honda civic accord

Utility
Both the Civic and Accord base EX coupes can seat up to five occupants. The Accord offers 11.9 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity in the trunk, while the Civic gets 11.5 cubic feet. The Accord has nearly three more inches of rear legroom with 33.1 inches compared to the Civic's 30.3 inches. The Accord is also longer (190.9 inches compared to 175.5 inches), wider and taller and has a longer wheelbase than the Civic (107.9 inches compared to 104.3 inches).

Performance
A step up from the Civic in terms of pricing and luxury, the Accord can be equipped with three powerful engine options, including two variations of a 2.4-liter inline-4; one that puts out 177 horses and another that exerts 190 horses, and a 271-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6. Each can be mated to a five-speed automatic, five-speed manual or six-speed manual transmission. The Civic's base engine is a 140-horsepower, 1.8-liter inline-4 base engine and steps up to a 197-horsepower, 2.0-liter inline-4. The Civic also offers a 113-horsepower, 1.8-liter inline-4 natural gas engine option. Available transmissions include a five-speed automatic, five-speed manual and six-speed manual.

Fuel Economy
Although both are impressive when it comes to fuel economy, the Civic gets much better efficiency with EPA estimated ratings ranging between 21-26 mpg in the city and 29-36 mpg on the highway, compared to the Accord's 17-22 mpg in the city and 25-31 mpg on the highway. The Civic also leaves a much lighter carbon footprint emitting 6.3 metric tons of carbon annually compared to the Accord's 7.3 metric tons of carbon.

Technology
The Civic has a long list of optional technology offerings, including a navigation system with voice recognition, Bluetooth capability, USB audio interface, a power moonroof and XM satellite radio. The Accord bares some resemblance to Honda's luxury brand Acura, with its use of high-quality materials and standard offerings that include air conditioning, cruise control, a CD stereo with an auxiliary input jack, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel with audio buttons and lighted vanity mirrors. Options include Bluetooth-based cell phone connectivity, XM Satellite Radio and a premium audio system with a subwoofer and knob-based navigation system.

Safety
Both the Accord and Civic feature similar standard safety technology, including a full compliment of airbags, active front head restraints and antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution. The only difference is the Accord offers standard electronic stability control, while the Civic only offers this feature on its upper-level trims. In NHTSA crash tests, both the Accord and Civic earned five stars in front passenger, front driver and side rear seat impact; however, the Accord also received five stars in rollover resistance where the Civic earned four stars.

Other
The Accord was redesigned inside and out two years ago, so for 2010, it receives only minor enhancements, including standard hands-free Bluetooth capability on all models with leather seats and new backseat ventilation ducts on EX models. The Civic is a carryover from last year and receives no major upgrades.