2023 Honda Accord Hybrid vs 2024 Toyota Prius

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid presented itself as a near-luxury sedan, often drawing comparisons to high-end models like the Audi A7. Its sleek design, enhanced by a 7.1 cm increase in length and a 1 cm wider rear track, gave it a planted stance. The redesigned front grille, blacked-out LED headlights, and full-width LED taillights contributed to its refined appearance. The Accord Touring offered six exterior colours and standard 19-inch alloy wheels, with optional gloss-black HPD alloys. Inside, the updated dashboard featured a digital instrument display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen with modern connectivity options, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Prius retained its iconic wedge-shaped profile but introduced more appealing styling with aerodynamically optimized bodywork and attractive 19-inch aluminum wheels. The interior, however, felt snug, with a 7-inch digital panel that was often obscured by the steering wheel. The Prius's design aimed to balance cost and driver distraction reduction, but the small display and cramped rear seats detracted from the experience. Despite these drawbacks, the Prius offered adequate storage and innovative features like a wireless smartphone charging slot and an optional digital rearview mirror for enhanced visibility.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid was powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors, delivering 204 horsepower to the front wheels through a CVT. While it lacked AWD, the Accord Hybrid provided smooth and efficient performance, seamlessly transitioning between electric and gas power. Its suspension effectively absorbed road imperfections, and the enhanced regenerative braking system offered six levels of regen for a customizable driving experience. Agile handling and easy parking made the Accord Hybrid a relaxing drive in various environments.

The 2024 Toyota Prius, following its redesign, boasted a significant power boost, achieving 0 to 96 km/h in seven seconds. Its hybrid system combined a 2.0-litre engine with an 83-kW electric motor and a lithium-ion battery, producing 196 horsepower. The Prius featured electric AWD with a second 30-kW motor powering the rear wheels. Fuel efficiency was a highlight, with ratings of 4.8 L/100 km in city driving and 4.7 on the highway. Despite its improved dynamics, the Prius's steering felt artificial, and the CVT could be noisy under hard acceleration. Visibility was also hindered by the dramatic windshield pillars.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid's cabin adopted a layout similar to Honda's Civic and CR-V models, featuring a honeycomb mesh trim that concealed air vents. The dashboard housed a 12.3-inch touchscreen, complemented by physical controls for climate and audio settings. The Touring trim included heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The front seats provided excellent support, while rear legroom and shoulder room were generous, though headroom was limited by the tapering roofline. The trunk offered 473 litres of space, easily accessible with a low load floor.

The 2024 Toyota Prius's interior felt more confined, with a distant windshield base and a small 7-inch display panel. The rear seats were cramped but comfortable for two passengers. Storage was adequate, with a wireless charging slot and compartmentalized storage under the trunk floor. The Prius offered 575 litres of cargo space, though the cargo cover limited capacity. An optional digital rearview mirror provided a panoramic view when the cargo area was full, but it was exclusive to the Limited trim.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen with intuitive menus and easy navigation. The Touring trim included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, Google Built-in, Amazon Alexa, and a head-up display. A 12-speaker Bose audio system, HD radio, and four USB ports completed the tech package, making the Accord Hybrid a tech-savvy choice.

The 2024 Toyota Prius offered an 8-inch or 12.3-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Connected services included Service Connect, Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Drive Connect, with varying trial lengths. The Limited trim featured an eight-speaker JBL sound system, a 360-degree camera, and semi-autonomous parking assistance, though the sound system left room for improvement.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including a multi-angle rearview camera, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and more. The Accord Hybrid Touring added front and rear parking sensors and a head-up display. The Accord earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, with high scores in crash tests and safety features.

The 2024 Toyota Prius included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, featuring adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. The Prius's adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assistance performed well, though it lacked hands-free Traffic Jam Assist. The Prius received five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rollover resistance rating, and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.