2021 Honda Civic vs Accord

When searching for a reliable vehicle to last you through the years, look no further than Honda. Both the Civic and Accord are highly rated models in their respective classes - each offering unique features that should be taken into consideration when shopping around. To make an educated decision between these two vehicles, compare specs on the 2021 Hondas: The Civic is a compact sedan while its mid-size sibling brings something new with every addition of their popular Accord model.

Size and Styling

2021 Honda Civic Size and Styling

For a compact car, the 2021 Civic offers a lot of space and comfort features for buyers. The Civic will provide up to seating for five passengers in all models except for the four-seat R-type trim. Drivers and passengers will enjoy the standard clot upholstery but will have the chance to upgrade it to leather-trimmed upholstery and power adjustable seats with the higher trims. Some other upgrades available for those looking for more luxury include heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and heated outboard seats.

Overall visibility for the 2021 Civic is considered good with a large windshield that helps to minimize blind spots. Drivers will also find that it is easy to exit and enter due to seat positioning. While most people that drive compact sedans would not expect much cargo space, the 2021 Civic does offer a decent amount compared to other vehicles in its class. The base trims will provide around 15 cubic feet of trunk cargo space. For those that would like the most cargo space possible, upgrading to the hatchback trim will provide 26 cubic feet of space behind the second row and nearly 48 cubic feet of space with the second row folded down.

2021 Honda Accord Size and Styling

The 2021 Honda Accord is also considered a comfortable vehicle when compared to other sedans in the same class. The base Honda Accord trim will provide cloth interior with manual seats. However, these can be upgraded to leather trim and power seats with the higher trims. Additional features available include heated and ventilated front seats, leather and heated steering wheels, and heated rear seats. Most drivers and passenger will find that there is ample interior cabin space for up to five adults, which will enjoy the additional legroom.

The 2021 Accord also has good cargo space compared to other vehicles in the same class. The trunk in all models and trims will provide around 17 cubic feet of cargo space. With the rear seats able to fold down, it does increase cargo space if you need to haul any larger items. Similar to the Civic, the Accord has a large windshield that improves visibility and will make it safer and easier to drive.

Size and Styling Comparison

Overall, both the Civic and Accord have good size and styling features when compared to other vehicles in the same class. The better option is based on the preferences of the drive. The Accord provides more cabin space and can more comfortably fit a full five passengers. However, the hatchback option with the Civic does provide the most cargo space possible.

Drivability

2021 Honda Civic Drivability

For a compact car, the 2021 Honda Civic does offer some impressive engine options. The base engine is normal for the class and is a four-cylinder engine that provides around 160 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque. Those that upgrade to the EX, EXL and Touring trims can choose a turbocharged engine that produces 174 horsepower and those that upgrade to the hatchback, Sport or Sport Touring trim will receive up to 180 horsepower. If you are looking for the most engine performance possible, the Type R and Type R Limited trims offer a very impressive engine that produces more than 300 horsepower, which is very powerful for the smaller sedan.

All of the vehicles come standard with front-wheel drive and a CVT transmission. There is an available six-speed manual transmission with some trims. One selling point for the Civic is the good fuel efficiency. With the base trim and engine, you can expect to get up to 35 MPG on a blended basis. When upgrading to the most powerful engine, this does decline to around 26 MPG. However, this is still considered quite efficient for a vehicle with a 300-hp engine.

2021 Honda Accord Drivability

The 2021 Honda Accord offers two different engine options. The base engine option is a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine. This produces nearly 200 horsepower, which is better than the performance received and provided by many other midsize sedans in the same class. If you would like more engine performance, there is a 2.0-liter engine that produces just over 250 horsepower. All trims come standard with front-wheel drive and a CVT engine. A ten-speed automatic transmission is available when coupled with the more powerful engine.

The 2021 Accord does receive good fuel efficiency as well. The base engine option will provide around 34 MPG on a blended basis. If you upgrade to the strong engine, this will decline to around 27 MPG. These metrics are favorable when compared to other vehicles in the same class.

