Compare the2026 Lexus ISVS 2025 Honda Accord

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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The IS’ optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Accord doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The IS has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Accord doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The IS offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Accord doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The IS offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Accord only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The IS has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Accord SE/Sport/EX-L/Touring offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the IS has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert to warn the driver of approaching traffic and automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the Accord SE/Sport/EX-L/Touring offers Cross Traffic Monitor and the Accord’s Cross Traffic Monitor does not include automatic braking.

Both the IS and the Accord have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lexus IS is safer than the Honda Accord:

	IS	Accord
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	162	204
Spine Acceleration	28 G’s	50 G’s
Hip Force	438 lbs.	722 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	34 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	650 lbs.	805 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The IS comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Accord’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the IS 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Honda covers the Accord. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Accord ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The IS’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Accord’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS first among compact premium cars in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Accord isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 6th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 61 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 12th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Honda is ranked fourth.

Engine

The IS’ 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 119 more horsepower (311 vs. 192) and 88 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 192) than the Accord’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The IS’ 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 107 more horsepower (311 vs. 204) and 33 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 247) than the Accord Hybrid’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lexus IS is faster than the Honda Accord:

	IS	Accord turbo 4 cyl.	Accord Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	5.7 sec	7.9 sec	6.8 sec
Quarter Mile	14.2 sec	16.1 sec	15.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	100.1 MPH	87.9 MPH	88.2 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The IS has 4.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Accord Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (17.4 vs. 12.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The IS has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Accord’s standard fuel tank (17.4 vs. 14.8 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the IS’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Accord:

	IS	Accord	Accord Hybrid
Front Rotors	13.1 inches	11.5 inches	12.3 inches
Rear Rotors	11.7 inches	11.1 inches	11.1 inches

The IS’ standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Accord are solid, not vented.

The IS stops much shorter than the Accord:

	IS	Accord
70 to 0 MPH	155 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	110 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the IS has larger standard tires than the Accord (235/40R19 vs. 225/50R17).

The IS’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Accord LX/SE/EX-L’s standard 50 series tires. The IS F Sport’s 265/35R19 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Accord Sport/Touring’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the IS has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Accord LX/SE/EX-L.

Suspension and Handling

The IS’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (54% to 46%) than the Accord’s (59% to 41%). This gives the IS more stable handling and braking.

The IS 350 F Sport handles at .93 G’s, while the Accord pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The IS 350 F Sport executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.5 seconds quicker than the Accord Sport-L Hybrid (25.4 seconds @ .71 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the IS’ turning circle is 4.2 feet tighter than the Accord’s (34.2 feet vs. 38.4 feet). The IS AWD’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the Accord’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

Chassis

The IS is 9.9 inches shorter than the Accord, making the IS easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Cargo Capacity

The IS’ standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Accord’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

Servicing Ease

The IS uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Accord uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the IS is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Accord. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Honda. J.D. Power ranks Lexus second in service department satisfaction. With a 19% lower rating, Honda is ranked 7th.

Ergonomics

The IS’ instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Accord does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The IS’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Accord’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the IS the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Lexus service department.) The driver of the Accord can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The IS’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Accord’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The IS has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Accord doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the IS offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Accord doesn’t offer cornering lights.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the IS (except F Sport Design) to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Accord doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The IS’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Accord EX-L/Touring.

Both the Lexus IS and Honda Accord offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The IS features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Accord’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The IS has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Accord SE/Sport/EX-L/Touring.

Compared to the Honda Accord, the Lexus IS eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Compared to the Honda Accord’s traditional radio, the Lexus IS equipped with standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Lexus IS has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Accord Sport/EX-L/Touring offers wireless charging.

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