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2025 Nissan Kicks ReviewBudget Buy: 2012 Toyota Camry vs Honda Accord
The Honda Accord vs Toyota Camry rivalry continues! Today we’re comparing used models to stay under a $10,000 budget. Find out what the better buy is!
On a Budget of $10,000 Which is the Better Buy?
Everyone’s got a budget they try to stick with when making a large purchase. Whether it’s a house or a car, you want the best bang for your buck. Well, if you are looking for a compact car and you’re on a budget, there’s good news! We compared a 2012 Toyota Camry to a 2012 Honda Accord with a budget is $10,000 or less. We’re taking a look at everything, inside and out. From handling and horsepower to safety features and cabin space, you’re going to get an in-depth look at the 2012 Camry and Accord.
We’ve covered the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry before, especially for those on a budget. The Camry made our list of Cars For Sale Under $25,000 while the Accord landed a spot on our list of the 20 Best Commuter Cars of 2022. We even put the two together in a head-to-head Budget Buy Under $25,000: Honda Accord vs Toyota Camry. This time, though, we’re going for under $10,000. To get to that price tag, we’re going back to 2012.
The 2012 Accord was the last model of the eighth generation of the Honda mainstay. The 2012 Toyota Camry was completely redesigned, so we’re looking at the last model of a generation for the Accord and the start of another with the Camry. Will the redesign win the Carmy a few of these categories? We’re about to find out!
Toyota Camry vs Honda Accord Specs
Let’s start with the 2012 Toyota Camry. The two gasoline engines for 2012 include a 2.5L four-cylinder and a 3.5L V6. That 2.5L engine puts out 178 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque. The output significantly increases with a V6 under the hood, getting 268 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are matched to a six-speed automatic transmission. There’s no manual transmission available with the 2012 Camry. All of the 2012 models have front-wheel drive (FWD), too.
A 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid uses a 2.5L four-cylinder engine with 156 horsepower and 156 lb-ft of torque. The electric motor chips in to make a combined 200 horsepower. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) moves power to the front wheels. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that the 2012 Camry Hybrid is good for 42 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.
When it comes to the traditional gasoline engines, the four-cylinder gets better gas mileage with an EPA-estimated 24 in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. The V6 drops to 21 in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.
Moving over to the Honda Accord, there are several different engine choices. First, there’s a 2.4L four-cylinder that makes 177 horsepower and 161 lb-ft of torque. The 2012 LX-S coupe and EX models have a modified engine that makes 190 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque, too. They are paired with a five-speed manual transmission or an optional five-speed automatic. EX and EX-L trims have a 3.5L V6 making 271 hp and 254 lb-ft of torque. While an automatic transmission is standard in all versions with a V6, the coupe can be outfitted with a six-speed manual gearbox.
The best fuel efficiency you’ll get with a 2012 Honda Accord is a model with a four-cylinder engine and manual five-speed transmission. That combination gets 23 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. On the lower end of the spectrum is the six-cylinder and manual six-speed, which gets 18 mpg in city driving and 26 mpg out on the highway.
Driving and Performance
2012 Camry models weigh, in some cases, 230 lbs less than the 2011 models, so, comparatively, there’s a much more refined suspension on the 2012 Camry. How does it compare to the 2012 Accord, though? That’s the real question. Well, the 2012 Toyota Camry is somewhat rigid. It’s comfortable enough for passengers and sturdy enough for the driver to operate it confidently. Body control on the 2012 Camry is helped by the Toyota-included electric-assisted steering. The hybrid version will turn off at stoplights to save fuel. Many vehicles do that these days, but Toyota already had that technology implemented back in 2012.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2012 Toyota Camry a five-star overall crash test rating. It earned 5.0 ratings for the side barrier and side crash categories. It also earned a 4.0 for frontal crash and rollover categories.
The competition for the Toyota Camry performs well, too, though. It has enough power for most driving situations, even with the four-cylinder engine. There is some body roll around corners when in the 2012 Honda Accord, but it’s still fairly fun to drive, especially in the V6 coupe. The 2012 Accord delivers responsive steering, and the ride quality is good. Neither of these cars will score well when compared to a luxury car, but these aren’t luxury cars. They’re not priced that way and not meant to compete in that way.
What the Accord may lack in luxury it makes up for in safety. 2012 Honda Accords scored very well when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety performed crash tests. It also received a five-star crash test rating with the NHTSA.
Comfort and Interior
Since the 2012 Camry was a refreshed model at the time it debuted, it has decorative stitching that you won’t find in previous models. There are still hard plastics, but it looks modern enough. Seats are supportive and comfortable. Most trims have cloth seats, but leather upholstery is available on higher trims. So are leather-wrapped steering wheel and wood trim.
