Why A Used Accord 2.0T Still Outdrives A Loaded Camry XSE
As far as mainstream sedans go, both the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry are hard to beat for value. Neither of them cost bank-busting money when new; both have a respectable amount of space in them; both are famously reliable; and both get the everyday job done.
But what about if you are looking for something that is both sensible and fun to drive? The sportiest trim of the Camry and the now-discontinued Accord 2.0T, which you can only buy used, both offer that. While a lot of buyers automatically go for the Camry, they could be missing out by not opting for the Honda.
Most Mainstream Mid-Sized Sedans Aren’t Built For Drivers
Most mainstream sedans have a fairly straightforward brief today: get you to work without making a meal of it. The 2026 Nissan Altima works nicely as an everyday sedan with a 188-horsepower 2.5-liter inline-four and CVT handling easy driving, while 15.4 cubic feet of storage space makes it easy to haul things around. Even the sportiest flavor, the Altima SR, though, doesn’t get a more powerful engine, just a tighter setup underneath, 19-inch wheels, and sport exhaust tips.
The new Hyundai Sonata, if you don’t count the N Line, is built for everyday life, with its 192-horsepower inline-four and eight-speed auto. In most trims, the priorities are the same: comfort, space, and ease of use. So, it makes perfect sense as daily transport.
The Camry XSE Is The Sensible Choice, But It Isn’t The Most Engaging
Unfortunately for V-power fans, the V6-equipped Camry XSE was dropped in 2025; all new Camrys are hybrid and get a 2.5-liter inline-four mated with an eCVT. Horsepower output is between 225 horsepower (FWD) and 232 horsepower (AWD).
Starting prices for the XSE are $36,000, and while you do get 19-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, sporty-looking interior styling, and available AWD, these upgrades don’t do a huge amount to distinguish it from a comfortable family sedan. It is a very good sedan, but not that sporty in reality.
The Honda Accord 2.0T Is Honda’s Forgotten Enthusiast Sedan
This is where the 10th-gen Honda Accord 2.0T comes in, which was built between 2018 and 2022. 2022 was the last model year of this athletic yet underrated Honda sedan, as Honda wanted to make the 11th-gen (2023 onwards) more fuel-efficient with a smaller turbo engine.
The Accord 2.0T was available in Sport, EX-L, and Touring trims for the 2018 model year, as the Sport and Touring between 2018 and 2020, and as the Touring only between 2021 and 2022. According to Kelley Blue Book, the average used price for an Accord 2.0T today is between $16,400 and $25,600.
The 252-HP Turbo Four And 10-Speed Auto Make It A Sleeper
As we have just seen with the Camry, the Accord used to be available with a 3.5-liter V6 good for up to 282 horsepower, but the replacement engine in the Accord 2.0T, a 2.0-liter DOHC VTEC inline-four, is still why you should look for one.
The 2.0-liter K20C4 turbo-four under the hood shifts out 252 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 273 pound-feet of torque at between 1,500 and 4,000 rpm. Power is routed through a ten-speed automatic in most configurations, but the 2018 model was originally available with a six-speed manual in the Accord Sport 2.0T.
Independent Rear Suspension Gives It The Chassis To Match
All Accord 2.0T models are equipped with a MacPherson front strut paired with an independent multi-link rear suspension. The separate control arms on the rear setup mean that cornering and braking forces are controlled independently, and they allow the tires to remain planted on the pavement through corners.
The suspension is mounted to stiff subframes, which helps to minimize chassis flex under strain, so you still get a bit of cornering ability alongside a suitably powerful engine. While the Accord 2.0T is not a sports sedan in the way a BMW 3 Series is, its setup is certainly close compared to many of its similarly priced rivals.
Accord 2.0T Vs. Camry XSE
A new Camry XSE is quite rightly more expensive than a used Accord 2.0T, but when you actually stack them both up together, the Accord makes more than a strong case for spending less. The 2026 XSE is equipped with a noticeably less powerful powertrain than the 2.0T, and 0–60 mph times are quite a bit slower, at between 6.9 and 7.8 seconds for FWD models and between 6.4 and 6.8 seconds for AWD models.
The Accord 2.0T can sprint to 60 mph in 5.4 to 5.7 seconds, and has been clocked dashing the quarter mile in 14 seconds at 101 mph. So, if you are looking for outright speed, there is only one option here.
The Honda Wins On Steering, Grip, And Chassis Balance
Honda’s variable-ratio electric power steering is well calibrated in the 2.0T, with a natural build-up of resistance as the wheel turns, which owners say gets nicely heavy when you want it to. That makes the Accord easier to place accurately in a corner and more engaging on more entertaining roads.
The XSE’s steering has been described as light, but owners have said that it is more suited for driving in a city and parking, thanks to its very boosted nature. MotorTrend tested both of them, and said the 2.0T can hold 0.88 g of lateral grip, while the hybrid Camry XSE can hold 0.82 g. The Accord also gets stiffer springs than the Camry, while, on the Touring trim, you also get adaptive dampers. The Camry XSE is equipped with a more “traditional” sport-tuned suspension, but it is still very much set up for commuter comfort over outright sportiness.
Both models are FWD as standard, but the Accord is lighter than the Camry, tipping the scales at between 3,155 and 3,428 pounds; the new Camry XSE tips the scales at between 3,538 and 3,682 pounds and has a more front-heavy feel. The weight difference also has an effect on braking distances; the 2.0T brakes from 60 mph to a standstill in 114 feet, while the Camry XSE needs 118 feet.
A Used Honda Accord 2.0T Is Worth Hunting Down
At the low average used prices, the Accord 2.0T is obviously attractive, and it does put a fair dash of detuned Civic R sportiness within reach without having to fork out for a BMW or Audi. Its understated looks hide a good amount of machinery that can genuinely take on some more expensive sports sedans in a straight line, and you still get an everyday-friendly cabin.
The trims that could be worth looking out for are the 2021–2022 Accord Sport 2.0T and the Touring 2.0T. In the Sport trim, you get an eight-inch touchscreen, wireless phone connectivity, remote start, and wireless phone charging. In the Touring trim, you get a ten-speaker audio system, built-in navigation, a HUD, and ventilated front seats. Both offer a lot of creature comforts and decent speed for not a lot of money.
There is no ignoring that the new Camry XSE does a lot of things very well for the money, especially fuel economy, and you get the safety net of a new-car warranty with it, but Honda is also known for reliability, and a well-maintained 2.0T should still serve you well. If you are willing to skip showroom shine, a used Accord 2.0T is the smart kind of used undercover sedan: discreet, practical, quick, and with enough gear to make its age relatively easy to overlook.
Sources: Honda, Toyota, Kelley Blue Book, FuelEconomy.gov, MotorTrend, and iSeeCars.
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