We’re Buying Sedans Again, And These Two Models Are Leading The Charge
Sedans in the U.S. have been playing second fiddle to trucks and SUVs for some time. Over the last few years, sales have been lower than those of larger vehicles, brands are putting more technology and effort into their SUVs, and most marques are rolling out more and more lines of crossovers and SUVs. Despite this, Toyota and Honda have reported genuinely impressive sedan sales numbers throughout the first three quarters of 2026.
America’s SUV Obsession Has Left Sedans With Something To Prove
So far this year, the 2026 Honda CR-V is the best-selling SUV, with Honda reporting just shy of 337,000 sales. The new RAV4 is the best-selling hybrid SUV this year, with just under 254,000 models sold, and for both models, we can see why. They are both affordable, good with gas, versatile, and reliable.
With the growing number of impressive SUVs and crossovers out there, they have pushed a fair number of sedans aside. Both the Lincoln MKZ and Continental were dropped in 2020; the Ford Taurus and Fusion were dropped in 2020 too; the Chrysler 300 was discontinued in 2023; and the Chevrolet Malibu was dropped at the end of 2024.
Lower Prices And Better MPG Still Make Sedans Hard To Ignore
The onslaught of SUVs has forced mainstream sedans to get good, and there are some very easy ones to recommend out there. The 2026 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid has a starting price of $25,650, it can achieve up to 54 combined mpg, and it has a respectable 14.2 cubic feet of storage space.
Then there is the new Sonata Hybrid, which can achieve up to 51 combined mpg; the base-trim Civic Sedan has a starting price of under $25,000 and brings all the sensible features you’d expect from Honda; and the 2026 Kia K4 is even cheaper, at around $22,000, and gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen as standard and 38 inches of rear legroom.
The Honda Accord And Toyota Camry Are Fighting Back
This is where the 2026 Toyota Camry and 2026 Honda Accord come in. Despite hot competition from within their respective companies and the rest of the market, sales are up for both. Honda reports they have sold 145,521 Accord models in 2026, which makes for a 32.7 percent increase compared to this time last year. In August 2026, they also said it was the best August for the Accord since 2020, with 18,691 models sold.
The Accord is only beaten by the new Camry, for which Toyota reports 260,684 sales in 2026. This is an 11 percent increase compared to this time last year, and makes the Camry the best-selling sedan in the U.S.
The Accord Brings Space And A More Driver-Focused Feel
This year’s Accord is available as the LX ($28,395), the SE ($30,695), the Sport Hybrid ($33,795), the EX-L Hybrid ($35,095), the Sport-L Hybrid ($35,495), and the Touring Hybrid ($39,495). It is rated 4.4 out of 5 by owners on Kelley Blue Book, with 75 percent of owners recommending it. In typical Accord fashion, this year’s iteration is both comfortable and usable. It has 16.7 cubic feet of storage space, 42.3 inches of front legroom, and 40.8 inches of rear legroom.
Clean lines in the cabin, a driver-centric cockpit, a standard 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, and a dynamic steering feel, thanks to dual-pinion assist electric power steering, all make the relatively low starting prices look very good.
The Camry Makes Hybrid Efficiency The Main Attraction
The new Accord can achieve a combined mpg rating of up to 32; the new Accord Hybrid does even better, with FuelEconomy.gov stating it can achieve 44 combined mpg in the Hybrid Sport and Hybrid Touring trims, and 48 combined mpg in lower trims.
All Camry models are hybrid-only, and the figures are even better. According to FuelEconomy.gov, the XSE can achieve 43 combined mpg, the SE and XLE can achieve 46 combined mpg, and the LE can achieve up to 50 combined mpg, and will cost you an estimated $1,250 a year for gas.
Accord And Camry Buyers Are Getting More Than Just Better MPG
This year’s Accord is rated 82 out of 100 overall and for reliability on J.D. Power, and the new Camry is rated the same overall, but 81 out of 100 for reliability. Both also offer an impressive amount of space for your passengers and cargo.
The Accord gets 16.7 cubic feet of luggage room, 42.3 inches of front legroom, and 40.8 inches of rear legroom. The Camry is slightly snugger inside, but still has an impressive 15.1 cubic feet of storage space, 42.1 inches of front legroom, and 38 inches of rear legroom.
The Accord Offers A More Powerful Hybrid Option
The Accord is available as both a gas-only and a hybrid model. The more affordable gas model is equipped with a turbo-four good for 192 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid Accord is more expensive, but it is more powerful and better with gas.
Power is courtesy of a 2.0-liter inline-four paired with a hybrid system. This rig is rated for 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque, and can get you to 60 mph in as little as 6.6 seconds. This is more than enough for everyday duties.
The Camry Makes All-Wheel Drive Available Across Its Lineup
The Camry only comes as a hybrid, but you do get a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, without suffering at the pump for it. Both iterations have a 2.5-liter Dynamic Force hybrid inline-four under the hood paired with an eCVT.
FWD models are rated at 225 horsepower, while electronic on-demand AWD models are rated at 235 horsepower. This translates to 0–60 mph times of around seven seconds and top speeds of around 118 mph. It may be less powerful and a touch slower than the Accord, but the optional AWD system does make it a better choice in wetter parts of the country.
Are The Accord And Camry Better Buys Than Another SUV?
With Accord starting prices ranging from $28,395 to just under $40,000, and the Camry available for between $29,700 and $36,100, both lineups are well-equipped and useful for their price ranges, and offer something that even the smaller SUVs on the market don’t, largely due to their size: everyday ease of use.
You don’t have to climb into either car, haul bulky luggage over a high trunk lip, or wrestle a wide body through a tight parking lot. A low ride height (5.3 inches for the Accord and 5.4 inches for the Camry) also makes navigating cities a bit easier.
Whether opting for a Camry or Accord over an SUV is a question of what you need your vehicle for. If you need the extra ground clearance or more cargo space, possibly a third row, or just like the feeling of being in a big vehicle, then an SUV is the obvious choice.
However, if most of your driving involves school runs and the occasional highway stint, these sedans can do the same job without the bulk. The Accord and Camry show the sedan hasn’t quite run out of road yet. With strong sales, proper build quality, efficient powertrain options, ample space inside, and sensible prices, both prove that a good sedan still makes a case against the very well-catered-for SUV market.
Sources: Toyota, Honda, FuelEconomy.gov, J.D. Power, and Kelley Blue Book.
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