Honda vs. Toyota: Which Brand is Best?

Honda and Toyota are competing automotive brands that are known for their longevity, reliability and their safety. Since both brands produce models with very similar features and price points, consumers might wonder if one brand is somehow better than the other.

To compare the two brands, we’ll showcase their top-selling models and how each scores in reliability, safety, affordability and longevity. Both brands compete across vehicle categories, but the focus will be on minivans, mid-size cars, and small SUVs.

When comparing the safety of vehicles, ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) will be used. The J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study  will be used to rate reliability and longevity. Affordability will be based on the MSRP of 2021 base models.

In a showdown between Honda vs. Toyota, which brand will reign supreme? Let’s find out!  

Minivans: Honda Odyssey vs. Toyota Sienna

Minivans remain a popular vehicle for families, but minivans also are a great choice for anyone that needs extra space. Individuals who travel for sales jobs may prefer minivans if they need the cargo space for demo products. Minivans also provide a taller entry height, and this can be a benefit for those who don’t feel comfortable bending down to get into the vehicle or those who may have physical difficulties exiting the vehicle.

While there are multiple minivans on the market, the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna are the most popular models. Here’s how both minivans rank and rate according to safety, reliability, longevity and price. As a note, the J.D. Power study uses 2018 models for its most recent data.

Honda Odyssey                                                                           

Safety  

The IIHS gave the 2021 Odyssey a Top Safety Pick+ rating, which is the best safety rating bestowed by the Institute. The minivan ranked well across the board, and the category of headlights was the only Acceptable mark to blemish its great scorecard.

However, for crash avoidance and mitigation, it scored Superior for both front-crash prevention vehicle-to-vehicle and for front-crash prevention vehicle-to-passenger. To see how the Odyssey stacked up in every safety category, check out the full rating report.         

Reliability

The 2018 Odyssey received a score of 77 for overall dependability by J.D. Power. For Quality and Reliability, it only scored a 64. It fared a bit better related to its Driving Experience and scored 78 in this area.

Resale Value

The 2018 Odyssey scored exceptionally well related to its resale value. In fact, it outscored all other minivan models in this area. The Odyssey received a score of 97 out of 100 for resale value—per J.D. Power this refers to depreciation related to the next three years.

Price

$32,290

Toyota Sienna

Safety

Like its competitor, the Toyota Sienna was given a Top Safety Pick+ rating by the IIHS. While the Sienna scored Good in every major category, its crash mitigation/avoidance rating was slightly below the Odyssey. For crash avoidance and mitigation, it scored Superior for front-crash prevention vehicle-to-vehicle. The Sienna scored Advanced (below Superior) for front-crash prevention vehicle-to-passenger. View the full report to see all the scores.

Reliability

The 2018 Sienna received a score of 79 for overall dependability by J.D. Power. For Quality and Reliability, it scored a 77—a bit above its competitor. For Driving Experience, the Sienna scored a 76—a few points below the Odyssey.

Resale Value

The 2018 Sienna scored an 85 for resale value.

Price

$34,460

Mid-Size Cars: Honda Accord vs. Toyota Camry

Mid-size cars are the perfect middle ground; these vehicles aren’t large sedans but they also aren’t compact. These vehicles can fit smaller families and are a comfortable vehicle for city driving or commuting.

There are many affordable options on the market, but the Accord and Camry are the top-selling models. In 2018, the Accord accounted for 291,071 sales and the Camry took the top spot with 343,439 sales.

Honda Accord

Safety

The Honda Accord also received a Top Safety Pick+ rating by the IIHS. The Accord has excellent scores across the board, and received top scores in the two crash avoidance categories. It’s only blemish was the headlights. The headlights received a Good and Acceptable rating. All scores can be reviewed via the full report.

Reliability

The 2018 Honda Accord received a total score of 82 for overall dependability. In the area of Quality and Reliability, the Accord scored a 76. For the Driving Experience category, it was rated incredibly high with a score of 90.

Resale Value

The Accord scored well related to its Resale Value. It was given an 84 in this category.

Price

$24,970 (2021 model year)

Toyota Camry

Safety

The 2021 Toyota Camry received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. The Camry received the same excellent scores across the board as its competitor. The only blemish on its scorecard was related to its headlights. The Camry received both a Good and Acceptable rating for headlights. Review all the vehicle’s scores via the full report.

Reliability

The 2018 Toyota Camry received a score of 83 for overall dependability. For Quality and Reliability, the Camry scored an 85. For Driving Experience, it scored an 82.

Resale Value

J.D. Power gave the 2018 Camry an 85 for Resale Value.

Price

$25,045 (2021 model year)

Compact SUV: Honda CRV vs. Toyota RAV4

Compact SUVs are small but still hefty enough to feel a bit safer on the road. These vehicles can be a great option for new drivers, as they aren’t cumbersome to drive. They also offer enough space for a small family and provide a decent amount of cargo room for gear, luggage, groceries, etc.

The CRV and the RAV4 are the top selling compact SUVs on the market. In 2018, Honda CRVs accounted for 379,013 sales. The RAV4 was the top-selling model, with 427,168 sales.

Honda CRV

Safety

The 2021 Honda CR-V received a Top Safety Pick rating by IIHS. Overall, it scored well, but it received an Acceptable rating for the updated side test. In addition, it received an Acceptable and Marginal rating for headlights (related to crash mitigation and avoidance). The CR-V’s latch for child seat anchors also received an Acceptable rating related to how easy it was to use. Consumers can review all the scores via the full report.

Reliability

The 2018 CR-V received a score of 82 for overall dependability. In the category of Quality and Reliability, it scored an 80. The CR-V scored an 84 for Driving Experience.

Resale Value

The 2018 CR-V rated well for Resale Value, scoring an 85.

Price

$25,350 (2021 model year)

Toyota RAV4

Safety

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. It scored strong overall, with the exception of the updated side test which was given an Acceptable rating. However, the headlights were given Good, Acceptable and Poor ratings. To understand how it scored in every category, consumers can review the full report.

Reliability

The 2018 RAV4 scored an 83 for overall dependability. For Quality and Reliability, the RAV4 received an 88. However, it only received a 76 for Driving Experience.

Resale Value

The Resale Value score for the 2018 RAV4 was strong at an 84.

Price

$26,350 (2021 model year)

The Winner 

While each brand’s models fared similarly in safety ratings, the Odyssey nudged out the Sienna ever so slightly in the minivan safety scorecard. Honda also nudged out Toyota in the safety scores related to the compact SUV category, too.

For overall dependability and reliability, though, Toyota consistently beat Honda for all three vehicle types. The only area where Honda models outranked Toyota was in resale value.

Car buyers on a budget also may notice that Toyota is slightly more expensive than Honda, although the prices listed are only for base models. Still, the small savings could make a difference if buyers are comparing all other aspects. If buyers are wondering what brand is more popular, Toyota tends to win this match-up for midsize cars and compact SUVs.

Use Carzing to Find All the Options!

No matter what brand of vehicle that the buyer prefers, they can use Carzing to find all their vehicle options.

Carzing lets buyers search for cars by make/model, price, body type or just by using keywords. Find new and used models of popular Toyota and Honda models and get prequalified for financing, too. Carzing lets the buyer remain in control.

In a matchup of Honda vs. Toyota, Carzing lets buyers decide their own winner. Find the best car at the best price. Will the best option be Honda or Toyota? Use Carzing to find out!