The cabin gives off the illusion of more space with thinner front pillars than in previous Camry models. Legroom in the front of the Camry measures 41.6 inches. There’s also a decent 38.9 inches of legroom in the rear seat. Headroom up front is 38.8 inches and headroom in the rear is 38.1 inches. The trunk boasts 15.4 cu. ft. of cargo space, too.
Inside of the 2012 Honda Accord are some hard plastics, but it’s not excessive. The cabin is laid out well, as are the buttons on the center console. Seats are fabric, but top-of-the-line trims get leather seats with contours for support. It looks fairly luxurious, but the seats do get stiff after a while.
One of the areas that the Accord excels in the most is space, particularly in the second row. There is 42.5 inches of legroom in the front and 37.2 inches of legroom in the rear. Shoulder room measures 58.2 inches in front and 56.4 inches in the back. The trunk doesn’t have outstanding numbers, but 14.7 cu. ft. is pretty standard for the class at the time. The coupe measures 11.9 cu. ft, but that expands if the rear seats (as one solid piece) are folded down.
Trims and Features
The gasoline-powered 2012 Toyota Camry comes in four trim levels: the L, LE, SE, and XLE. The hybrid models are also available as a LE and XLE.
L – As a base model, the L was fairly well-equipped. It came with 16-inch steel wheels, cruise control, power windows and mirrors, air conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth, a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, and USB jacks.
LE – Auto headlamps, power locks, remote keyless entry, and Bluetooth streaming audio were all added to the LE trim. The Hybrid version is also available as a LE trim, and it comes with all the features of the L and LE trims with a combustion engine.
SE – Up another level, the SE includes 17-inch alloy wheels, a special sport-tuned suspension, foglamps, heated exterior mirrors, and, in the cabin, a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The models with the V6 engine also get keyless entry and ignition, navigation, HD radio, and satellite radio. It also has 18-inch wheels.
XLE – Foglamps are added on the outside, but the inside is where things really pick up. The Camry’s most luxurious trim features a rearview camera, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver seat, leather upholstery, and heated front seats.
There are several 2012 Honda Accord trims to choose from. As a sedan, it’s available in the LX, LX-P, SE, EX, and EX-L trims. The coupe version of the 2012 Accord is available as a LX-S, EX, and EX-L.
LX – The base trim starts off with some good features, including 16-inch steel wheels, cruise control, and halogen headlights with an auto-off function. Inside, it was equipped with a six-speaker sound system, a CD player (they were still a thing in 2012), and an auxiliary audio jack for MP3 players. There aren’t a bunch of driver assists since this is a base trim and it’s a 2012 model.
LX-P – Very similar to the LX, the LX-P adds 16-inch alloy wheels and an eight-way power adjustable seat for the driver.
LX-S – The biggest changes at this coupe-only trim level are probably the 17-inch wheels and a six-CD changer.
SE – Leather upholstery, power-adjustable lumbar support for the driver, and heated front seats are the primary additions here.
EX – There are some notable upgrades on the EX, too. 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, a sunroof, heated mirrors, and a six-CD changer have all been added. The coupe version of the EX also gets satellite radio.
EX-L – The most jam-packed trim has dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, four-way power adjustment on the front passenger seat, leather upholstery, Bluetooth, a seven-speaker sound system, satellite radio, an optional navigation system with voice control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a rearview camera. The EX-L with a V6 under the hood also gets driver seat memory settings while the coupe version gets satellite radio and lumbar support.
The Verdict
The Accord and Camry battle continues on because they are both evenly matched. It’s kind of a mixed bag here. While the Camry doesn’t have as many engine options, or make as much horsepower with a V6, the Accord doesn’t have a hybrid powertrain like the Camry does. The Camry, however, doesn’t have the option of a manual transmission. The Camry does have better fuel efficiency with any engine choice, though.
It’s hard to beat the Camry when it comes to rear-seat legroom, but the Accord has more legroom up front. The Camry has a bit more cargo space, too. It is lacking when it comes to trims. There are more trims to choose from on the Accord. That being said, the top-of-the-line 2012 Accord trim doesn’t really offer any features that aren’t included in the highest 2012 Camry trim level.
Since the handling is generally the same and both interiors have luxury elements at the higher trim levels, it really boils down to engine choices and trim levels. I’d go with the Camry in this instance because it does have that hybrid choice, gets better fuel efficiency, and is at least equal to the Accord in most other areas. The 2012 Camry has enough points in the column to win me over.
It should also be noted that the 2012 Honda Accord has eight recalls, almost all of them having to do with airbags deploying. The 2012 Camry has two recalls, one of them also having to do with possible air bag issues. This is probably a good time to remind you about What to Look for When Buying a Used Car. Also, if you notice a recall on a used car you’re interested in, don’t panic. Here’s some advice on What to Do If You Get a Car Recall.
