2023 Toyota Prius vs 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid was a striking vehicle that often drew comparisons to luxury sedans, particularly the Audi A7, due to its sleek and refined design. The car's exterior was elongated by 7 centimetres, featuring a redesigned front grille and updated LED lighting, which contributed to its near-luxury appearance. The Accord's stance was enhanced by a longer roofline and wider rear track, giving it a planted look. The Touring model offered six exterior colours and 19-inch alloy wheels, with optional gloss-black HPD alloys. Inside, the Accord Hybrid Touring boasted a modern dashboard design, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, and features like Amazon Alexa and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The interior was available in black leather or standard cloth seats, providing a comfortable and upscale environment.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Prius underwent a complete makeover, resulting in a more stylish and futuristic appearance. The new design featured a blend of curves and edges, with wheels pushed to the corners for improved handling and a more athletic look. The Prius was longer, lower, and wider than its predecessor, with 19-inch alloy wheels standard on the XLE and Limited models in Canada. The interior, while slightly smaller in some dimensions, offered increased legroom and comfortable seating with SofTex leatherette upholstery. The Limited trim included a fixed glass roof, enhancing the cabin's openness. Despite a reduction in cargo space to 575 litres, the Prius maintained a functional and organized interior with features like wireless smartphone charging and multiple USB-C ports.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid was equipped with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors, delivering a total of 204 horsepower to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). While it lacked all-wheel drive, the Accord Hybrid offered smooth and efficient performance, seamlessly transitioning between electric and gas power. The suspension effectively absorbed road imperfections, providing a comfortable ride. The regenerative braking system featured six levels of regen, allowing for fine-tuning and ease of use. The Accord's agile handling made it a relaxing drive in various environments, and its increased length did not hinder its manoeuvrability in tight spaces.

The 2023 Toyota Prius featured a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, an upgrade from the previous 1.8-litre unit, combined with a more powerful electric motor and lithium-ion battery. This powertrain produced 196 horsepower in all-wheel drive models, standard in Canada, and 194 horsepower in front-wheel drive models available in the United States. The Prius offered impressive fuel economy ratings of 4.8 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, 4.7 on the highway, and 4.8 combined. The new Prius felt more athletic and responsive, with improved acceleration and handling. The revised suspension and longer wheelbase contributed to its agile and comfortable ride, although engine noise was noticeable during hard acceleration.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid's cabin adopted a layout similar to Honda's Civic and CR-V models, featuring a strip of honeycomb mesh trim that concealed the air vents. The dashboard housed a prominent infotainment screen, with easily accessible controls for climate and seat settings. The Touring trim included heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The traditional gearshift lever replaced the previous button system, providing a convenient resting spot for the driver's hand. The front seats offered excellent support, while the rear seats provided generous legroom and shoulder room, though headroom was slightly compromised by the roofline. The trunk offered 473 litres of space, with a low load floor for easy access.

The 2023 Toyota Prius's interior, while slightly smaller in some dimensions, offered increased legroom and comfortable seating with SofTex leatherette upholstery. The Limited trim featured a fixed glass roof, enhancing the cabin's openness. Cargo space was reduced to 575 litres, but the cabin included thoughtful touches like wireless smartphone charging and multiple USB-C ports. The rear window's flexible cargo cover provided added privacy for stored items. Despite the loss of the split rear window, forward visibility remained good, though rear visibility was somewhat hampered.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with intuitive menus and easy navigation. The Touring trim included advanced tech features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, Google Built-in with Google Assistant and Maps, Amazon Alexa, and a head-up display. A 12-speaker Bose audio system, HD radio, and four USB ports were also included, enhancing the overall tech experience.

The 2023 Toyota Prius offered an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen on XLE models, with a larger 12.3-inch screen standard on the Limited trim. The navigation system required a subscription to Toyota's Drive Connect for real-time updates. All models featured a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, though it was criticized for being too busy. The Limited trim included wireless smartphone charging, an 8-speaker JBL audio system, and a digital rearview mirror with a camera washer. Subscription-based connectivity bundles provided additional features like remote access, safety assistance, and cloud navigation.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid came equipped with a comprehensive suite of active safety features, including a multi-angle rearview camera, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, traffic jam assist, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and a rear-seat reminder. The Touring trim added front and rear parking sensors and a head-up display. The Accord earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, with high scores in crash tests and safety features.

The 2023 Toyota Prius featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which included adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane-departure alerts, lane-tracing assist, and Proactive Driving Assist. The system was praised for its minimal intrusion and ease of use. Other safety features included stability control, traction control, eight airbags, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts. The Limited trim offered Advanced Park for hands-free parallel parking. The Prius also received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.