Honda Accord vs 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 Honda Accord Crosstour or the AMC Eagle crossover. Its front featured a large grille, mostly for aesthetics, with a narrow slit above for actual air intake, flanked by angular headlights. The side profile was enhanced by large wheels and a black trim piece along the doors, with the XLE trim sporting 19-inch alloy wheels and the Platinum grade boasting 21-inch wheels. The rear was rounded with a bold taillight strip, and the Platinum trim offered a two-tone colour option, adding a touch of audacity to its appearance.

Inside, the Crown was modern, featuring a digital instrument panel and a large horizontal touchscreen. The cabin combined hard plastics with cushioned touchpoints, giving it a fancier Toyota feel. The Crown's interior was functional, with a mix of sturdy materials and a few retro elements like the 1980s-style LED temperature displays. While the Crown could have benefited from improved surface graining, it still managed to present itself as a sophisticated vehicle.

The 2023 Honda Accord underwent a redesign, with Honda reconfiguring its trim levels to make the hybrid powertrain standard on most models. The base EX variant was the only one with a gas-only engine in Canada. The Accord's new design was more technical and conservative, moving away from the shiny chrome of its predecessor. The EX trim featured a dark grille, LED headlights, and a Canyon River Blue paint that garnered compliments. Inside, the Accord EX had durable cloth seats with contrast stitching and a stylish metal mesh dashboard trim. The digital instrumentation and touchscreen infotainment system reflected Honda's attention to detail and refinement. Overall, the Accord EX was well-outfitted for its price and class.

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 gasoline engine with a hybrid electric motor, delivering 236 horsepower. The Platinum trim featured the Hybrid Max powertrain, which included 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's ride quality was tuned for comfort, with the Platinum trim offering an adaptive suspension. Despite some engine noise, the cabin remained quiet, and the Crown was enjoyable to drive, though some electronic driver aids were intrusive.

The 2023 Honda Accord EX was equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 192 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. The engine was paired with a CVT, powering the front wheels. The Accord's suspension and steering system provided good response and road feel. The Accord EX returned 8.2 L/100 km on the evaluation route, slightly higher than the expected 7.3 L/100 km due to testing conditions. The Accord was easy to drive in urban environments, with excellent visibility and nimble handling. The CVT's Sport mode was less satisfying, but the Accord's ride and handling were commendable. The brakes performed well, even in extreme heat, though the tires could have offered more grip.

The 2023 Toyota Crown's base XLE trim featured fabric seat upholstery with SofTex faux-leather trim, while the Platinum trim offered full leather coverings. The front seats were comfortable for long trips, though the firm cushioning could become uncomfortable over time. The driver's view was largely unobstructed, and the taller ride height provided a slightly better view of the road. The Crown's interior offered adequate storage space, with large cupholders, door pockets, and a convenient centre console armrest bin. The rear seats provided ample space for adults, with plenty of legroom and adequate headroom. The Crown had a traditional trunk with a capacity of 360 litres, which was smaller compared to competitors but still useful.

The 2023 Honda Accord in Canada came standard with heated exterior mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and heated front seats. The Accord EX also included a power sunroof, though it lacked a power-adjustable front passenger seat, rear air conditioning vents, and rear USB charging ports. The driver's seat could have benefited from more seat-track travel, and the hard plastic lining the centre console was uncomfortable. The rear seats offered excellent leg support and legroom, with easy entry and exit. The Accord's trunk had a capacity of 473 litres, providing ample storage space and easy loading.

The 2023 Toyota Crown came standard with a 12.3-inch multimedia infotainment touchscreen, offering sharp graphics and quick responses. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, along with a wireless charging pad. The base audio system was adequate, with an available 11-speaker JBL premium system for audiophiles. The infotainment system supported over-the-air updates and featured a voice-recognition system activated by saying "Hey Toyota." A Wi-Fi hotspot and streaming entertainment services were also available. The Platinum trim included a digital key feature, allowing smartphone access to the vehicle.

The 2023 Honda Accord EX featured a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The system included Bluetooth connectivity, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and HondaLink connected services. Two USB-C ports were available, and the EX trim had an eight-speaker audio system. SiriusXM satellite radio was not included, but streaming services could be accessed via Apple CarPlay. The voice recognition system worked well with Apple's digital assistant. The Accord's tech was basic but functional, with physical controls for the stereo and main functions.

The 2023 Toyota Crown's crash test results were not available at the time of publication. Standard safety features included 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. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist systems were well-tuned, though some new features were intrusive. Many could be disabled, but not all in the pre-production test vehicle.

The 2023 Honda Accord featured Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems. These included adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. The Accord's safety features performed with accuracy and refinement, though the lane-departure warning could be improved. The Accord earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for 2023.