalon Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 3 more horsepower (215 vs. 212) than the Accord Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Brakes and Stopping

The Avalon Hybrid stops shorter than the Accord Hybrid:

	Avalon Hybrid	Accord Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Avalon Hybrid has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Accord Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Avalon Hybrid’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the Accord Hybrid (113 inches vs. 111.4 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Avalon Hybrid XLE’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Accord Touring Hybrid’s (37.7 feet vs. 38.3 feet).

Passenger Space

The Avalon Hybrid has .5 inches more front hip room and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Accord Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Avalon Hybrid’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. The Accord Hybrid’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

Servicing Ease

The Avalon Hybrid uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Accord Hybrid uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Avalon Hybrid and the Accord Hybrid have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Avalon Hybrid is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Accord Hybrid prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Avalon Hybrid’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Accord Hybrid’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The Avalon Hybrid’s driver power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Accord Hybrid’s power lock and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Avalon Hybrid’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Accord Hybrid’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Avalon Hybrid Limited has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Accord Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Avalon Hybrid’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Accord Hybrid EX/EX-L/Touring.

The Avalon Hybrid’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Accord Hybrid offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

On extremely cold winter days, the Avalon Hybrid Limited’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Accord Hybrid doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the Avalon Hybrid and the Accord Hybrid offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Avalon Hybrid has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Accord Hybrid doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Avalon Hybrid and the Honda Accord Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Consumer Reports performed a comparison test in its November 2018 issue and the Toyota Avalon Hybrid XLE won out over the Honda Accord EX Hybrid.