Honda Accord V6 vs Toyota Camry 2.4

Interior inventive :
Get inside, and the differences between the two aren't so stark. The new Camry's cabin is a big improvement over its predecessor in terms of sophistication and refinement. The two-tone plastics are all very soft and plush, there's plastic-wood and bits of chrome for those who like that kind of thing (and apparently most buyers of these cars do), a very nice dual-level instrument cluster, steering-wheel mounted controls for the AC and the music system, and leather upholstery. Both front seats are power-adjustable, a six-CD changer/FM-player lives in the centre console, rear seat occupants get their own AC vents and there are six airbags in the cabin to keep you safe in the event of a crash. Instruments are backlit in a very cool shade of blue, the seats are just sumptuous and the cabin is super -spacious and very well appointed. Fit and finish is beautiful and will remind you of some of the best five-star hotel lounges. I know it's a bit of a cliché, but you really wouldn't mind driving across the proverbial continents in the new Camry.

As you would expect, the Camry gets all the stares, all the attention, while the Accord is largely ignored by onlookers. Style-wise, Toyota have done a brilliant job with the Camry!

The Accord's interiors, while tangibly different from the Camry's, are not bad at all. The fit and finish, and quality of plastics used is as good as that on the Camry, and the Accord V6 also gets leather upholstery, a six-CD changer/FM-player, and dual-zone aircon. Whenever I stepped out of the Toyota and into the Honda, I'd immediately feel more at home. Driver's seats in both cars are multi-adjustable and the steering wheels are adjustable for rake (the Honda's wheel also has buttons for controlling the music system and the cruise control...), but somehow I feel more plugged-in' in the Honda. It feels more driver-centric. The driving position feels so right. And though it's a big car on the outside, the Accord V6 seems to shrink around me once I'm inside.

The essential difference is, when I get inside the Camry, it invites me to switch on the AC, fiddle with the music system, sift through my CD collection and see which one I really want to listen to, and then drive off in a leisurely fashion - perhaps with a can of (Diet) Coke in my hands. The Accord V6, on the other hand, orders me to throw that can of sugar-water out of the window, belt up, bung the gear-selector in 'D' and floor the throttle. For me, the Camry is a fancy, upmarket lounge where people sip white wine and nibble on sushi. The Accord V6 is equally upmarket, but it's a nightclub where the DJ wants to play house and techno non-stop. The Accord is so much more of a driver's machine and that even the interiors somehow get that message across is pleasantly surprising. Where the Accord does lag behind the Camry is lack of power-adjustments on the front passenger seat (only the driver's seat is power adjustable...) and lack of AC vents for rear seat passengers. Also, the Accord only has two airbags, while the Camry has six. If you intend to spend more time in the back seat, you may possibly prefer the Camry's cabin. For me though, I somehow still prefer the Accord's cabin, its ergonomics and its overall feel. Also, we noted some engine and wind noise in the Camry's cabin at higher speeds. At similar speeds, the Honda's cabin was a quieter place to be.

Clout capers :
The engines. Ah, the engines! Let's take the Camry first. The Camry's DOHC inline -four has been carried over from the previous-generation car, but has been modified for higher power output, lower noise levels and better emissions compliance. This 2.4-litre engine, which features variable valve timing and makes 167PS@6000rpm, is delightfully smooth and responsive. Torque output is 224Nm@4000rpm, and combined with a five-speed automatic, it feels adequately energetic. While you can barely hear the engine when it's idling, the inline-four snarls when you put your foot down and the Camry leaps ahead swiftly and decisively. Zero to 60km/h is dispensed with in 5.39 seconds, while the zero to 100 dash takes 11.35 seconds, which is not bad for a family saloon with a gross vehicle weight of 1985 kilos. On the road - whether at 6 a.m. on the Expressway or at 11:30 a.m. in peak rush hour traffic in the city - the Camry's engine always feels smooth, tractable and responsive. It is, without fail, always ready, always eager to do whatever you ask of it. Want to potter at along at 60? Fine, it'll do that. Want to overtake a long line of buses and trucks in one maniac rush of power? Coming right up! Jayesh says he would prefer a five-speed manual and he thought the Camry's automatic was a bit sluggish with downshifts, which impeded overtaking at times. But while I agree that a manual would give you that much more control, I still think the Camry's five-speed automatic is quite in keeping with the car's character and suits it very well. Of course, if you do choose the manual, you stand to save about Rs 2 lakh, so if you can be bothered with shifting gears, go right ahead...

Source: Car India June 2006.