Safety Comparison: Camry vs. Accord - Part 1, 1983-1997

 1983

Camry: 14.7 points

Accord: 13.6 points

Winner: Camry, slightly

In the NHTSA front crash test, both cars scored 4 stars for the driver and 5 for the passenger. However, the Accord's doors jammed, showing that the structure was somewhat weaker than the Camry's. Forces on the Camry's occupants were slightly higher. Both would perform very poorly in today's crash testing regime, given their now-antiquated designs, and both were given no points higher than the baseline in other crash tests. No airbags, ABS or stability control were available. Suffice it to say, car safety has come a long way in the nearly four decades since these models launched.

1984

Camry: 14.7 points

Accord: 13.6 points

Winner: Camry, slightly

See 1983.

1985

Camry: 14.7 points

Accord: 13.6 points

Winner: Camry, slightly

See 1983.

1986

Camry: 14.7 points

Accord: 12.2 points

Winner: Camry

The Accord was redesigned for 1986; this time there were 4 stars for each occupant, and the doors were still jammed. The '86-89 Accord still gets no points above baseline in other crash tests. 

1987

Camry: 13.6 points

Accord: 12.2 points

Winner: Camry, slightly

The Camry was redesigned for 1987. Its stronger structure (all four doors were still operable after the NHTSA test) nudges out the Accord's slightly better injury measures in this test. 

1988

Camry: 15.6 points (13.6 - 18.6)

Accord: 12.2 points

Winner: Camry

The Camry gained optional ABS in 1988, scoring it two more points overall; a model with ABS gets 18.6 points, while one without ABS stands pat at 13.6

1989

Camry: 15.6 points (13.6 - 18.6)

Accord: 12.2 points

Winner: Camry

See 1988.

1990

Camry: 15.6 points (13.6 - 18.6)

Accord: 17.6 points (15.6 - 20.6)

Winner: Accord

1990 brought a stronger structure, slightly better crash test results, and optional ABS to the Accord, allowing it to nudge out the Camry and claim its first victory.

1991

Camry: 15.6 points (13.6 - 18.6)

Accord: 17.6 points (15.6 - 20.6)

Winner: Accord

See 1990. 

1992

Camry: 30.6 points (28.6 - 33.6)

Accord: 28.6 points (26.6 - 31.6)

Winner: Camry

Both cars made major safety gains this year - both got a standard driver airbag - but the Camry's redesign brought with it an Acceptable rating in the IIHS moderate overlap. The Accord's rating is unknown, but would probably be Poor or Marginal; it was credited as a higher-end Poor. The Accord's less aggressive, tethered driver airbag scores it more points than the Camry's more aggressive untethered airbag.

1993

Camry: 30.6 points (28.6 - 33.6)

Accord: 29.4 points (26.6 - 34.6)

Winner: Camry, slightly (Accord Special Edition, slightly overall)

The Accord gets a slight nudge this year by offering an optional passenger airbag, but it was only available on the high-end Special Edition model, where it came standard.

1994

Camry: 30.6 points (28.6 - 33.6)

Accord: 34.6 points (32.6 - 37.6)

Winner: Accord

The Camry's passenger airbag doesn't help matters; it's over-aggressive, earning it only 1 additional point, which is counteracted by the fact that the Camry lost a star in the NHTSA front crash test. The Accord is redesigned, bringing with it dual airbags and an Acceptable IIHS moderate overlap rating, earning it the lead for this model year. 

1995

Camry: 30.6 points (28.6 - 33.6)

Accord: 34.6 points (32.6 - 37.6)

Winner: Accord

See 1994. 

1996

Camry: 32.6 points (30.6 - 35.6)

Accord: 34.6 points (32.6 - 37.6)

Winner: Accord

The Camry improved from a 3 star passenger rating to 5 stars in the NHTSA front crash test (the driver rating stood pat at 4), earning it two additional points. 

1997

Camry: 39.2 points (37.2 - 42.2)

Accord: 35.2 points (33.2 - 38.2)

Winner: Camry

The Camry's redesign improved its IIHS moderate overlap score to Good, along with a myriad of other improvements. Both are now compliant with 1997 Federal side impact regulations, and both were tested in the NHTSA side impact test for the first time. The Camry got 3 stars for driver and passenger, while the Accord got 2 for driver and 3 for passenger.