Drivability Comparison

Overall, both the Civic and Accord offer good engines that compare favorably in terms of horsepower and fuel efficiency. While the base engines with the Accord are more powerful, those that want the most performance available will want to choose the Civic and upgrade to the Type R, which offers more than 300 horsepower.

Comfort, Options and Performance

2021 Honda Civic Comfort, Options and Performance

The 2021 Honda Civic comes standard with very comfortable interior features, which would be expected for a vehicle in this class. There are a variety of upgrades and improvements that are available that can make it feel like a much more luxurious vehicle. Some of the interior features that can make it more comfortable to ride in include the leather upholstery, heated front seats and leather heated steering wheel. Additionally, the impressive 300-horsepower engine option is also comparable to luxury high-performance compact vehicles.

Many drivers today also look for vehicles that have interior tech features, which can make a car fun to drive. The 2021 Civic has a variety of tech features that drivers will enjoy including a five-inch display that is controlled with physical button, Bluetooth technology and capabilities and a USB port. You can also enjoy smartphone integration with each trim as it can connect to both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. If you are looking for more advanced features, the higher trims include a variety of these as well including a 7-inch touchscreen, additional USB ports and an enhanced auto system.

2021 Honda Accord Comfort, Options and Performance

The 2021 Accord is well known for being a comfortable vehicle to ride in. While the base cloth trim and manual seats are fine for most drivers, there are luxurious upgrades available as well. These can include leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The engine performance with the upgraded engine is comparable to what is received with luxury midsize sedans.

The 2021 Honda Accord also has a variety of impressive standard tech features, which rival features found in luxury vehicles. This includes a large eight-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto integration, various USB ports, and push-button start. With the higher trims you can receive navigation, an enhanced audio system, wireless device charging and a WiFi hotspot.

Comfort, Options and Performance Comparison

When it comes to interior comfort features and options, the Honda Accord offers more than the Civic with the 2021 model year. While the Civic has the strong engine option available, the Accord comes standard with far more interior tech features than the Civic. This includes a larger touchscreen that is used to control the infotainment system.

Safety

2021 Honda Civic Safety

Compared to other compact sedans, the 2021 Civic is considered a safe and reliable vehicle. The Civic has received good overall ratings from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. This includes a five-star sub-rating for frontal crash, side crash and rollover ratings. One area in which the Civic did not get a good rating was the headlight test from the IIHS in which the Civic received a poor overall rating.

Part of the reason for the good overall ratings for the Civic is the variety of safety features that are received. Those that get a Civic will receive a strong brake system, various airbags throughout the cabin and a number of tech drivers assistance features. Some of these standard features include forward collision warning, lane departure warning and automatic braking.

2021 Honda Accord Safety

Similar to the 2021 Civic, the Honda Accord has also received positive overall ratings. The IIHS has provided good overall ratings and good sub-category ratings for all areas except headlights, which received an acceptable rating. The NHTSA did provide the 2021 Accord with a five-star overall rating including five-star ratings for rollover resistance and front and side crash support.

The 2021 Accord has received good rations partially due to the variety of safety features that it provides drivers. Some standard features that you will receive include a rearview camera, road departure mitigation, lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition. Many of these features are part of the enhanced Honda Sensing safety package. Additional features with upgrades include blind spot monitoring and a rear-seat reminder.

Safety Comparison

If you are looking for a safe vehicle, you cannot go wrong with either the 2021 Civic or the Accord. Both have received good overall ratings from both the IIHS and the NHTSA. However, overall the Accord seems to be the safer vehicle option. The main difference is that it comes with a few different standard safety features and the larger screen provides a clearer image with the rearview camera. Further, the Accord has received a better headlight rating from the IIHS than the Civic.

Which to Choose?

When you are looking for a new vehicle, both the 2021 Honda Civic and the 2021 Honda Accord are great options to consider. When comparing the two options, the 2021 Accord is the recommended choice. This vehicle offers more standard features, has more upgradable options and has slightly better safety ratings. As it is a midsize sedan, it also provides more legroom and cabin space than the Civic.