When it comes time to purchase your next vehicle, understanding what each manufacturer is known for can help you determine which brand to shop for. Toyota and Honda are two of the top-selling automakers in the US, so drivers often look to these two brands—especially when they want something reliable and affordable.
In 2022, Toyota exceeded Honda’s sales figures by over twofold; still, sales numbers shouldn’t be the only factor influencing your shopping decisions. Knowing what you’re looking for from a manufacturer can help you decide which brand is right for you. If you plan on visiting a used Honda or used Toyota dealer, you will find that both brands offer a great deal of versatility.
These excellent automakers have also been around for a very long time—Honda was established in 1948, and Toyota in 1937—and each has a long history of paying attention to the evolving needs of its drivers, delivering innovation and comfort at a great price. Ultimately, these two brands share a lot of similarities, but they also have some key differences that are critical to understand. Here’s a look at the similarities and differences between these two great brands…
Both Are Affordable
Toyota and Honda have a reputation for delivering quality vehicles at excellent prices. Each has many models priced below $30k in their 2023 lineup, which is a solidly budget-friendly price point in today’s market.
As vehicle prices continue to soar, shopping for a used Honda or Toyota is a smart decision for anyone on a budget. These two brands have long made reliable vehicles accessible to those on a strict budget; even their higher-end trims—which appeal to luxury lovers or performance-minded drivers—have remained affordable.
While the difference is small, Toyota does tend to price their vehicles slightly more affordably than Honda. When you look at their comparable body styles, Toyota’s models typically cost less than Honda’s; for example, Toyota’s midsize truck, the Tacoma, has a starting MSRP that’s about $10k less than Honda’s midsize truck, the Ridgeline. Toyota’s midsize sedan, the Camry, is also more affordable than Honda’s midsize sedan, the Accord.
Drivers should also know that both manufacturers offer generous warranties on new vehicles. Toyota and Honda both offer three-year, 36,000-mile basic coverage warranties and five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranties. Drivers can feel confident in vehicles from either automaker that, should a factory-originating issue crop up during the first handful of years, they’ll be covered.
Toyota’s Larger, More Dynamic Lineup
Toyota has a much more extensive lineup than Honda. Not only is the size of the spectrum in Toyota’s favor, but the size of their vehicles; Honda is primarily known for smaller autos, with sedans ranging from compact to midsize. They do have SUVs in various sizes, but they do not have a full-size SUV for the 2023 lineup—which Toyota does. Toyota has a three-row and midsize SUV, as well as a compact SUV and several subcompact SUVs. Honda has just one model for each size of SUV.
Overall, Toyota’s lineup is much more substantial than that of Honda’s. It’s especially worth noting that, if you are looking for a pickup truck, Toyota has two options: the midsize Tacoma and full-size Tundra. Honda only has a midsize truck, the aforementioned Ridgeline, whose towing capacity maxes out at 5,000 lbs. Meanwhile, the Toyota Tundra can tow up to 12,000 lbs, so DIYers, agricultural workers, and anyone needing serious towing abilities would be best to turn to Toyota.
Performance enthusiasts will find more sports car options in the Toyota lineup than in Honda’s. While Honda has a performance compact hatch in its Civic Type R and a performance compact sedan in its Civic Si, it does not have any true sports cars; on the other hand, Toyota has the GR 86 and GR Supra sports cars for those with a need for speed.
Toyota Trounces Honda in Hybrids
You have to remember that Toyota put out its first hybrid, the Prius, two years before Honda released its first hybrid—and Honda has been behind in the hybrid race ever since. Today, Toyota has impressively delivered a hybrid variant of nearly every vehicle in their lineup; it’s part of what enables them to have such a wide variety and such loyal customers.
Whether you’re looking for a hybrid truck, SUV, or sedan, Toyota is the brand to shop. They rapidly acknowledged that one way to keep long-time customers looking for more fuel-efficient options was to make a hybrid variant of all of their models people already loved; to name a few, there’s a hybrid Tundra, Sienna, Highlander, and Corolla.
Toyotas Are More Powerful
You will find more powerful engine options in Toyota’s lineup, such as the 4.0L V6 in its 4Runner. Honda’s largest V6 tops out at 3.5L. Toyota has also been receiving a lot of attention for its new i-FORCE MAX engine, kicking out 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque; this hybrid powertrain is available on the Tundra, Sequoia, and Crown, giving drivers of various body styles access to a powerful hybrid engine.
Both Have Excellent Driver Assistance Features
Toyota and Honda are both known for excellent driver assistance features. Toyota has its Toyota Safety Sense, a suite of great features that can help prevent or minimize accidents, including a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection that can alert drivers of an impending crash with another vehicle or a person. It also has Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist and Lane Tracing Assist to help a driver remain in their lane. Road Sign Assist detects traffic signs—like speed limits and stop signs—and notifies the driver of them.
Honda is pretty head-to-head with Toyota in the driver assistance department, having almost identical features. However, one thing Toyota has that Honda doesn’t is Proactive Driving Assist; this tool can take over gentle braking or steering to help prevent collisions with other vehicles or pedestrians.
Toyota and Honda Provide Great Value, But Toyota Provides Far More
Knowing what each automaker is known for can help you narrow your search and ensure your time shopping is well spent. Honda and Toyota are both solid options for someone looking for an affordable vehicle they can rely on; both have made popular models over the years, and drivers report great satisfaction with both. Likewise, they each boast a great suite of standard driver assistance features that help drivers be safer on the road and reduce the likelihood of accidents.
Toyota has, far and away, a more extensive variety of vehicles than Honda. It has several pickups, like the Tacoma, which has been one of the top-selling pickups for several years running. Toyota also shines in the hybrid vehicle category; people have long associated Toyota with hybrids because of their landmark Prius, and Toyota has continued to show how adept they are at putting hybrid powertrains in just about every body style—and they far outperform Honda in this department.
Overall, both brands are affordable, but Toyota’s vehicles tend to cost a bit less than Hondas while offering even more models and trim options. These are both great brands, but when you look closely, it’s clear why Toyota outsells Honda by a landslide; they offer more variety, power, and hybrid options—all at lower prices.
