2023 Honda Accord Hybrid vs 2023 Toyota Crown

The 2023 Toyota Crown was a full-size sedan that comfortably seated five passengers. It shared a similar footprint with the discontinued Toyota Avalon but stood out with a ride height 10 centimetres higher, giving it a unique presence on the road. The Crown's design was more universally appealing compared to the old Honda Accord Crosstour or AMC Eagle crossover. Its front featured a large grille, mostly for aesthetics, with actual air inlets above it, flanked by angular wraparound headlights. The side profile was enhanced by large wheels and a black trim piece along the doors, while the rear boasted a bold taillight strip. Inside, the Crown offered a modern cabin with a digital instrument panel and a large touchscreen, though it mixed hard plastics with cushioned touchpoints, giving it a fancier Toyota feel rather than a luxury vehicle.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid, on the other hand, exuded a near-luxury aura, often mistaken for a more expensive sedan. Its design drew comparisons to the sleek Audi A7, with a longer body and a redesigned front grille. The Accord maintained its identity while adopting a more refined look. It featured an upright grille, blacked-out LED headlights, and a planted stance accentuated by a flowing roofline. The Touring trim offered six exterior colours and 19-inch alloy wheels, with optional gloss-black HPD alloys. Inside, the Accord's updated dashboard design included a digital instrument display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen with advanced features like Amazon Alexa and wireless connectivity. The interior was comfortable, with supportive seats and generous legroom, though headroom was slightly compromised by the tapering roofline.

The 2023 Toyota Crown in Canada offered two hybrid powertrains across its XLE and Platinum trims. The base powertrain combined a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a hybrid electric motor, delivering 236 horsepower and on-demand all-wheel drive. The Platinum trim featured the Hybrid Max powertrain, with a turbocharged 2.4-litre engine and a more powerful rear electric motor, producing 340 horsepower. The base hybrid used a CVT, while the Hybrid Max had a six-speed automatic transmission. The base hybrid accelerated to 100 km/h in about 7.8 seconds, while the Hybrid Max achieved it in 5.9 seconds. The Crown prioritized comfort over sporty handling, with a quiet cabin and an adaptive suspension in the Platinum trim.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid was equipped with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, producing 204 horsepower. It featured a front-wheel-drive system and a CVT. The Accord Hybrid offered smooth and efficient performance, seamlessly switching between electric and gas power. It provided sufficient power for highway merges and passing maneuvers, with a suspension that absorbed road imperfections well. The regenerative braking system had six levels, allowing for fine-tuning. The Accord's agile handling made it relaxing to drive, and its increased length didn't hinder parking ease.

The 2023 Toyota Crown's interior featured fabric seat upholstery with SofTex faux-leather trim in the XLE trim, while the Platinum trim offered full leather coverings. The front seats were comfortable for long trips, though firm cushioning could cause discomfort over time. The driver's view was largely unobstructed, and the taller ride height provided a slightly better road view. The rear seats offered ample legroom and adequate headroom, with a panoramic sunroof enhancing the sense of space. The Crown had a traditional trunk with a capacity of 360 litres, smaller than some competitors but still practical.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid adopted a layout similar to Honda's Civic and CR-V models. It featured a honeycomb mesh trim hiding the air vents and a convenient row of buttons for climate control. The Touring trim included heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The Accord Hybrid had a traditional gearshift and a dedicated volume control knob. The front seats provided excellent support, and the rear seats offered generous legroom and shoulder room, though headroom was limited by the roofline. The trunk had a capacity of 473 litres, with a low load floor for easy access.

The 2023 Toyota Crown came standard with a 12.3-inch multimedia infotainment touchscreen, offering sharp graphics and quick responses. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a wireless charging pad. The base audio system had six speakers, with an optional 11-speaker JBL premium system. The infotainment system supported over-the-air updates and featured a voice-recognition system activated by saying "Hey Toyota." A digital key feature was standard on the Platinum trim.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen in the hybrid models, with intuitive menus and easy navigation. The Touring trim offered advanced tech features, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, Google Built-in with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and a head-up display. It also had a 12-speaker Bose audio system, HD radio, and four USB ports.

The 2023 Toyota Crown had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. It came with standard safety features like frontal and cross-traffic collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and more. The Platinum trim added a semi-automated parallel parking system. Some driver assistance features were intrusive, but many could be disabled.

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