The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are leading choices for the midsize sedan segment — and have competed against each other for decades. While the Accord is improved for the 2023 model year with a complete overhaul, there’s something in the Camry’s favor. The 2023 Toyota Camry has one great item the 2023 Honda Accord doesn’t offer: a traction-enhancing all-wheel drive system.

Unlike the 2023 Honda Accord, the 2023 Toyota Camry offers an all-wheel drive system

When one thinks of an all-wheel drive system, a big SUV or pickup truck might come to mind. However, in recent years, more vehicles across all segments have offered an all-wheel drive system. This includes the 2023 Toyota Camry midsize sedan. However, its rival, the 2023 Honda Accord, doesn’t offer all-wheel drive. All Accord models have a front-wheel drive system.

The available all-wheel drive system for the Camry provides confident traction on slippery roads and in adverse weather conditions, including snow. This makes the Camry a good choice for drivers that live in a harsh winter climate. When the midsize sedan detects slippage at the front wheels, it sends up to 50% of its torque to the rear wheels — providing optimal traction when you most need it. 

The all-wheel drive system is also beneficial for driving on poor-quality roads, such as ones with cracks, potholes, and broken concrete. It also helps with cornering performance, for there’s less chance of the wheels spinning when exiting a corner. 

2023 Camry also has more powerful engines than the 2023 Accord

In addition to its all-wheel drive system, the 2023 Toyota Camry midsize sedan has another performance advantage over the 2023 Honda Accord. It offers more powerful engines. Over the years, a strength of the Accord over the Camry has been its potent engines — but in 2023, the script has been flipped. 

All of the engines offered for the Camry are more powerful than the ones available for the Accord. This includes a 3.5-liter V-6 (301 horsepower), a 2.5-liter four-cylinder (205 horsepower), and a hybrid (208 horsepower). 

For the Accord, the engine options are a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder (192 horsepower) and a hybrid (204 horsepower). Part of the reason why the Accord loses the engine competition to the Camry in 2023 is it dropped the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (252 horsepower) from the lineup. 

Other strengths of the Toyota Camry over the Honda Accord

The 2023 Camry midsize sedan has some other strengths over the 2023 Accord. This includes higher fuel economy for the Camry Hybrid. While the gas mileage of the fully gas-powered models is similar, the Camry Hybrid is more efficient than the Accord Hybrid. It gets an estimated fuel economy of up to 52 combined mpg, compared to 47 combined mpg for the Accord Hybrid.

Also, the Camry is cheaper than the Accord. The starting price of the 2023 Camry ranges from $26,220 MSRP for the LE trim up to $36,645 MSRP for the XSE trim. In comparison, the 2023 Accord ranges from $27,295 MSRP for the LX trim up to $37,890 MSRP for the Touring Hybrid trim. 

With its traction-enhancing all-wheel drive system, the 2023 Toyota Camry has a great item that the 2023 Honda Accord doesn’t offer. The AWD system is especially beneficial for midsize sedan drivers that live in a snowy winter climate.