A veteran sedan
The venerable Honda Accord sedan has been around since 1989, and its dramatic redesign in 2023 marks the popular family car’s 11th generation. Honda has consistently managed to provide family sedan practicality with driving enthusiast fun throughout its storied lifespan, and it’s not showing any signs of letting up. The 2025 model’s hybrid powertrain, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors good for 204 horsepower, occupies a more prominent presence in four of the six trim levels. The lower LX and SE trims get a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder that puts down 192 horsepower to the front wheels through a CVT.
2023 Honda Accord
Honda
The 2025 Honda Accord base LX trim starts at $28,295. It lacks some of the more desirable trims of its upper-tier siblings, but it does come standard with 17” alloy wheels, Honda Sensing driver assist technology, adaptive cruise control, LED headlights and taillights, pushbutton start, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a security system with remote start.
2023 Honda Accord
Honda
Move up to the SE for $30,560, and you get standard upgrades such as heated front seats with 10-way power driver’s seat, slide and tilt power moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a 180-watt 8-speaker audio system. Every trim level above the SE swaps out the sole gas engine for the hybrid powertrain that delivers between an EPA estimated 44 and 48 mpg in combined driving. The Accord EX-L trim achieves 48 mpg while the Sport, Sport-L, and Touring trims deliver 44 mpg.
2023 Honda Accord
Honda
The top trim, the $39,300 Touring-Hybrid, ratchets up the features with wireless smartphone charging, a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, heated and ventilated seats, leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, ventilated front seats, Google Built-In, a premium 12-speaker Bose audio system with subwoofer, low-speed braking control, and a 6-inch head-up display. The Accord’s upgraded 12.3-inch infotainment screen is easy to read, but it falls behind competitors in terms of graphics, responsiveness, and user-friendliness.
2023 Honda Accord Touring
Honda
The cabin of the Accord has morphed from mediocre in the 10th-gen model to excellent in the current model. The use of improved switchgear and a beautifully linear dash layout makes the Accord look great regardless of the trim level. Mesh dash and vent treatments give the Accord a refined look inside, and physical controls abound, keeping drivers focused on the road ahead instead of fiddling with touchscreen-heavy operations. To boot, there’s plenty of space for occupants in both rows. Even tall adults will enjoy sitting in the back, thanks to 40.8 inches of legroom and 37.3 inches of headroom. Thankfully, the rear middle position lacks the uncomfortable cushion and seatback bulges that plague other vehicles. Cargo space is a class-leading 16.7 cubic feet.
2023 Honda Accord Touring
Honda
In terms of performance, the gas-only Accord’s 1.5-liter turbo four will get the car to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds, while the more powerful hybrid setup will do the same sprint in about 6.7 seconds. The 2025 Honda Accord’s handling instills confidence, thanks to great steering, solid handling, and a smooth and compliant ride. While some of the competition provide standard or available all-wheel drive, the Accord remains stubbornly loyal to front-wheel drive. While this may deter foul-weather drivers, it hasn’t significantly detracted from the Accord’s appeal.
2023 Honda Accord Touring
Honda
The Accord is the best it has ever been and continues to provide driver engagement that eludes most family sedans. We miss the old 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and the manual transmission from 2022, but the Accord’s steering and handling and new level of overall refinement are a fair trade. Despite being priced at the higher end of the segment, the Accord still presents tremendous value. If you’re looking for alternatives to the Accord, though, there are still some excellent choices in the mainstream family sedan segment.
2025 Toyota Camry
2025 Toyota Camry SE AWD
Toyota
While the Accord has slipped in the family sedan sales rankings over the years, the Toyota Camry remains the top dog here, continuing to garner sales volumes that the others would kill for. The Camry was heavily refreshed in 2024 and went full-on hybrid across all trims, a smart move when hybrid car sales are surging. The Camry enters its ninth generation with the 2025 model year, with fresh front and rear fascias, a redesigned cabin, and a revised set of exclusively hybrid powertrains.
2025 Toyota Camry SE AWD
Toyota
Under the hood, every Camry gets a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder gas engine mated to three electric motors for a combined 232 horsepower. Buyers can choose front-wheel or all-wheel drive at every trim level, something the Accord can only dream of. The Camry will launch to 60 from a standstill in 7.0 seconds for FWD models and a hair quicker at 6.8 seconds for AWD models. On top of that, the FWD Camry will get as much as 51 mpg in combined driving, besting the Accord Hybrid.
2025 Toyota Camry SE
Toyota
The Camry starts at a base MSRP of $28,700 and includes four trims: LE, SE, XLE, and XSE, the latter of which is priced at $34,900. Even the base Camry LE comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, dual-zone automatic climate control, and blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, none of which the base Accord LX provides as standard equipment.
2025 Toyota Camry XSE
Toyota
Inside, the cabin exhibits a new dash design that ditches the weirdly shaped center stack of the previous Camry and now features a modernized infotainment system with a standard 8-inch touchscreen (or an optional 12.3-inch display) and improved physical controls for audio and climate. The rear seat provides 38.0 inches of legroom, a couple of inches shy of the Accord but still ample for most adults. Its 37.6 inches of rear headroom is on par with the Accord. The cargo space in the trunk stands at 15.1 cubic feet, making it a bit smaller than the class-leading Accord. With a refined look, impressive efficiency, and Toyota’s reputation for durability, the 2025 Camry remains a top contender in the midsize sedan segment.
2025 Hyundai Sonata
2025 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited
Hyundai
Everyone thought the Sonata was on the chopping block, but a major refresh in 2024 brought it back to life. While the Sonata has long been a strong player in the midsize sedan segment, it has typically played third fiddle to the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. The Sonata’s new front and rear fascias give it a more cohesive and sportier appearance than the Accord, and its cabin gets a serious makeover that gives the Accord a run for its money.
