Compare the2024 Toyota Prius PrimeVS 2024 Honda Accord

With its standard Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 with Pre-Collision, the Toyota Prius Prime is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Honda Accord, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

The Prius Prime has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Accord doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Prius Prime XSE Premium offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Accord only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Prius Prime has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Accord EX/Sport/EX-L/Touring offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Prius Prime has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert to warn the driver of approaching traffic and automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the Accord EX/Sport/EX-L/Touring offers Cross Traffic Monitor and the Accord’s Cross Traffic Monitor does not include automatic braking.

Both the Prius Prime and the Accord have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

There are over 15 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Honda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Prius Prime’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Honda is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Honda is ranked fifth.

The Prius Prime’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 28 more horsepower (220 vs. 192) than the Accord’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Prius Prime’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 16 more horsepower (220 vs. 204) than the Accord Hybrid’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Prius Prime is faster than the Honda Accord:

On the EPA test cycle the Prius Prime running on electricity gets better mileage than the Accord:

On the EPA test cycle the Prius Prime running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Accord:

The Prius Prime can travel with zero emissions for 39 to 44 miles (dependent on model). The Accord can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

For better stopping power the Prius Prime’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the Accord:

The Prius Prime stops much shorter than the Accord:

The Prius Prime’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (56% to 44%) than the Accord’s (59.9% to 40.1%). This gives the Prius Prime more stable handling and braking.

The Prius Prime XSE handles at .82 G’s, while the Accord EX pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Prius Prime XSE executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Accord Sport-L Hybrid (27.2 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Prius Prime SE’s turning circle is 4 feet tighter than the Accord’s (34.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet). The Prius Prime XSE’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the Accord’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

The Prius Prime is 1 foot, 2.6 inches shorter than the Accord, making the Prius Prime easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Prius Prime’s hatch uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the cargo area. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the Accord’s useful trunk space.

The Prius Prime’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Accord’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Prius Prime XSE Premium has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Accord doesn’t offer a power trunk.

The Prius Prime’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Accord’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Prius Prime the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Accord can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Prius Prime’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Accord’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Prius Prime’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Accord Sport-L/EX-L/Touring.

On extremely cold winter days, the Prius Prime’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Accord doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Prius Prime has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Accord doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Prius Prime XSE Premium’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Accord doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Prius Prime as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its February 2024 issue and they ranked the Toyota Prius Prime XSE first. They ranked the Honda Accord EX third.

Motor Trend selected the Prius Prime as their 2024 Car of the Year. The Accord has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Prius Prime as the 2024 North American Car of the Year. The Accord was last chosen in 2018.