Compare the2025 Lexus ISVS 2025 Honda Accord

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The IS’ optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Accord doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The IS 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 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 IS offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Accord doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The IS offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Accord 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 IS has a standard blind spot warning system that 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 SE/Sport/EX-L/Touring offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the IS has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert to warn the driver of approaching traffic and automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the Accord SE/Sport/EX-L/Touring offers Cross Traffic Monitor and the Accord’s Cross Traffic Monitor does not include automatic braking.

Both the IS and the Accord have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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.

Warranty

The IS comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Accord’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the IS 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Honda covers the Accord. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Accord ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The IS’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Accord’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS first among compact premium cars in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Accord isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 71 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 18th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Honda is ranked fifth.

Engine

The IS has more powerful engines than the Accord:

	Horsepower	Torque
IS 300 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	241 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
IS 300 AWD 3.5 DOHC V6	260 HP	236 lbs.-ft.
IS 350 3.5 DOHC V6	311 HP	280 lbs.-ft.
IS 500 5.0 DOHC V8	472 HP	395 lbs.-ft.
Accord 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder	192 HP	192 lbs.-ft.
Accord Hybrid 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	204 HP	247 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Consumer Reports the IS 300 AWD 3.5 DOHC V6 is faster than the Accord Hybrid 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid:

	IS	Accord
Zero to 30 MPH	2.6 sec	3.1 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	8 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	3.7 sec	5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	16.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	98 MPH	87 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The IS has 4.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Accord Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (17.4 vs. 12.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The IS has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Accord’s standard fuel tank (17.4 vs. 14.8 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the IS’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Accord:

	IS	IS 500 Performance	Accord	Accord Hybrid
Front Rotors	13.1 inches	14 inches	11.5 inches	12.3 inches
Rear Rotors	11.7 inches	12.7 inches	11.1 inches	11.1 inches

The IS’ standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Accord are solid, not vented.

The IS stops much shorter than the Accord:

	IS	Accord
70 to 0 MPH	159 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	110 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	141 feet	147 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the IS has larger standard tires than the Accord (235/45R18 vs. 225/50R17).

The IS 300’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Accord LX/SE/EX-L’s standard 50 series tires. The IS F Sport’s 265/35R19 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Accord Sport/Touring’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the IS 300 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Accord LX/SE/EX-L.

Suspension and Handling

The IS offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Accord’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The IS’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (54% to 46%) than the Accord’s (59% to 41%). This gives the IS more stable handling and braking.

The IS 350 F Sport handles at .93 G’s, while the Accord pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The IS 500 Performance executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.7 seconds quicker than the Accord Sport-L Hybrid (25.2 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the IS’ turning circle is 4.2 feet tighter than the Accord’s (34.2 feet vs. 38.4 feet). The IS AWD’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the Accord’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

Chassis

The IS is 10.3 inches shorter than the Accord, making the IS easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Cargo Capacity

The IS’ standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Accord’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

Servicing Ease

The IS uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Accord 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.

The engine in the IS is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Accord. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Honda. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 34% lower rating, Honda is ranked 12th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Accord Sport-L/EX-L/Touring, the IS offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The IS’ instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Accord does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The IS’ 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’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the IS the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Lexus service department.) The driver of the Accord can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Consumer Reports rated the IS’ headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Accord’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the IS offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Accord doesn’t offer cornering lights.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the IS to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Accord doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

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

The IS’ 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 offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The IS has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Accord SE/Sport/EX-L/Touring.

Compared to the Honda Accord, the Lexus IS eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Lexus IS and the Honda Accord, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS second among compact premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Accord isn’t in the top three.

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