2025 Hyundai Sonata N Line
Hyundai
The Sonata offers a base 191-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder and an N Line model with a 290-hp turbo four. The Sonata Hybrid offers serious driving efficiency with 44 city, 51 highway, and 47 combined, impressive figures that just about mimic the Accord with the hybrid powertrain. There are seven trim levels: SE, SEL, SEL Convenience, SEL Hybrid, N Line, and Limited Hybrid. The SE starts at a very reasonable $26,900, with the top trim Limited Hybrid priced at $37,700. The SEL is also available with an AWD powertrain.
2024 Hyundai Sonata N Line
Hyundai
Under the hood, the Sonata Hybrid pairs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to deliver a combined 192 horsepower, providing a smooth and efficient driving experience. For those seeking more performance, the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder in the N Line trim delivers 290 horsepower for a 0-60 sprint of 5.3 seconds, handily roasting the competition. The hybrid will do the same sprint in 7.5 seconds. The N Line is the only trim that utilizes an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, while all other trims get a 6-speed automatic.
2025 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited
Hyundai
Inside, the Sonata’s cabin is completely different than before the 2024 refresh. The whole center stack and center console have been reworked, and every trim level gets a 12.3-inch screen for infotainment. Higher trims pair it with a matching instrument cluster and a curved display that spans most of the dash. Thankfully, the shifter is no longer a push-button setup. Instead, it adopts the same rectangular steering column-mounted stalk, much like its Ioniq 5 sibling. Even the base SE trim has a solid set of standard features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a hands-free smart trunk, automatic LED lights with automatic high-beam assist, all-speed adaptive cruise control, and individual tire pressure monitoring.
2024 Hyundai Sonata N-Line
Hyundai
Rear-seat space remains competitive with 34.8 inches of legroom and 38.4 inches of headroom. It’s quite a bit tighter for tall adults than the voluminous Accord, so buyers should take note of that. The trunk holds 16.0 cubic feet of cargo, a tad shy of the capacious Accord but close to the segment leader. With its bold styling, hybrid efficiency, and tech-filled cabin, the 2025 Hyundai Sonata is poised to challenge the segment’s best while offering a performance trim level that the Accord doesn’t possess in its arsenal.
2025 Subaru Legacy Sedan
2024 Subaru Legacy TXT
Subaru
This is the final year of the long-lasting Legacy, which debuted in 1990, but it remains a viable option to the Accord with some notable advantages and one significant disadvantage. The Legacy is the only sedan here that provides standard all-wheel drive on every trim level, which can be a huge draw for those in challenging climates. What it doesn’t have is a hybrid option, a significant disadvantage compared to the Accord, Camry, and Sonata.
2024 Subaru Legacy TXT
Subaru
Powering the 2025 Legacy is a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter flat-four engine producing 182 horsepower and paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for smooth power delivery. The more exciting Sport and XT trims place a 260-hp 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four under the hood, providing brisk acceleration with a 0-60 mph time of around 6.1 seconds for the XT and 5.7 seconds for the quicker Sport model. Fuel economy is respectable, with the base model achieving an estimated 27 mpg city and 35 mpg highway, while the turbo four models drop to 23 and 31, respectively. Sadly, the Legacy sedan isn’t what we’d call fun to drive. Its ride is comfortable, but its steering and handling cannot match the Accord’s.
2024 Subaru Legacy TXT
Subaru
Pricing starts at $25,210 for the base Legacy, giving it the lowest entry price in this set. Trims include Base, Premium, Limited, Sport, and the Touring XT, which starts at $38,510. The Base trim comes with dual 7.0-inch touchscreens, automatic LED headlights, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic climate control, and Subaru’s EyeSight driver assistance suite, featuring adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and pre-collision braking.
2024 Subaru Legacy TXT
Subaru
Higher trims add a portrait-oriented 11.6-inch touchscreen, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, 4G LTE Wi-Fi capability, and a premium Harman Kardon audio system. The XT Touring even provides an old-school CD player as standard equipment, not something you’d expect these days. Unfortunately, the large and vivid touchscreen obfuscates user-friendliness by burying too many operations within. Cabin comfort is top-notch, with excellent front seats that provide extending thigh bolsters in higher trims. Rear legroom is an impressive 39.5 inches, and rear headroom is 37.2 inches, close to the Honda Accord’s dimensions.
2024 Subaru Legacy Sport
Subaru
The Legacy might not be long for this world, but it still presents a tremendous value for families. With its standard all-wheel drive, strong safety credentials, and comfortable ride, the 2025 Subaru Legacy remains a compelling choice for those who want a dependable midsize sedan ready for all seasons.
Final Thoughts
2023 Honda Accord Touring
Honda
Every car here offers tremendous value and practicality in a world where SUVs dominate. We’re drawn to sedans based on their lower center of gravity and the resulting driving dynamics. The Camry’s hybrid-only powertrain is a brilliant move, while the Subaru falls woefully short without a hybrid offering but ups the ante with standard all-wheel drive. The Sonata effortlessly steals the styling and tech categories but lacks rear passenger space.
Despite the fact that there isn’t a bad one in this bunch, there has to be one that rises to the top, and it’s the Accord’s position to lose. Its infotainment could use improvement, and its lack of available AWD might send some to the Camry or Legacy, but the Accord pulls off the win by combining refined styling, immense room, top safety marks, hybrid options, and the best driving dynamics in the set. The family sedan battle remains a close one, and it’s hard to go wrong here. The Accord does so much so well that it snags the win by a close margin.
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